Lights add to stellar recruiting class

The Montana State University-Northern football team is putting the finishing touches on its 2013 recruiting class. And on Monday, Northern head coach Mark Samson announced the signing of 11 more recruits.

Havre High senior Zach Plum fields a punt during a Central A football game back in October at the Blue Pony Stadium. Plum is one of 11 new signees for the Montana State University-Northern football team. The Lights have now signed 32 new players for their 2013 recruiting class. Northern begins spring drills March 22.

Among the list is Havre Blue Pony senior Zach Plum. The 5-10 wide receiver/defensive back had a breakout 2012 season for the Blue Ponies, in which he broke the HHS record for interceptions in a season with nine, as well as set several receiving records to boot. Plum was named First-team Class A All-State at both positions and earned a selection to the 2013 Shrine Game.

MSU-N also inked Choteau standout linebacker Owen DeBruckyer (5-10, 215). A Class B First-Team All-State selection, as well as a Shrine Game selection, DeBruckyer also recently won the B-C 215-pound wrestling state title. Other Montana prep commits to the Lights include, Mark Mozzoni (6-1, 240), a defensive lineman from Bozeman High, Lane Urick (6-1, 280), a defensive tackle from Great Falls High, Quinn McDaniel (6-0, 235), a offensive lineman from Billings Senior and Tony Butler (6-0, 165), a defensive back and wide receiver from Boulder, who earned Class B All-State honors.

The Lights also inked some more beef in the form of offensive line transfer Cory Ellerbee (6-3, 305) from Fairfield, Calif. He will transfer to Northern from Laney Community College in Oakland, Calif. He is expected to compete for a starting spot on Northern O-Line immediately.

From the prep ranks, Northern is also bringing in Mario Gobbato, a 5-9, 170-pound running back from Blaine, Wash. He set a Washington state record with 2,821 yards this past season, as well as a state record with 480 yards in a single game. He ran for 5,958 yards in his career, which is fifth all-time in the state. Tyson Ernst, a 6-1, 195-pound safety and running back from Fallon, Nev., also signed. He was all conference and all state at both positions and is Nevada's reigning state champion in the 100 and 200 meters as well as the long jump and triple jump. Austin Schroeder, a 6-0, 220-pound fullback from Emmett High in Emmett, Idaho will also join the Lights this fall. He earned all-state honors this past season. Rounding out the group is 6-4, 275-pound defensive tackle Casey Reamer from Consul, Sask., in Canada.

"We are very excited to announce the signings of these 11 student-athletes. All of them are great competitors and will represent our program very well on and off the field," MSU-N head coach Mark Samson said. "We have signed some very talented high school kids and one transfer that will be great additions to an already solid recruiting class. A Few of these young men will have the ability to see the field very early in their careers and others will definitely be guys that we will count on in a couple years from now."

"A lot of these guys are multi sport athletes that love to compete year round which is something what we definitely are looking for in a recruit," he continued. "Cory will have the ability to come in and compete right away for a starting job on our O-line. We have pretty much wrapped up our recruiting for the year and are anxious to get out and start spring ball. We have had a great winter so far with our workouts and conditioning program and are very excited to get on the field and start playing football again."

The Lights have signed a total of 32 new players this year. Northern will begin spring practice on March 22. The Lights open the 2013 season at Carroll College on Sept. 7.