We have confirmed that UND has received a verbal commitment from Class 4A powerhouse St. Thomas Academy’s ball-hawking linebacker Will Ratelle.  After being ranked #1 for most of the year in Minnesota Class 4A, a heart-breaking loss ended their season in the semi-finals against eventual state champ Totino-Grace.  Ratelle has great instincts, reads plays well, has a great motor from sideline to sideline, is a sure tackler and defends both the run and pass exceptionally well.

Thunder Lake Lodge

The 5-11 225 lb Ratelle has built up quite a resume’ from this past season:

  • 2010 Classic Suburban Football Defensive Player of the Year
  • Minnesota Vikings All-State Team
  • Pioneer Press All-State Football
  • Star Tribune All-Metro Football
  • KARE11 All-Metro Football

Ratelle projects as either an inside linebacker or fullback at the college level.  Either way the Sioux have to be excited to get a player of his pedigree from such an established successful program in Head Coach Dave Ziebarth’s St. Thomas Academy Cadets.

Senior youtube highlights
2010 Star Tribune All-Metro Team

EDIT:  Will Ratelle was just named to the 2010 Minnesota AP All-State 1st Team at linebacker (special thanks to UND92,96 for the heads-up).

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