La Crosse, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse head football coach
Mike Schmidt has announced the commitments of 82 student-athletes to join the Eagles for the 2018 season. This year's class features 63 student-athletes from Wisconsin, 10 from Illinois, eight from Minnesota and one each from Colorado and New South Wales. All recruits are subject to UW-La Crosse and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements.
The class includes 17 offensive line, 15 defensive backs and linemen, 13 wide receivers and 11 linebackers. It also has four quarterbacks, three running backs, three tight ends, two kickers and one fullback.
"We added some truly special people and players to UWL football with this class," said Schmidt. "I could not be more proud of the work our staff and players put into securing this class."
2018 UW-La Crosse Football Recruits
| First Name |
Last Name |
Pos. |
Hometown |
High School |
| Kyle |
Abramson |
OL |
Durand, WI |
Durand |
| Hunter |
Albanese |
LB |
Waukesha, WI |
Waukesha West |
| Elijah |
Alt |
DB |
Spring Green, WI |
River Valley |
| Cole |
Asleson |
OL |
Chatfield, MN |
Chatfield |
| Keagan |
Bachara |
DL |
Fox Lake, WI |
Grant Community |
| Justin |
Baker |
DL |
Waukesha, WI |
Waukesha West |
| Nick |
Baker |
DL |
Oconomowoc, WI |
Oconomowoc |
| Weston |
Bartsch |
DL |
Prescott, WI |
Prescott |
| Michael |
Bautch |
DL |
Batavia, IL |
Batavia |
| Jackson |
Behles |
QB |
Roselle, IL |
Lake Park-District 108 |
| Ryan |
Beirne |
WR; K |
West Salem, WI |
West Salem |
| Connor |
Berry |
OL |
Marshfield, WI |
Marshfield |
| Matthew |
Bigley |
LB |
West Salem, WI |
West Salem |
| Alex |
Bongers |
OL |
Faribault, MN |
Bethlehem Academy |
| Kamren |
Bornbach |
LB |
Stratford, WI |
Stratford |
| Seth |
Brown |
TE |
Elroy, WI |
Royall |
| Ian |
Carnes |
OL |
Fort Atkinson, WI |
Fort Atkinson |
| Nick |
Cato |
OL |
Eagle River, WI |
Northland Pines |
| Nick |
Coca |
OL |
Racine, WI |
William Horlick |
| Dan |
Crawley |
DB |
Mukwonago, WI |
Mukwonago |
| Trey |
Davis |
QB |
La Crosse, WI |
Logan |
| Dawson |
Dean |
OL |
Viola, WI |
Kickapoo |
| DJ |
Dean |
OL |
Hartland, WI |
Arrowhead |
| Tony |
DiPiazza |
WR |
Waukesha, WI |
Waukesha North |
| Reece |
Eickhoff |
DB |
Stewartville, MN |
Stewartville |
| Matthijs |
Enters |
TE |
Lake Zurich, IL |
Lake Zurich Senior |
| Paul |
Escalante |
WR |
Wilmette, IL |
Loyola Academy |
| Dylan |
Fagerland |
QB |
Watertown, WI |
Watertown |
| Parker |
Fermanich |
WR |
New London, WI |
New London |
| Alec |
Fischer |
DB |
Hammond, WI |
Saint Croix |
| Ryan |
Fortney |
DL |
Middleton, WI |
Middleton |
| Grant |
Garrigan |
DB |
Portage, WI |
Portage |
| Kristopher |
Goodrum |
DL |
Milwaukee, WI |
Rufus King |
| Ben |
Hildebrand |
OL |
Highlands Ranch, CO |
Mountain Vista |
| Robert |
Hinsberger |
RB |
Lake Zurich, IL |
Lake Zurich Senior |
| Cole |
Hyde |
LB |
Hortonville, WI |
Hortonville |
| Keric |
Jackson |
OL |
Milwaukee, WI |
Ronald W Reagan |
| John |
Jelacic |
TE |
Whitefish Bay, WI |
Dominican |
| Carter |
Jensen |
DL |
Rochester, MN |
Century |
| Devonte |
Jiles |
DB |
Chicago, IL |
Westinghouse Vocational |
| Brandon |
Kaminski |
OL |
Waunakee, WI |
Waunakee Community |
| Ryan |
Kelnhofer |
WR |
Wauwatosa, WI |
Wauwatosa East |
| Jaden |
King |
WR |
Verona, WI |
Verona Area |
| David |
Knox |
DL |
Manitowoc, WI |
Lincoln |
| Chase |
Kotlowski |
WR |
Stoughton, WI |
Stoughton |
| Brayden |
Kurth |
DB |
New London, WI |
New London |
| Sam |
Kurth |
FB |
Muskego, WI |
Muskego |
| Michael |
Lang |
OL |
Marathon, WI |
Marathon |
| Evan |
Lewandowski |
QB |
Lake Zurich, IL |
Lake Zurich Senior |
| Isaiah |
Lindley |
DB |
Waunakee, WI |
