GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Each Monday through the end of the 2009 season, FightingSioux.com will take a personal look at 8-10 student-athletes on the North Dakota football team. This week we've featured Ross Brenneman, Ross Cochran, Dominique Hawkins, Jake Hoerchner, Jay Jelinek, Zach Keller, Kellen Leupp, and Jay Nelson.
Name: Ross Brenneman
• Year: Redshirt freshman
• Number: 98
• Position: Defensive line
• Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
Why you chose UND: Because of the campus, the school, and because I would be in the first class to start the DI transition.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Sport to watch other than football: College basketball
• Movie: Hoosiers
• Band: The Newsboys
• Food: Bananas
• Athlete: Steve Nash
• Actor: Matthew McConaughey
• Video game: Rock Band
• TV show: Man vs. Wild
Number of songs on your iPod: 256
No one would believe that you listen to: S Club 7
Non-football skill (or activity) that you wish you could do better: Skateboard
Talent you have outside of football: Play basketball
Person you admire most: My father because of how had he was worked while still making time for his family.
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Kyle Bakker
When did you get started playing football: In 5th grade
* * * * *
Name: Ross Cochran
• Year: Junior
• Number: 2
• Position: Linebacker
• Hometown: Kenosha, Wis.
Why you chose UND: Because of the football program
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Green Bay Packers
• Sport to watch other than football: UFC
• Movie: Four Brothers
• Singer: Lil' Wayne
• Food: Ice cream
• Athlete: Brett Favre
• Actor: Matt Damon
• Video game: NCAA 2010
• TV show: Repo Man
Non-football skill (or activity) that you wish you could do better: Wakeboard
Talent you have outside of football: Biking
Person you pretended to be when you were little: A cowboy
When did you get started playing football: At age six
* * * * *
Name: Dominique Hawkins
• Year: Sophomore
• Number: 30
• Position: Cornerback
• Hometown: Plymouth, Minn.
Why you chose UND: Because of the atmosphere, the players and the coaches.
FAVORITES ...
• Sport to watch other than football: UFC
• Food: Gummi bears
• Athlete: Brian Dawkins
• Actor: Will Smith
• Video game: NCAA 2010
• TV show: Eastbound and Down
Number of songs on your iPod: 3,400
No one would believe that you listen to: Country
Non-football skill (or activity) that you wish you could do better: Gymnastics
Person you admire most: My father because he taught me a lot about life and has guided me whenever guidance has been needed.
When did you get started playing football: In 4th grade
* * * * *
Name: Jake Hoerchner
• Year: Freshman
• Number: 79
• Position: Offensive line
• Hometown: Menomonie, Wis.
Why you chose UND: Because of the good education program.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Green Bay Packers
• Sport to watch other than football: Wrestling
• Movie: The Goonies
• Band: Dave Matthews Band
• Food: Tacos
• Athlete: Brett Favre
• Actor: Adam Sandler
• Video game: NCAA Football
• TV show: SportsCenter
Number of songs on your iPod: 500
Non-football skill (or activity) that you wish you could do better: Golf
Talent you have outside of football: Wrestling
Person you admire most: My father because he has always had the best intentions for me and has given me advice whenever I need it.
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Brett Favre
When did you get started playing football: In 6th grade
* * * * *
Name: Jay Jelinek
• Year: Freshman
• Number: 43
• Position: Running back
• Hometown: Pisek, N.D.
Why you chose UND: Because of the good athletic and academic programs.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Tennessee Titans
• Sport to watch other than football: Basketball
• Movie: Friday Night Lights
• Band: Staind
• Food: Tacos
• Athlete: Travis Pastrana
• Actor: Adam Sandler
• Video game: ESPN NFL 2K5
• TV show: That 70's Show
Number of songs on your iPod: 3,000
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Steve Young
When did you get started playing football: In elementary school
* * * * *
Name: Zach Keller
• Year: Senior
• Number: 64
• Position: Offensive line
• Hometown: Minot, N.D.
Why you chose UND: It seemed to be the right fit for me.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: New England Patriots
• Sport to watch other than football: Golf
• Movie: The Departed
• Food: Chicken fried steak
• Athlete: Tom Brady
• Actor: Tom Hanks
• Video game: Call of Duty
• TV show: The Simpsons
Non-football skill (or activity) that you wish you could do better: Play guitar
Talent you have outside of football: Remembering obscure Simpsons facts
When did you get started playing football: In 5th grade
* * * * *
Name: Kellen Leupp
• Year: Senior
• Number: 81
• Position: Wide receiver
• Hometown: Stanley, N.D.
FAVORITES ...
• Sport to watch other than football: Baseball, basketball
• Athlete: Ladanian Tomlinson, Lebron James
• Video game: Madden, NCAA football
• TV show: Entourage, Burn Notice
Number of songs on your iPod: 2,000
Best part about being a Fighting Sioux: The teammates.
When did you get started playing football: Since I could walk.
* * * * *
Name: Jay Nelson
• Year: Redshirt freshman
• Number: 45
• Position: Linebacker
• Hometown: Wheaton, Minn.
Why you chose UND: Because of the school and the football program.
FAVORITES ...
• Sports team: Minnesota Vikings
• Sport to watch other than football: College basketball
• Movie: The Big Lebowski
• Band: Metallica
• Food: Meatloaf
• Athlete: Adrian Peterson
• Actor: Jeremy Piven
• Video game: Hot Shots Golf
• TV show: Entourage
Number of songs on your iPod: 1,600
Talent you have outside of football: Playing Pong
Best thing about being a Fighting Sioux: Being a part of the tradition.
Person you pretended to be when you were little: Ken Griffey, Jr.
When did you get started playing football: In 7th grade
- Go Sioux -
