National Signing Day: Valley football players make official commitments

PALMER — As players across the country made their announcements on National Signing Day Wednesday, a pair of Palmer’s top seniors, Luke Guggenmos and Makeehan Knittle, made their college football commitments official, both signing their National Letter of Intent.

Guggenmos will play quarterback at Northwestern College, an NAIA program in Orange City, Iowa. Knittle will play at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.

Guggenmos enjoyed a career year as Palmer’s signal caller, throwing for 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He was the first Moose quarterback in nearly a decade to throw for 1,000 yards and completed 61 percent of his passes. Guggenmos was offered a roster spot by about a half-dozen NCAA Division II teams, but opted for Northwestern, a nationally-ranked NAIA program.

“It’s a really good program,” Guggenmos said during a signing ceremony at Palmer High School. “I’m really excited to go there.”

Guggenmos said Northwestern offered a substantial scholarship, and he already has a great rapport with Josh Davis, Northwestern’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“We talked on the phone for hours. It’s a really good fit,” Guggenmos said.

The Red Raiders run a spread offense.

“I feel like I’ll get to exploit all the talents I have,” Guggnmos said. “It’ll be fun, what I am looking for.”

Guggenmos said the coaches like his arm, but want to work with him on his speed.

Even though he opted not to purse an option at the Division II level, Guggenmos said he is honored to receive the interest.

“It’s good to have a bunch of offers,” Guggenmos said.

The final decision came down to Northwestern and Benidictine (Kansas), which finished as NAIA runner-up in 2018.

“My relationship with the offensive coordinator, it really came down to it,” Guggenmos said.

Guggenmos was named first-team All-Railbelt Conference at quarterback as a senior.

Northwestern finished the 2018 season ranked 12th in NAIA football. The Red Raiders suffered a 14-6 loss to Dickinson State (North Dakota) in the first round of the playoffs.

Northwestern was 9-2 overall and 8-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The conference also includes Morningside (Iowa), the defending NAIA national champion, and a team that features former Colony High standout Jon Pomrenke.

Knittle was a key player at multiple positions for the Moose in 2018, and hopes to play wide receiver for the Division III Loggers.

“I’m excited to get down there,” Knittle said during the ceremony.

Knittle said his preference is receiver, but will know more about his role when he suits up with the team. Knittle said there are only about 40 players on the roster, and should have a good chance to see time on the field.

One of Knittle’s former teammates at Palmer, Nathan Reeves, a 2018 graduate, signed with Lewis-Clark last year.

Guggenmos and Knittle were among about 25 Alaska seniors and four Valley players to make their official commitments Wednesday. Valley City State (North Dakota) landed a pair of Valley linemen, Colony senior Ethan Connaker and Wasilla senior Joe Ruge. For more on Connaker and Ruge, see an upcoming edition of the Frontiersman.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Alaska commitments on National Signing Day:

Palmer quarterback Luke Guggenmos (Northwestern College, Iowa); Palmer wide receiver Makeehan Knittle (Lewis-Clark State, Idaho); Colony lineman Ethan Connaker (Valley City State, North Dakota); Wasilla lineman Joe Ruge (Valley City State, North Dakota); Bartlett lineman Thomas Sio (Oregon State); West lineman Bolee Gridlee (Eastern New Mexico); Soldotna defensive lineman Levi Benner (Valley City State, North Dakota); Soldotna lineman Cody Nye (Minnesota-Morris); Ketchikan Stevie Byron (Western State, Colorado); West receiver David Cason (Dubuque, Iowa); Lathrop lineman Corbin Tomaszewski (Colorado Mesa); East linebacker Eli Turvey (South Dakota School of Mines); Lathrop lineman Chase Brown (Lewis-Clark State, Idaho); Ketchikan defensive lineman Brandon Wieber (Lewis-Clark State, Idaho); West linebacker Tevita Tulimiua (Eastern New Mexico); Kodiak lineman Kordell Pillans (Montana); East defensive back Colton Herman (Bemidji State, Minnesota); East tight end Aiden Williams (Minnesota-Duluth); Bartlett running back Elijah Lear (Presentation College, South Dakota); Ketchikan quarterback Kepa Wong (Peru State, Nebraska); East linebacker Julian Baker (Bemidji State, Minnesota); West defensive back Joel Martinez (College of the Desert, California); Lathrop quarterback Jaden Littell (Baldwin Wallace University, Ohio); Lathrop receiver Juan Mendez (Baldwin Wallace University, Ohio); Barrow linebacker Ben Heather (Minnesota-Morris).