Waunakee Community |
| Aaron |
Lukes |
OL |
Manitowoc, WI |
Lincoln |
| Andrew |
Malpass |
DL |
Bellevue Hill, New South Wales |
Cranbrook School |
| Joshua |
Mattison |
RB |
Rochester, MN |
John Marshall |
| Zach |
Mensink |
LB |
Owatonna, MN |
Owatonna |
| Ben |
Michalowski |
LB |
Waterford, WI |
Waterford Union |
| Eric |
Nolan |
DL |
Prairie du Chien, WI |
Prairie du Chien |
| Connor |
O'Brien |
WR |
Fort Atkinson, WI |
Fort Atkinson |
| Michael |
Ornek |
K |
Brookfield, WI |
Brookfield Academy |
| Nolan |
Paul |
WR |
Portage, WI |
Portage |
| Billy |
Pitroski |
DB |
Greenfield, WI |
Greenfield |
| Tyler |
Reichel |
WR |
Necedah, WI |
Necedah |
| Derek |
Rundquist |
DB |
Prescott, WI |
Prescott |
| Owen |
Rusch |
DL |
Waukesha, WI |
Catholic Memorial |
| Ethan |
Schmidt |
LB |
Lake Villa, IL |
Lakes Community |
| Cal |
Sebranek |
OL |
Green Bay, WI |
Preble |
| Trenton |
Sharkus |
LB |
Oconomowoc, WI |
Oconomowoc |
| Jaxon |
Soddy |
LB |
Milton, WI |
Milton |
| Wesley |
Sommers |
DB |
Appleton, WI |
Appleton North |
| Cameron |
Sorenson |
WR |
Oshkosh, WI |
Oshkosh North |
| AJ |
Spychala |
LB |
Muskego, WI |
Muskego |
| Lucas |
Statz |
DB |
Waunakee, WI |
Waunakee Community |
| Joey |
Stutzman |
RB |
Lake Zurich, IL |
Lake Zurich Senior |
| Dylan |
Sumnicht |
WR |
Shawano, WI |
Shawano |
| Skyler |
Theisen |
DB |
Marshfield, WI |
Marshfield |
| Brad |
Tobin |
DB |
Franklin, WI |
Franklin |
| Kyle |
Vaughan |
DL |
Gurnee, IL |
Warren Township |
| Chasten |
Vruwink |
OL |
Wisconsin Rapids, WI |
Lincoln |
| Nick |
Waldorf |
DL |
Stoughton, WI |
Stoughton |
| Zachary |
Wick |
LB |
Savage, MN |
Prior Lake |
| Brady |
Wieland |
DB |
Saint Francis, WI |
Saint Francis |
| Sam |
Wondrasch |
OL |
West St. Paul, MN |
St Croix Lutheran Academy |
| Brad |
Zachowski |
WR |
Germantown, WI |
Germantown |
| Jacob |
Zeilinger |
DL |
Durand, WI |
Durand |
"There was an urgency to add talent that would help us take the next step towards playoff and championship appearances," added Schmidt. "We found the talent, but more importantly we found the people who will fit our program. This class is a really special group.
"La Crosse is a premier college city and UW-La Crosse is a top-tier academic institution. We now have a Top-25 football team once again. It seems easy to promote the great things that are happening within UW-La Crosse football."
UW-La Crosse finished 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2017. Schmidt enters his third season as head coach in 2018 with 13-7 overall and 7-7 record in the WIAC. The Eagles' eight overall and five conference wins a year ago were the most since finishing 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the WIAC in 2006. A total of 14 players were named to the 2017 All-WIAC Team. UW-La Crosse finished 24th in the final 2017 D3football.com and 25th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top-25 Polls.
The Eagles are receiving votes on the 2018 D3football.com Preseason Poll.
The team set a single-season school record with 29 passing touchdowns a year ago. The Eagles' 200 completions, 381 attempts and 3,024 passing yards last year each rank second in single-season school history. UWL's 226 first downs a year ago rank fourth while its 4,312 total yards is fifth.
Opponents scored 151 points (15.1 average) in 2017 versus UW-La Crosse, the fewest points for an opponent since 2000. The Eagles allowed eight passing touchdowns, the fewest since 2000. UW-La Crosse also allowed 3,311 yards of offense, the fewest for an opponent since 2007.
The Eagles open their fall practice schedule Friday, August 10. UW-La Crosse starts its season Saturday, September 1 at Luther College (Iowa) at 1 p.m.
