State of
MINNESOTA
2009 Gopher Minnesotans
Name METRO Ra’Shede Hageman Kyle Henderson Kim Royston Shady Salamon Willie Schneider Nedward Tavale
Pos.
Hometown
High School
TE DB DB RB FB OG
Minneapolis Minneapolis Minneapolis South St. Paul St. Paul St. Paul
Washburn Cretin-Derham Hall Cretin-Derham Hall Cretin-Derham Hall Henry Sibley
WEST SUBURBS Ryan Grant Adam Lueck Zach Mottla Ryan Orton Mike Rallis Nathan Triplett Ryan Wynn
LB QB OL OL DB LB OL
Eden Prairie Eden Prairie Edina Eden Prairie Edina Maple Plain Plymouth
Eden Prairie Eden Prairie Cretin-Derham Hall Eden Prairie Edina Delano Maple Grove
SOUTH SUBURBS Moses Alipate Andy Brinkhaus Trey Davis Matt Garin Barrett Moen Ryan Ruckdashel
QB OL OL DE OL OL
Bloomington Bloomington Farmington Apple Valley Bloomington Apple Valley
Jefferson Jefferson Farmington Eastview Jefferson Eastview
NORTH SUBURBS Matt Carufel Ed Cotton Eric Ellestad Tyler Johnson Sam Maresh Damola Ogundipe Adam Weber
OL FB K RB LB RB QB
Forest Lake Champlin Brooklyn Park Fridley Champlin New Brighton Shoreview
Cretin-Derham Hall Champlin Park Armstrong Concordia Academy Champlin Park Irondale Mounds View
EAST SUBURBS Collin McGarry Ed Olson Jay Thomas
TE OL RB
Stillwater Mahtomedi Oakdale
Stillwater Mahtomedi Tartan
CENTRAL Eric Decker Kyle Dykstra Jon Hoese Nick Rengel Matt Stommes David Stommes
WR DL S FB OL OL
Cold Spring Princeton Glencoe Sartell Richmond Eden Valley
Rocori Princeton Glencoe-Silver Lake Sartell Eden Valley-Watkins Eden Valley-Watkins
NORTH Chase Haviland
DB
Thief River Falls
Lincoln
SOUTH Anthony Jacobs Ben Kuznia Marcus Sherels Patrick Sveum Jeff Tow-Arnett Nathan Tow-Arnett Nick Tow-Arnett
DE WR WR LB OG DB TE
Northfield Olivia Rochester Rochester Redwood Falls Redwood Falls Redwood Falls
Northfield BOLD John Marshall Century Redwood Falls Redwood Falls Redwood Falls
Willie VanDeSteeg
Silver Lake, Minn. • Defensive End • Baltimore Ravens “The University of Minnesota has a great football tradition and being a Minnesota kid, I wanted to help keep it moving in the right direction. There have been a lot of great players who have come through these halls. It was important for me to be part of that tradition and to play for my home state. It means even more to me now that we are embracing our former players because I will be part of that history some day. I can already say that I made the right decision to play here and have been part of great experiences that I will never forget. I hope that young kids look at the guys from Minnesota who came here to play and want to do the same.”
Adam Weber
Shoreview, Minn. • Captain • Quarterback “For Minnesota guys like me or Eric Decker, the coolest thing about being a captain and being a part of the team, especially this year, is having a chance to help lead this team to a Big Ten Championship. Every fan I talk to is so excited about our team and can’t wait for the Minnesota program to get back to that point. Being a Minnesota fan all my life, having the opportunity to play on this team is an awesome experience.”
Darrell Thompson
Rochester, Minn. • former NFL running back All-time leading rusher in U of M history
“The decision to stay at home, attend Minnesota and play football for the Golden Gophers provided me with a number of opportunities, both academically and athletically. It’s a great environment and I truly enjoyed my college experience. After graduation, the Twin Cities area is a wonderful place to live with lots of job opportunities. That’s why so many former Golden Gophers decide to make this their home when their college football days are over.”
25 * Minnesota Football