Wednesday was national signing day for NCAA Division I and Division II football teams and Cotter senior football player Kenny Kirkvold signed a national letter of intent to play football for Division II powerhouse Minnesota-Duluth. Kirkvold played offensive and defensive line in high school but will play only on the defensive line in college. Minnesota-Duluth has won four straight NSIC titles and two national titles in the last four years. The Bulldogs are going through a transition period as highly successful coach Bob Nielson left to take the head coaching job at Western Illinois. Longtime assistant coach Curt Wiese has taken over the Bulldog program.

Winona State signed 32 players including 29 freshman and 3 junior college transfers.  Winona State signed eight defensive backs, seven offensive lineman and five wide receivers. The Warriors signed just two players from Southeast Minnesota in quarterback Jack Nelson from Byron and wide receiver Joe Loftus from Rochester John Marshall.