FULL RELEASE WITH INDIVIDUAL BIOS ON UIU COMMITS

Fayette, Iowa (Feb. 5, 2014) – The Upper Iowa University football team and coaching staff led by Head Coach Tom Shea announced its class of recruits for the 2014 season today. The class includes commitments from thirty-four student-athletes to attend Upper Iowa and compete for the 2014 Peacock football team. The group includes student-athletes that signed National Letters of Intent or acceptance letters to Upper Iowa and also includes two student-athletes that began class at UIU in January.

Included in this class of recruits are six offensive linemen, five linebackers, five defensive linemen, five wide receivers, four defensive backs, three quarterbacks, two running backs, two kickers and a pair of athletes. Fourteen of the signees are from Iowa, while eighteen others hail from four neighboring states; nine from Wisconsin, four from Minnesota, four from Illinois, and one from Nebraska. The final two commitments come from California and New Jersey.

The Peacocks finished their 2013 season this with a 6-5 overall record. The six wins tripled their total in 2012 and marked the first time the team has put together a winning season at the NCAA Division II level since becoming an official DII member prior to the 2005 season.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference named nine Peacocks to the All-NSIC South Division Teams. Juniors Chris Smith (RB) and Lucas Hefty (TE) joined senior linebacker Ethan Douglas on the All-NSIC South Division First Team, while senior Keaton Martin (DB) lined up alongside juniors Casey Beck (OT) and Keaton Hosch (WR) on the All-NSIC South Division Second Team. Seniors Jordan Andera (DB) and Alex Gonzalez (C), along with junior wide receiver Derek Giesking were named All-NSIC South Division Honorable Mention.

Two major records fell this season as both quarterback Cole Jaeschke and running back Chris Smith became the all-time leaders in career passing yards and career rushing yards, respectively. Both Peacocks will return to lead the Upper Iowa offense next season as seniors.

2014 Upper Iowa Football Commitments

Offensive Linemen (6)
Wayne Doerscher	6-2	295	Bloomfield, Iowa (Davis County HS)
Ryan Eiche	6-4	295	Appleton, Wis. (Appleton North HS)
Chris Kragnes	6-3	280	Des Moines, Iowa (Roosevelt HS)
Garrett Rano	6-1	260	Appleton, Wis. (Appleton HS)
Quintin Taylor	6-2	270	Atkins, Iowa (Benton Community HS)
Ross Westphal	6-4	310	Clintonville, Wis. (Clintonville HS)
Linebackers (5)
Tristan Beyer	6-0	205	Fairfax, Iowa (Prairie HS)
Blake Emsick	6-2	217	Omaha, Neb. (Burke HS)
Zack Ford	6-0	208	Kenosha, Wis. (Tremper HS)
Evan Gibson	6-1	230	Lake Geneva, Wis. (Badger City HS)
Dylan Preston	6-2	225	Guttenberg, Iowa (Clayton Ridge HS)
Defensive Linemen (5)
Austin Buck	6-2	245	Goodhue, Minn. (Goodhue HS)
Jesse Hynek	6-4	200	Swisher, Iowa (Prairie HS)
Garrett Johnston	6-2	255	Linden, Iowa (Panorama HS)
Dalton Lape	5-10	260	West Union, Iowa (North Fayette Valley HS)
Gary M. Rubalcava *	6-2	280	Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (East LA Coll. / St. Paul HS)
Wide Receivers (5)
Erik Cunningham	6-0	170	Loves Park, Ill. (Harlem HS)
Matt Danielson	5-11	180	Mason City, Iowa (Mason City HS)
Austin Dittmer	6-4	195	Indianola, Iowa (Indianola HS)
Hunter Mueller	6-2	195	Plainfield, Iowa (Nashua-Plainfield HS)
Zach Royston	6-2	155	LeRoy, Minn. (LeRoy-Ostrender HS)
Defensive Backs (4)
Jacob Black	6-0	190	Solon, Iowa (Solon HS)
Javon Moore *	6-1	170	Union, N.J. (Savannah State Univ. / Union HS)
Jordan Wymer	5-9	175	Solon, Iowa (Solon HS)
Kyle Bradham	5-10	170	Matteson, Ill. (Rich South HS)
Quarterbacks (3)
William Buege	6-1	185	Kenosha, Wis. (Tremper HS)
Zach Gianakos	6-2	175	Kenosha, Wis. (Indian Trail HS)
Michael Hoover	5-11	180	Markham, Ill. (Rich Central HS)
Running Backs (2)
Gregory Lewis III	5-8	206	Milwaukee, Wis. (Wauwatosa West HS)
Loren Lorang	5-10	210	Rochester, Minn. (Mayo HS)
Kickers (2)
Nate Skare	6-2	195	Chatfield, Minn. (Chatfield HS)
Austin Vaughn	6-0	165	Garwin, Iowa (Green Mountain - Garwin HS)
Athletes (2)
James Hoffman	5-10	180	Clayton, Wis. (Clayton HS)
Cullen Rompa	5-10	185	Bolingbrook, Ill. (Plainfield East HS)
* Javon Moore (DB) and Gary Rubalcava (DL) began classes at Upper Iowa in Jan. 2014.