RAPID CITY, S.D. --- South Dakota Mines football head football coach Charlie Flohr is pleased to announce the signing of new recruits to the Hardrocker football program. Flohr introduced 30 recruits (all freshmen) for the fall 2021 season.

"I am extremely happy to announce our 2021 recruiting class to Hardrocker Nation," said Flohr. "This class continued to show us how special and resilient of a group they are. This group has been through a lot mentally, emotionally, and physically. We are so excited they choose South Dakota Mines and trust that we are going to give them a complete experience here."

"I want to thank our staff for the job they have done going and finding the scholar-athletes that fit us and South Dakota Mines," said Flohr. "This year's recruiting process has been extremely challenging and unlike any other year. They spent a lot of time doing the research needed to make sure we find the right scholar-athletes that fit our culture."

"I need to thank Dr. Rankin and his staff for everything they have done for our program," added Flohr. "Also, Joel Lueken, Director of Athletics, Cassie Kosiba, Associate AD, Maria Cadwallader, Executive Director for the Hardrock Club, Seth Nichols, Assistant AD for Compliance, Brad Blume, Assistant AD and Athletic Communications Director, Anita Brenneman, Athletics Program Assistant, Brock Behrndt and Carl Wise with Strength and Conditioning, and Emily Lawrence and our Medical team. These individuals helped us tremendously with a wide variety of tasks throughout the recruiting process. A special thanks to Molly Moore and the Admissions team for helping us with campus tours and setting up academic appointments with our outstanding faculty and staff that we have here at South Dakota Mines. This campus continues to go above and beyond to truly show me and everyone else how special of a place South Dakota Mines and Rapid City really are."
 





2021 Recruiting Class
 
Name: Austin Burdette
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Hometown: Berthoud, CO
Major: Civil Engineering
High School/Coach: Berthoud HS – Cory Ticnor
Parents: Tyler and Shala Burdette
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, Academic All-State, 2019 & 2020 All-Conference LB
 
Name: Alexander Gallagher
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-1
Weight: 255
Hometown: Brighton, CO
Major: Chemical Engineering
High School/Coach: Brighton HS – Jeff Giger
Parents: Patrick and Jeanette Gallagher
Awards: All-Conference
 
Name: Jaxton Schiller
Position: Receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Hometown: Volga, SD
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School/Coach: Sioux Valley HS – Dan Hughes
Parents: Ryan and Tammy Schiller
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, All-State, Academic All-State, Class 11B Player of the Year, Academic All-Conference
 
Name: Nick Maag
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-6
Weight: 250
Hometown: Scottsbluff, NE
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School/Coach: Scottsbluff HS – Jud Hall
Parents: Patrick and Kristin Maag
Awards: All-Conference, All-State
 
Name: Jacob Schwab
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Major: Chemical Engineering
High School/Coach: Sioux Falls O'Gorman HS – Jayson Poppinga
Parents: Michael and Linda Schwab
Awards: All-Conference, All-State, Academic All-State
 
Name: Cole Kesner
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-1
Weight: 275
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, CO
Major: Biological Engineering
High School/Coach: Highlands Ranch HS – Tyson Lundquist
Parents: Chad and Kim Kesner
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, All-State, Academic All-State, Academic All-Conference
 
Name: Caleb Jones
Position: Running Back
Height: 5-9
Weight: 210
Hometown: Gilbert, AZ
Major: Biomedical Engineering
High School/Coach: Basha HS – Chris McDonald
Parents: Chris Overhamm and Chrystal Overhamm
Awards: Team Captain, Team MVP, 1st Team RB, All District RB, School Record Holder.
 
Name: Luke Wickersham
Position: Running Back
Height: 5-7
Weight: 200
Hometown: Brandon, SD
Major: Electrical Engineering
High School/Coach – Brandon Valley HS – Chad Garrow
Parents: Scott and Abbie Wickersham
Awards: Academic All-State
 
Name: Hunter Huffman
Position: Defensive Back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Hometown: Pueblo, CO
Major: Computer Science
High School/Coach – Pueblo Central HS – Kris Cotterman
Parents: Bobby and Heather Huffman
Awards: All-Conference, All-Conference Honorable Mention, Team Captain
 
Name: Joel Gifford
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Hometown: Faith, SD
Major: Civil Engineering
High School/Coach: Faith HS – Miles Gifford
Parents: Miles and Amanda Gifford
Awards: Team Captain, All-State, All-Conference, All-Conference Honorable Mention
 
Name: Hunter Newsom
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Hometown: Grain Valley, MO
Major: Civil Engineering
High School/Coach: Grain Valley HS – David Allie
Parents: Bryan and Stacee Newsom
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, All-State, Academic All-State, Team MVP, KMZU Class 4-5 Defensive Player of the year 2020, KMZU Class 5 Dream Team LB 2020, Kansas City Buck Buchanan Award semifinalist 2020, and 2020 All-Simone Team
 
Name: Connor Taylor
Position: Kicker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Hometown: Longmont, CO
Major: Undecided
High School/Coach: Longmont HS – Doug Johnson
Parents: Paul and Kim Taylor
Awards: All-Conference, Academic All-Conference, Academic All-State, Team Captain
 
