Over 50 freshmen and transfers will be on hand on Aug. 21 for the start of preseason practice, UW-River Falls Head Coach John O'Grady announced today.

That number includes one first team all-state player, four others who received all-state honorable mention, and two all-area players of the year.  

"Nate Anderson, our all-time leading rusher, and eight linemen graduate this spring, so our recruiting priorities this year are quite obvious," said O'Grady who enters his 20th season at UW-River Falls. O'Grady believes he has an especially talented group among his tailback recruits. Linemen are another matter. "I like our incoming newcomers," he said, "but if experience has taught me anything, a team can never have too many linemen. We have some quality coming in but we could use some more quantity."

Last year's freshmen class has lived up to expectations and will likely dominate next fall's starting lineups on both sides of the ball. "We will be very young this fall," the coach noted, "but that's part of the excitement; knowing that we have two excellent back-to-back recruiting classes coming up through the ranks."

Andy Kotelnicki is back for a second season as offensive coordinator after leading the Falcons to a 16.5 points per game improvement in offensive output in 2007. On defense, veteran Green Bay (East) Coach John Kolstad joins the staff, bringing over 30 years of coaching experience with him. "John has a great passion for football, and I know our players are going to love playing for him, " O'Grady said.

O'Grady is reluctant to recognize individuals among his class of newcomers, but did note that Eric Ryan from Goodhue, Minn., and Jordan Gullicksrud from Eleva-Strum High School were mainstays on powerhouse teams that won state championships with unblemished records.

"We are still talking to a handful of potential recruits," O'Grady concluded, "but by-and-large the guys listed below are the ones we are counting on to help make a difference in 2008."

The Falcons open the 2008 season on Sept. 13 at St. John's. The first Falcon home game will be on Sept. 20 against Northwestern. The Falcons open WIAC play at home against Stevens Point on Oct. 4.