Article

For Maverick Football...Cheddar is Better

North Central Conference head coaches love recruiting the state of Wisconsin, a place where Mavericks head coach Jeff Jamrog and staff have had plenty of success.

by Dan Myers
April 06, 2006

You can’t go wrong in Milwaukee.

Not exactly a catch phrase that’s sweeping the nation. But it is sweeping the ranks of the North Central Conference football recruiting ranks.

With no Division II schools in the land of cheese, many of Wisconsin’s best players – at least the ones that don’t get recruited by the University of Wisconsin – are left scrambling for the nearest Division II school. For many, that means moving west, where Minnesota has eight such schools.

“There is a lot of talent to be had in Wisconsin,” said Mavericks head coach Jeff Jamrog.

A lot might be an understatement.

According to MSU defensive coordinator Ken Gordon, the Milwaukee recruiting coordinator for the Mavs, each team in the NCC aims high in the area. And in the battle for Wisconsin, the Mavericks have come out winners each of the past two offseasons. Fifteen of the 23 Mavericks that will join Minnesota State in the fall are from the Badger State.

The best player in the area last season was running back Dante Steward. The all-state back from John Marshall High School was also named all-region and earned Milwaukee Player of the Year honors. Steward will be a Maverick this fall, and will have a chance to earn playing time right away.

“Physically, he has all the tools,” Gordon said. “He isn’t coming here to redshirt either. He wants to play.”

Another intriguing prospect from the Milwaukee area is 6-4 285 pound lineman Jeremy Clark. Named all-conference on offense as well as defense, Clark fits in as a Maverick with Gordon and the defense. But the door is always open for him to switch.

“Many schools were recruiting him hard as an offensive player,” Jamrog said. “We told him we would give him a chance to be a defensive player.”

The biggest player in the recruiting class is also from the land to the east. Offensive tackle Eric Spiekerman, of West Bend, stands 6-8 and 420 lbs. but will likely redshirt this up coming season.

“He’s really a smart kid. He scored a 29 on his ACT,” Jamrog said. “And if you looked at him, you wouldn’t guess he weighs 420. He’s big and athletic; looks a lot like Andre the Giant.”

Other key players include linebackers Brandon Pete, whose father spent six seasons in the National Football League. Kevin Klug, a Caledonia, Minn., native has a twin brother that is headed to Iowa. Both were recruited by various Division I schools, and both are expected to compete for starting jobs as true freshman.

“We will play the best players,” Jamrog said. “If they happen to be freshmen, that’s fine. We played 10 freshmen last season.”

Traditionally, Wisconsin has been a great breeding ground for Maverick football. Right now, 30 members of the team, including current starters at running back (Dan Smedberg), tight end (Dan Harke), offensive tackle (Adam VanZeeland) and a possible starter at quarterback (Ben King) are all Wisconsin natives. An All-NCC linebacker in 2004, former Maverick Adam Stroik was also from Wisconsin.