mlteacherundalum

I actually think what you described is what happened at NDSU. He really had a great camp last summer at NDSU, won some award for DL play and cemented himself as a prospect. I think his main recruiter moved on to Wyoming but the position coach is the same. I think he felt a sense of obligation to NDSU but actually when he looked at the investment in building relationships with him and his family UND and UNI showed him he knew he had to eliminate NDSU as a destination. More speculation but I think if UND staff had the longstanding relationship that some on the NDSU staff had this thing would have been done weeks ago. UNI is an established power versus the potential for UND to rise again might be the issue. I think the people part of it is about the same for him.

From my understanding of it, it is down to UND and UNI. I believe he cancelled a visit to WIU for this weekend. I think both UNI and UND have really connected with Ezra and his family during visits to his home and he is really conflicted about having to disappoint people he has really grown to like, respect and could see himself playing for. Just my own speculation.

For what is it worth. Its been pretty amusing to watch some of the speculation on Ezra from my point of view. It seems his recruitment has become the first battleground in winning back the state of Minnesota with regards to football recruiting for UND. As I understand it sounds like UND gave up recruiting Minny hard during Muss' tenure, leaving only really NDSU to recruit Minny, with the occasional Minnesota recruit going to UNI. Sounds like NDSU has taken advantage of this by offering lots of Minnesota kids(especially small school kids) partials or PWOs over the last several years and than developing those kids into great players. Ezra seems to fit this mold. However, now that Coach Schweigert and company have obviously re-committed to recruiting the state of Minnesota and the rest of the Upper Midwest this is going to be the first of many battles for years to come. NDSU may not be able to get the talented MInny recruit at a discounted price for much longer. As far as Ezra goes I know he really liked what he saw at NDSU but felt strongly about visiting UND as he has been really impressed with how Bubba has recruited him. NDSU was not pleased about the visit to UND but eventually relented. Ezra was impressed with every aspect of the visit especially considering how knew the staff is. Speculating I think Ezra was put off by NDSU and how they reacted to him wanting to take a visit to UND. Not speculating Ezra walked away from NDSU not the other way around and NDSU was a bit shocked and none to happy about it. Think it has less to do with money and friendship as some have speculated and more to do with how each school has recruited Ezra. UND has been on at least 5 visits to his home including 2 from Bubba and UNI has been there like 6 times often bring both the recruiter for Minny and Byrce Paup. I believe UNI is actually offering a full ride and see Ezra as a top target. I think NDSU thought they could get Ezra on the cheap like they have with many small school kids in the upper Midwest. They figured since they were in fact the first to offer a scholly, along with their tradition, and their recent success he would remain loyal to them. Seems like the UND and UNI staff see him as a top target and what 18 year old kid would not want to be treated as such. I know he is really conflicted about the decision that remains btw UND and UNI, thus the reason for no decision.