2018 – Season Outlook & Countdown

[Pant8her]

#64 Hezekiah Applegate
Position: Defensive Line
Height: 6-2
Weight: 285
Class: Junior
Hometown: Johnston, Iowa
High School: Johnston HS

2017: Played in 13 games for UNI, starting three for the Panthers on the defensive line... finished the season with 24 total tackles, with 12 being solos... tied for third on the team after sacking the quarterback three times... made 5.5 tackles for loss on the season... earned a season-high six tackles against Cal Poly (9/9)... collected a career-high four assists against the Mustangs, while earning his first sack of the season against Cal Poly (9/9)... Recorded a career-high two sacks against Youngstown State (10/21)... earned 1.5 tackles for loss against Monmouth (11/25).

2016: Saw action in all 11 games, starting nine on the defensive line ... was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team ... finished the season with 31 tackles, including 7.0 for loss and 4.0 sacks ... opened the season with seven tackles that included 2.5 for loss and a sack against Iowa State (9/3) ... recorded seven tackles along with 1.5 for a loss of four yards against #14 Montana (9/10) ... recorded a sack for a loss of two yards against Southern Illinois (10/1) ... notched three tackles, a sack for a loss of three yards and a quarterback hurry in UNI's win over Missouri State (10/22) ... also had two solo tackles against #4 North Dakota State (10/29).

2015: Redshirted.

High School: Started and was the team captain for the varsity football team at Johnston High School for three years … received the Golden Hammer Award (Defensive MVP) and is a two-time winner of the Johnston Lineman of the Year award … also earned Des Moines Register All-Iowa Western Class 4A, first-team All-State 4A and Elite All-State in 2014 … named to the Iowa Newspaper Association first-team Class 4A along with Sports Spotlight first-team Class 4A … is a two-time Coaches first-team All-Division selection … was named to the Des Moines Register second-team All-State and Iowa Preps second-team All-State in 2013 … selected to the Coaches All-Division second-team in 2012 … also lettered in track and field, qualifying for the Drake Relays in the shot put.

Personal: Son of Doug and Michelle … was a member of the student council … mentors sixth and seventh graders in the community … avid member during mission trips across the country ... majoring in criminology.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

Down to 63 Days until Panther Football begins
Go PANTHERS!

#63 Nate Murphy
Position: Placekicker
Height: 6-0
Weight: 166
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa
High School: Valley HS

2017: Redshirted.

High School: Letter winner at Valley High School for Gary Swenson … helped his team to a conference championship, eventually advancing to the state quarterfinals … was 4-for-4 from field goal range his senior season, also hitting in a career-long 49-yarder.

Personal: Son of Craig and Shaunda Murphy … has one brother, Carl … both parents are graduates of UNI.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

Murphy is that you?

[Pant8her]

62 Days until Panther Football begins

Go PANTHERS!

#62 Sam Drysdale
Position: Placekicker
Height: 6-4
Weight: 180
Class: Junior
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
High School: Cedar Rapids Prairie HS

2017: Earned All-American status, after being named HERO Sports All-Sophomore Team Honorable Mention... Saw action in 12 games for UNI... chipped in 17 of his 21 field goal attempts... his 17 makes are tied for 10th-most in a season at UNI... went 37-of-39 on PATs... aided UNI's red zone scoring, with the Panthers capping the season ranked first in the FCS for that category... made a career-high four field goals against Missouri State (11/11), while knocking in a career-long 47-yarder against the Bears... knocked in three field goals against Monmouth (11/25).

2016: Saw action in three games ... went 4-for-4 in field goals in UNI's win over Indiana State (11/5), earning MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week ... scored a career-long 40-yarder against the Sycamores ... had a career-high 112 kickoff yards in UNI's win at #18 Western Illinois (11/12), also knocking in a 21-yard field goal ... scored a 20-yard field goal against #8 South Dakota State (11/19).

2015: Redshirted.

High School: Was a two-year starter at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School … broke the school record for longest field goal with his 50-yarder … also played soccer for four years in high school … started on varsity as part of the state qualifying teams his freshman and sophomore seasons … earned honorable mention Mississippi Valley Conference and second-team All-Metro in 2012 … was also awarded the Best Newcomer Award.

