Full Release (pdf version)
 
Fayette, Iowa (Feb. 3, 2016) – The Upper Iowa University football team and coaching staff led by Head Coach Tom Shea announced its class of recruits for the 2016 season today.  The class includes commitments from sixteen student-athletes to attend Upper Iowa and compete for the 2016 Peacock football team.  The group includes student-athletes that signed National Letters of Intent or acceptance letters to Upper Iowa and also includes one student-athlete that began class at UIU in January.
 
Included in this class of recruits are five linebackers, three defensive linemen, three defensive backs, three offensive linemen and two quarterbacks.
 
Four of the signees are from Iowa, while the remaining twelve hail from two neighboring states; eight from Illinois and four from Wisconsin.
 
The Peacocks finished their 2015 season this past Saturday with a 6-5 overall record marking their third straight winning season with a 3-4 mark in the NSIC South Division. Upper Iowa's 3-1 record against the NSIC North Division included wins over Northern State University, the University of Minnesota Crookston and the University of Mary and a near-upset of then #25 University of Minnesota Duluth.  In the games against the South Division, the Peacocks picked up wins over Concordia University, St. Paul, Winona State University and Wayne State College. 
 
The six victories this season mark the 18th time a football team at UIU has reached the 6-win mark in the program's 121-year football history. The Peacocks, who only had five winning seasons prior to 2013 since 1966's 8-2 campaign, wrapped up just their 37th winning season in their history. The last time the Peacocks posted three straight winning seasons was 1962-64, more than 50 years ago.
 
Seven Peacocks were selected to represent Upper Iowa on the All-Northern Sun Conference teams this season. Two made a second straight appearance on the All-NSIC South Division First Team, two made the Second Team and three more were named to the Honorable Mention list.  Three of the Peacocks were from the defensive side of the ball, while three more came from the offense and one from special teams. The seven selected were seniors Alex Wahl (1st Team LB), Jevell Rollins (1st Team DL) and Cole Stephen (1st Team LB), juniors Jalen Chambers (2nd Team OL), Jalen Amis (Hon. Mention WR) and Trey MacTaggart (Hon. Mention WR), as well as sophomore punter Nate Skare (2nd Team).
 
Upper Iowa graduated 10 players off last year's squad including all three starting linebackers as well a pair of standouts on the offensive and defensive lines. The team will hit spring practice with 85 players still on the roster including four All-NSIC performers.
 
2016 Upper Iowa Football Offensive Commitments
 
LINEBACKERS (5)
 

	Conrad Daggett                6-1          210         River Falls, Wis. (River Falls HS)                     Information Technology Three-year letter winner at River Falls High School… earned All-Conference Honorable Mention specialist for athletes that played offense, defense and special teams… named All-State Honorable mention for wrestling… son of Patrick and Suzanne Daggett.
	Sam Jennings                     6-2          250         Winfield, Iowa (Winfield Mt. Union HS)          Undecided Named 2015 First Team All-State by the Des Moines Register, Second Team INA All-State at linebacker… 2014 First Team All-State Punter… 2015 District A-6 Defensive MVP… two-time First Team All-District, All-Hawkeye Defensive Team, Golden Triangle Team… 283.5 career tackles… set school record for solo tackles in a season… son of Gerald and Karen Jennings.
	Eric Munoz                          6-0          200         Belvidere, Ill. (Belvidere HS)                                Sports and Exercise Science Stateline two-way Player of the Year… All-Conference linebacker as a senior… honors graduate… son of Gerardo and Bertha Munoz.
	Keith Schwickerath         6-0          225         Garner, Iowa (Iowa Western CC/Garner-Hayfield-Ventura HS)                                  Finance Enrolled at Upper Iowa for the spring term of 2016… earned MFC Second Team All-Conference at Iowa Western Community College… Was a three-time All-District player at Garner-Hayfield/Ventura high school… led GHV with 62 tackles, including 12 for loss and 5.5 sacks, as a senior… son of Kevin and Michele Schwickerath.
	Mitchel Siech                     6-1          200         Denver, Iowa (Denver Community HS)      Undecided Led Denver with 1,680 yards rushing to go with 27 touchdowns, while adding 5 catches for a team-high 154 yards and 3 touchdowns… led the Denver defense with 66 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks… picked off a pair of passes, including an 83-yard return for a touchdown… was named First Team All-State in football and baseball… First Team All-District in football, baseball and track… First Team Academic All-State… son of Jen and Kevin Siech.

 
 
DEFENSIVE LINE (3)
 

	Joseph Milliken                 6-2          220         Winslow, Ill. (Lena-Winslow HS)                                Conservation Management Two-way player on the offensive and defensive line as a senior and earned All-Conference honors… won the 2013 1A State Championship… won the conference title in the discus in track… earned honor roll all four years… son of Brad and Jenny Milliken.
	Adam Skaletski                 6-3          295         Denmark, Wis. (Denmark HS)                                Education Earned First Team All-Conference as a senior… was named to Second Team All-Conference as a junior… made the Green Bay Gazette All-Area Honorable Mention both years… played in the Wisconsin Senior State All-Star Game… son of Todd and Donna Skaletski.
	David Charnot                   6-2          240         Orland, Ill. (Providence Catholic HS)                       Business Was named All-Conference CCL Blue… 2014 Illinois 7A State Champions… captain as a senior… Academic All-State… National Honor Society member… son of Dave and Christine Charnot.

 
 
DEFENSIVE BACKS (3)
 

	Issiah Dunson                    5-9          166         Joliet, Ill. (Plainfield Central HS)                                Business Two-time All-Conference team honoree… 3 interceptions as a junior… son of Lilly Dunson.
	Willie Rodriguez                5-8          165         Montgomery, Ill. (Oswego HS)                                Business Administration Earned SPC All-Conference honors as a senior… made 78 career tackles… had 5 career interceptions and 1 fumble recovery… son of Lolita Salas.
	Logan Whitman                 5-10       180         Sterling, Ill. (Newman Central Catholic HS)    Conservation Management Named Second Team All-Conference as a senior… played both running back and linebacker… won the Sportsmanship Award… son of Tom and Shelly Whitman.

 
 
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (3)
 

	Logan Bulich                       6-5          295         Wauconda, Ill. (Wauconda HS)      Computer Science Three-year starter on the offensive line… helped lead the team to a 6A playoff berth… twice named offensive player of the week (Sept. 4, Oct. 16)… son of Daniel and Rebecca Bulich.
	Trevor Dolezal                   6-6          300         Marshalltown, Iowa (Marshalltown HS)             Computer Science Played for Iowa in the River Battle Bowl… was invited to the Grind & Shine OL/DL Showcase… two-time All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree… son of Wendell and Jami Dolezal.
	Carmen Rigdon                 6-0          255         Hazel Green, Wis. (Southwestern HS)            Criminal Justice Named 2015 First Team All-Conference in the SWAL… Telegraph Herald 2015 Honorable Mention All-Area… gave up just two sacks during his senior season… son of William and Jennifer Rigdon.

 
 
QUARTERBACKS (2)
 

	Jacob Banfield                   6-0          185         Hazel Green, Wis. (Southwestern HS)            Criminal Justice Started both ways at quarterback and defensive back as a junior and senior... threw for 1,013 yards, rushed for another 501 yards, and had 20 total touchdowns… earned 2015 SWAL All-Conference Honorable Mention as a quarterback… named team MVP, offensive player of the year and team captain as a senior… son of Tony and Peggy Banfield.
	Kyle Domin                         6-4          200         Westmont, Ill. (Westmont HS)                   Athletic Training Earned All-Area honors as a senior… was named to All-Conference and All-Area as a junior… 2015 Suburban Life Player to Watch… son of Mike and Lynn Domin.