Red River's Peyton Lotysz follows family tradition in choosing UND

The Lotysz connections run deep with the UND football program.

Grand Forks Red River offensive lineman Peyton Lotysz is keeping with the tradition, but he's ready to carve out his own path.

Lotysz, the son of former UND All-American offensive lineman Greg Lotysz, announced his commitment to UND on Thursday.

"I want to make my own name and that's what it came down to," Lotysz said. "I want to be my own person. I want to follow in my dad's footsteps, and I don't want to follow in his footsteps."

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Lotysz said the Fighting Hawks' coaching staff projects him as a guard or center, although he plays tackle for the Roughriders.

Lotysz said he chose UND in order to be closer to home and because of the recruiting efforts of first-year UND offensive line coach Joe Pawlak, new UND offensive coordinator Danny Freund and head coach Bubba Schweigert.

Lotysz was injured last fall in football, suffering a shoulder injury in Week 4 against Grand Forks Central. He later fully dislocated his labrum in a basketball game.

The injury forced Lotysz to miss the Red River basketball and baseball seasons.

"I'm pretty much fully recovered," he said. "It's almost six months now, and that's the time period it usually takes for labrum tears."

Peyton is the third member of UND's 2020 recruiting class and second from in-state. Mandan wide receiver-tight end Elijah Klein and Waconia (Minn.) High School offensive lineman Bennett Weber are the other two members of the recruiting class.

Greg Lotysz played at UND from 1995-98, earning All-America honors in 1998. He was selected third overall in the Canadian Football League Draft but opted to sign as a free agent with the New York Jets.

Greg made the Jets' practice squad as a rookie. In his second season, he suffered a major injury to his left knee in a preseason practice. Complications from knee surgery resulted in two postsurgical infections, ending his football career.

1. Elijah Klein, 6-7, 205, Mandan (N.D.) High School, WR-TE

Herald report

2. Bennett Weber, 6-5, 270, Waconia (Minn.) High School, OL

Herald report

1/2: Red River's Peyton Lotysz blocks a teammate holding a padded shield as part of a practice drill Wednesday afternoon at the school practice field. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

2/2: Left tackle Peyton Lotysz (center) breaks through during football practice at Red River High School late Wednesday afternoon. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald