The University of North Dakota, looking for size in its football recruiting class, found some in Minnesota's nine-man class. The Fighting Hawks received a commitment last week from Kittson County Central's Isaac Folland, a 6-3, 330-pound senior center and nose tackle.
330-pounder from nine-man football going Division I, plus more recruiting updates
Isaac Folland — center, nose tackle and kicker for Kittson County Central — will find out how well his skills hold up among players closer to his own size.
Folland is the Fighting Hawks' 16th verbal commitment in the Class of 2023. North Dakota plays in the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Folland, from his spot in the middle of the action, has made 29 tackles; 15 came unassisted and four were in the backfield.
Wondering about footwork? Folland is also the Bearcats' placekicker. He's tried 16 point-after kicks and made 13.
The Bearcats run deeper than Folland. Senior running back Chisum Schmiedeberg has 874 rushing yards on 77 carries, averaging 11.4 yards per carry. Schmiedeberg averaged nearly 10 yards per carry a year ago, rushing for 1,435 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Kittson County Central, the reigning Nine-man Section 8 champion, is 4-0 and ranked No. 9.
Elsewhere in football recruiting:
- Grant Chapman, a 6-6, 280-pound offensive tackle for Anoka, remains the highest-ranked player on 247Sports' Minnesota list who has not made a commitment. Chapman is ranked 12th among Minnesota recruits and 131st among the nation's offensive tackles. He has Division I offers from two schools, Iowa State and Kansas State.
- Rivals.com includes an uncommitted Minnesotan in its top 10 for the state: Holy Angels wide receiver Chuck Gilbert, ranked ninth. Gilbert, 6-2 and 170 pounds, has offers from Central Michigan and Iowa State. He is 19th on the 247sports ranking of Minnesotans. On both lists he is the No. 1 wide receiver in the state among seniors.
- Antonio Menard, a a 6-2, 205-pound junior defensive end and running back for Lakeville North, made visits to the Gophers and Iowa State in September.
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.