The UND football team's season just ended last Saturday in a first round FCS playoff loss at Nicholls State, but the program's recruiting period is just heating up.
The Fighting Hawks landed two more verbal commitments in the past week for the 2020 recruiting class. The early signing period opens Dec. 18.
Wide receiver Marcus Preston of Lawrence, Kan., and athlete Max Gunderson of Detroit Lakes, Minn., delivered the latest commitments.
Gunderson, whose uncle Erik played at UND from 1995-98, played quarterback for the Lakers, who were 10-2 and eventually fell to Rocori in the section playoffs.
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I’m very exited and proud to say that I’ve chosen to further my football and academic career at the University of North Dakota! #gohawks @BubbaSchweigert pic.twitter.com/rROiyxdY8h
— Max Gunderson (@MaxGunderson30) December 3, 2019
Gunderson, who's listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, threw for 719 yards (36-for-67), nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran 110 times for 279 yards and four touchdowns.
Gunderson, who's a preferred walk-on for the Fighting Hawks, has a wide open college projection, ranging from quarterback to tight end to defensive line.
Preston, 6-2 and 175 pounds, played at Lawrence Free State, which went 8-2 in 2019. He finished with 35 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns.
Preston saved his best for last, putting up 140 and 150 receiving yards in his final two games.
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CHAPTER IV #Committed pic.twitter.com/BuqzJQREsV
— Marcus Preston (@marcuspreston_) November 29, 2019
Preston, who had Division II scholarship offers and a PWO opportunity at Kansas State, has an older brother Jordan, who is a freshman quarterback at the University of Kansas.
The rest of UND's 2020 recruiting class:
1. Elijah Klein, 6-7, 205, Mandan (N.D.) High School, WR-TE
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2. Bennett Weber, 6-5, 270, Waconia (Minn.) High School, OL
3. Peyton Lotysz, 6-3, 265, Grand Forks Red River, OL
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4. Andrew Fenton, 6-3, 260, Menomonie (Wis.), OL
5. Easton Kilty, 6-2, 260, Stratford, Wis., OL
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6. Chase Perchal, 5-11, 185, Omaha, Neb., S
7. Creighton Mitchell, 5-9, 190, Des Moines West Valley (Iowa), RB
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8. Craig Orlando, 6-3, 255, Verndale, Minn., NG
No highlights available
9. Sam Robertson, 6-1, 175, Wayzata High School (Minn.), CB
10. Isaiah Smith, 5-11, 190, Benilde-St. Margaret's, RB
11. Peyton Fisher, Fargo North, S (PWO)
12. Jack Ihry, 6-0, 200, Finley-Sharon-Hope Page, LB (PWO)
13. Jack Kuntz, 6-5, 280, Devils Lake, OL (PWO)
14. Dylan Boecker, 6-3, 200, Menonomie, Wis., LB (PWO)
15. Jack Wright, 6-0, 170, Tulsa (Regent Prep), WR
16. Bo Belquist, 6-0, 165, New Rockford-Sheyenne, WR
17. Quinn Urwiler, 6-1, 180, Batavia, Ill., LB
18. Wyatt Pedigo, 6-0, 205, Hoisington, Kan., LB
19. Kason Kelley, 6-2, 220, Omaha, Neb., ILB
20. Reid Neal, 6-2, 175, Yorktown, Ind., QB
