Athletics |
Released: 11/04/2009
WAHPETON, N.D. – (November 3, 2009) – North Dakota State College of Science head football coach Chuck Parsons announced that All-American sophomore linebacker Derek Earls has made the decision to remain a Wildcat – a University of Arizona Wildcat, that is. Earls will be trading in the red and black of NDSCS for the red, white, and blue of the University of Arizona. Earls chose Arizona over Colorado, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, and Oklahoma State.
The University of Arizona plays in the Pac-10 Conference, along with the University of Southern California (USC), the University of California-Berkeley (Cal), the University of Oregon, Stanford University and the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), among others. The Arizona football team is currently 5-2 on the season, including 5-1 in conference play, and was ranked 18th in the latest Bowl Championship Series (BCS) poll. The team is coached by Mike Stoops, currently in his sixth year at Arizona, and his 25th year coaching overall. Stoops led the team to the Las Vegas Bowl in the 2008 season.
Earls, a three-star prospect on Rivals.com, currently leads the Wildcats in tackles and has been the anchor of the Wildcat defense. The Wildcat defense has been the top defense in the MFC all season, holding powers Iowa Central and Ellsworth to a combined 10 points.
“We are extremely happy for Derek; he has worked hard in his two seasons here and has made himself into a top-flight linebacker,” said Parsons. “We wish him nothing but the best, and know that the Arizona community will realize they are getting not only a great football player, but a great person.”
The Wildcats finished the regular season 6-4 and tied for 3rd in the MFC. They will be playing their first-round playoff game on Saturday, when the team travels to Ellsworth. They will then play in the Graphic Edge Bowl on November 22, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
NDSCS is a two-year, comprehensive, residential college with its main campus located in Wahpeton, N.D., and a second site, referred to as the Skills and Technology Training Center, located in Fargo, N.D. NDSCS offers degrees, certificates, and diplomas in over 80 academic options in traditional career and technical studies as well as the liberal arts. The college also offers a variety of Distance Education courses. Approximately 95% of graduates from its technical programs find jobs in their chosen fields.
Unlike most two-year colleges, NDSCS boasts a university atmosphere for its students, complete with residence halls, 35 affiliated clubs and organizations, music groups, theater productions, intercollegiate athletics, intramural athletics, and numerous social activities. For more information, visit www.ndscs.edu.