Personal: Son of Steve and Amanda Drysdale … was a part of the Honor Roll for three years … majoring in computer science.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

61 Days until Panther Football begins
Go PANTHERS!

#61 Matthew Vanderslice
Position: Offensive Lineman
Height: 6-7
Weight: 257
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Olathe, Kan.
High School: Northwest HS

2017: Saw limited action in 2017, while earning a starting nod once for the Panthers at tight end against Missouri State (11/11).

High School: Letter winner at Olathe Northwest High School for coach Chip Sherman … second-team All-Sunflower League his senior season … named one of the top-25 tight ends in the state in 2016 … also lettered in basketball as a junior and senior.

Personal: Son of Rick and Bev Vanderslice … has two brothers, Jake and Zach.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

60 Days until Panther Football begins
Go PANTHERS!

No one assigned to number 60 yet.

If someone has UNI trivia with 60 please feel free to chime in.

[Big Cats]

This is what I found:
In 1964, Terry Sturdevant returned a fumble 60 yards for a touchdown vs NDSU. I was 11 years old at the time.

[Pant8her]

Happy 4^th of July

Today we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence 242 years ago.
Be safe and enjoy the freedom that comes with a cost.
Thank any soldier and veteran as they served this country,
especially those that served overseas in combat or dangerous places.

Now on with the countdown.
We are now only 59 days away from the beginning of UNI's fall football campaign.


#59 Max Erpelding
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-0
Weight: 260
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
High School: Bettendorf

2017: Saw limited action in 2017 on the offensive line.

2016: Redshirted.

High School: Played football at Bettendorf High School ... was a four-sport athlete all four years of high school ... lettered in football, track and field, wrestling and baseball ... was a state qualifier and place-winner in wrestling ... also qualified for state in the shot put ... was a co-captain for baseball, wrestling and track and field ... earned Bettendorf High School Athlete of the Year and was the recipient of the Bernie Saggau Award.

Personal: Son of Tim and Theresa ... has three siblings, Grace, Maggie and Ellie ... uncle, Andy, played football at Northwest Missouri State ... was a part of the Honor Roll all four years ... earned Academic All-Conference.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

Good evening Panthernation, hope all is well with you.
58 days to go
Go Panthers!

#58 Austin Errthum
Position: Placekicker
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Class: Senior
Hometown: Kalona, Iowa
High School: Mid-Prairie

2017: Made 3-of-4 field goals on the season... Also connected on all three PATs in 2017... Handled most of the kickoff duties, earning 76 kickoffs for 33 touchbacks... Made 2-of-3 field goals against Southern Utah (9/16), while making a career-long 42-yarder... Made one field goal against Monmouth (11/25), which was a 23-yarder.

2016: Saw action in nine games ... was third on the team in scoring with 34 points on 16 PATs and six field goals ... averaged 63.5 yards on kickoffs against Iowa State (9/3) ... scored a 29-yard field goal at South Dakota (10/8) ... was 2-for-2 from field goal range and 7-for-8 in PATs in UNI's win against Missouri State (10/22) ... scored a career-long 33-yarder against the Bears ... was 2-for-2 in field goals against #4 North Dakota State (10/29), including a 30-yarder.

2015: Redshirted.

Prior to UNI: Played soccer at Drake in 2014 ... played in all 19 games as a freshman.

High School: Competed in sports at Mid-Prairie High School ... earned all-state as a kicker three consecutive seasons on the Mid-Prairie High School varsity football team ... made a 58-yard field goal as a junior ... was a midfielder for the Golden Hawks soccer team, helping his team to a state runner-up finish as a senior, earning all-state honors ... was also all-state as a junior and sophomore ... set the school record for career goals and assists.

Personal: Son of Jamey and Katie Errthum ... majoring in biology.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

58 Days

The number 58 has not been assigned yet.

A bit of trivia: in 2005 UNI scored 58 TD's. 51 PATs, and 16 FG's. That year UNI was 7-4 during the regular season and won a share of the conference, but had the tie breaker. SIU and YSU also got into the playoffs in 2005. UNI played #15 EWU at home in the first round (41-38 victory) and went on to beat top rated teams on the road (#1UNH 24-21 and #4 Texas State 40-37) to get to the National Championship game to play Appalachian State in a tough game where unfortunately UNI lost 16-21.


Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

Only 57 days until your UNI Panther Football season begins

Go PANTHERS!

#57 Joe Friedrich
Position: Longsnapper
Height: 6-0
Weight: 206
Class: Junior
Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa
High School: Janesville

2017: Handled long-snapping duties for the Panthers in all 13 games... made two tackles on the season... recovered one fumble against South Dakota State (10/14).

2016: Saw action in eight games as a snapper ... played mostly with the field goal and PAT units ... helped the PAT and FG units to a team-high 59 points.

High School: Lettered in football at Janesville High School ... was a team captain and three-year varsity letter winner ... was a two-time all-district selection ... helped his team to a district championship ... also lettered in basketball and track and field.

Personal: Son of Shannon and Brynn ... majoring in accounting ... was a part of the Honor roll all four years ... earned academic all-district for football three years and academic all-conference four years in a row.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

Sorry, I was a day off and we are at 56 days....

#56 Ricky Grimes
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 228
Class: Junior
Hometown: Eldridge, Iowa
High School: North Scott High School

2017: Did not see action in 2017.

2016: Saw action against Missouri State (10/22) and Indiana State (11/5) as a reserve linebacker.

2015: Redshirted.

High School: Was a three-year varsity letter winner at North Scott High School ... is a two-time first-team All-State and All-District honoree ... was also selected to the All-Metro first-team ... named team captain ... invited to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl ... had 28 TDs, 148 receptions and 1,590 yards through the air ... also lettered in basketball and track and field ... was a two-time All-Conference selection in basketball and helped his team to a 4A state championship ... was a two-time state qualifier in track, earning All-Conference twice.

Personal: Son of Richard and Tracy Grimes ... was awarded the IHSAA Academic Excellence Achievement Award.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

Only 55 days until your UNI Panther Football season begins
Go PANTHERS!

#55 Colton Lueck
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-4
Weight: 286
Class: Junior
Hometown: Dyersville, Iowa
High School: Beckman Catholic High School

2017: Saw limited action in 2017.

2016: Saw action in five games as a reserve on the offensive line.

2015: Redshirted.

High School: Lettered in football at Beckman Catholic High School ... was invited to play at the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star game as a senior.

Personal: Son of Chuck and Lynn ... majoring in elementary education and middle level education.

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

We are down to 53 days to go until the fall football season starts.
Go PANTHERS!

#53 Weston Schultz
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Mason City, Iowa
High School: Mason City

2017: Did not see action in 2017.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2017 graduate of Mason City High School ... all-area team selection ... posted 47 solo tackles with 13 tackles-for-loss and six quarterback sacks in 2016 ... honor roll student ... member of National Honor Society ... letterwinner in baseball (3), football (3) and track (3).

PERSONAL: Son of Royce and Jean Schultz ... has two siblings (Landon and Meagan) ... born April 18, 1999, in Mason City, Iowa ... majoring in biology ... selected UNI because of the "great atmosphere and I have been a fan my whole life."

Go PANTHERS!

[Pant8her]

52 days and counting down
Go PANTHERS!

#52 Zac Ebeling
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-0
Weight: 220
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Mount Pleasant, Iowa
High School: Mount Pleasant

2017: Did not see action in 2017.

High School: A 2017 graduate of Mount Pleasant IA High School ... three year varsity football starter and letterman for head coach Shawn Striegel ... team captain as a senior … earned first-team all-district as a junior and a senior ... first-eam all-Hawkeye defensive team ... first-team all-GTNS … posted 60 tackles with eight tackles-for-loss and four sacks in 2016 ... lettered in baseball being a three-year varsity starter while earning first-team all-conference honors his senior year along with first-team all-Hawkeye and GTNS team ... also voted the offensive player of the year ... led the team in RBI his senior season.

Personal: Son of Chad & Angie Ebeling ... two brothers (Kaleb, Kameron), one sister (Lydia) ... majoring in business.

Go PANTHERS!