Name: DeKendrick McCray
Position: Corner Back
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Major: Business Management in Technology
High School/Coach: Lincoln East HS – John Gingery
Parents: Ryan Peterson and Kimberly Peterson
Awards: All City Honorable Mention
 
Name: Mason Galbreath
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195
Hometown: Littleton, CO
Major: Undecided
High School/Coach: Dakota Ridge HS – Ron Woitalewicz
Parents: Stuwart and Kristina Galbreath
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, All-State, Academic All-State
 
Name: Caden Vinduska
Position: Tight End
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
Hometown: Saint George, KS
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School/Coach: Rock Creek HS – Shane Sieben
Parents: Andy and Misty Vinduska
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-State
 
Name: Jack Masters
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 290
Hometown: Dripping Springs, TX
Major: Business Management in Technology
High School/Coach: Dripping Springs HS – Galen Zimmerman
Parents: Adam and Jennifer Masters
Awards: Team Captain, All-State, All-Conference
 
Name: Ethan Somerville
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-2
Weight: 240
Hometown: Lehi, UT
Major: Business Management in Technology
High School/Coach: Lehi HS – Ed Larson
Parents: Nathan and Kristen Somerville
Awards: All-Conference, 2021 Varsity Offensive Line MVP
 
Name: Henry Dryden
Position: Tight End
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205
Hometown: Boise, ID
Major: Environmental/Metallurgical Engineering
High School/Coach: Boise HS – Mike Altieri
Parents: Travis and Paula Dryden
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, Academic All-State, Academic All-Conference, All-Conference Honorable Mention, Team MVP, Idaho All Star Team roster, Brave Spotlight player of the week, All conference co-defensive player of the year
 
Name: Max Derry
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Hometown: Granger, IA
Major: Mining Engineering
High School/Coach: West Des Moines Dowling Catholic – Tom Wilson
Parents: Jason and Gina Derry
Awards: All-State, Academic All-Conference, First team All-District, Wrestling State Qualifier
 
Name: AJ Kelly
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-6
Weight: 285
Hometown: Rock Springs, WY
Major: Electrical Engineering
High School/Coach: Rock Springs HS – Mark Lenhardt
Parents: Alvin Kelly, Stacy Kelly, Jacki Mantell, Billy Mantell
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, All-State, 2020 HWT State Champion
 
Name: Logan Cole
Position: Running Back
Height: 5-11
Weight: 210
Hometown: Thermopolis, WY
Major: Pre-Health
High School/Coach: Hot Springs HS – Matt McPhie
Parents: Ed and Kelly Cole
Awards: Team Captain, All-State, Team MVP
 
Name: Trey Horner
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-6
Weight: 225
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School/Coach: Roosevelt HS – Kim Nelson
Parents: Derek Horner, Dawn Zahn
 
Name: Oscar Kooistra
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-4
Weight: 185
Hometown: Baltic, SD
Major: Civil Engineering
High School/Coach: Baltic HS – Alan Bakersville
Parents: Stacy and Anna Kooistra
Awards: All-Conference
 
Name: Leighton Blythe
Position: Tight End
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
Hometown: Boise, ID
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School/Coach: Bishop Kelly HS – Tim Brennan
Parents: Don and Wendi Blythe
Awards: All-Conference
 
Name: Jackson Soulek
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6-1
Weight: 250
Hometown: Chamberlain, SD
Major: Business Management in Technology
High School/Coach: Chamberlain HS – Jeff Rademacher
Parents: Clint and Julie Soulek
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, Academic All-State, Academic All-Conference
 
Name: Carson Mashlan
Position: Wide Receiver/Punter
Height: 5-7
Weight: 155
Hometown: Brandon, SD
Major: Electrical Engineering
High School/Coach: Brandon Valley HS – Chad Garrow
Parents: Justin and Michelle Mashlan
Awards: Academic All-State, Academic All-Conference, Unsung Hero Award
 
Name: Wren Jacobs
Position: Linebacker
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Hometown: Sturgis, SD
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School/Coach: Sturgis Brown HS – Chris Koletzky
Parents: Rick and Brandy Jacobs
Awards: Team Captain, All-Conference, All-State, Academic All-State, Team MVP, Doug Miller award
 
Name: Jonathan Stockwell
Position: Punter
Height: 5-11
Weight: 140
Hometown: Ankeny, IA
Major: Electrical Engineering
High School/Coach: Ankeny Centennial HS – Ryan Pezzetti and Jerry Pezzetti
Parents: Dennis Stockwell and Tina Stockwell
Awards: 4 Year Academic Letter, 3-year Varsity soccer letter Name: Garrett Hessler
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-8
Weight: 275
Hometown: Mitchell, NE
Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School/Coach: Mitchell HS – Nick Kuxhausen
Parents: Derrick and Sara Hessler
Awards: All-Conference, All District First Team
 
Name: Cole Doty
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-4
Weight: 255
Hometown: Marion, IA
Major: Undecided
High School/Coach: Linn-Mar HS – Paul James
Parents: Jay and Karla Doty
Awards: Academic All-State, Academic All-Conference, All-Conference Honorable Mention, Team Captain