Marengo's Jagger Ferden signs with North Dakota

Marengo lineman Jagger Ferden had committed to NCAA Division I Western Illinois University, an FCS school, late in the summer, but remained in contact with D-I North Dakota throughout the football season.

Eventually, the Fighting Hawks won Ferden over. He committed to North Dakota, also an FCS school, just after Thanksgiving and signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, the early signing period for football.

Ferden and Crystal Lake South offensive lineman Dom Collado were the two McHenry County players to sign Wednesday. Dundee-Crown tight end Justin Prusko plans to sign his NLI with FCS Southeast Missouri State on Feb. 5, the regular signing period for football.

Collado committed to D-I Miami last January and recently learned he was accepted for spring semester at the Oxford, Ohio school.

Ferden (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) switched to North Dakota after visiting the school in Grand Forks after the season.

“That whole week after my visit I was comparing the two and seeing which one would be a better fit,” Ferden said. “I was high on their board. They’ve been pretty much with Western the whole time.”

Ferden helped the Indians go from 2-7 in 2017 to 9-3 and 8-3 over the last two seasons. He started on both lines for the Indians and will play on offense for the Fighting Hawks.

“I have a bunch of relatives up there, I’ll be surrounded by family,” Ferden said. “I want to go into the accounting or business world. They have a lot of businesses reaching in and getting students going into their sophomore year.”

Ferden also mentioned that North Dakota sends some players north to the Canadian Football League, which might appeal to him after he is done with the Fighting Hawks.

Collado took an online English course this semester so he could fulfill his graduation requirements early, just in case.

“When I went on my official visit last weekend, I did not know if I was going to be able to enroll early, due to the 85-man roster and how many people have to graduate for there to be open roster spots,” said Collado, who is 6-4, 300 pounds.

It turned out that Collado and likely five other incoming freshmen can enroll early.

“I didn’t really have the idea until my coach (from Miami) came to (South) and talked to me in September,” Collado said. “I was lucky enough they had an eight-week session for me online. I was going to graduate early, even if I was going to Miami or not. I could have taken next semester to fully train and maybe get a job.”

Now, Collado will take 15 hours, work out with the team, attend spring practices and become acclimated to college life. He will stay over the summer and work out and take six credit hours to lighten the load for fall semester since it is during the season.

Ferden and Collado were selected to the Northwest Herald All-Area first team as offensive linemen. Prusko (6-6, 220) was named to the All-Area second team as a defensive lineman.

Prusko committed last summer to Southeast Missouri. He caught 13 passes for 164 yards this season.