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Football standout Ovenden to resume career at DWU

MITCHELL, S.D. – A day after announcing his first 26 commitments for Dakota Wesleyan University’s 2010 recruiting class, head football coach Brad Pole landed another outstanding talent when former Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School and University of Sioux Falls standout Nate Ovenden signed a Letter of Intent to resume his football career as a Tiger.

Ovenden, a 6-2, 190-pound wide receiver, is returning to football and school after a two-year hiatus. He is a 2003 graduate of Roosevelt and spent two years at USF before leaving school to serve as a youth minister. However, he recently got the itch to return to the classroom and the gridiron, and Pole was ready to welcome him with open arms.

“We’re really excited to add Nate to our team and our recruiting class,” Pole said. “He’s a really talented guy and had started a great college career at Sioux Falls. We think he can come in here right away and help ease some of the losses we had at wideout this year due to graduation.”

Bubba Slaba, who holds nearly every Tiger receiving record, just completed his senior season, as well as two-time All-GPAC selection Jesse Ayers, so Ovenden’s talent and experience help fill a need for the DWU offense. At Roosevelt High School he was a two-year letterwinner and starter, and he received All-Conference Honorable Mention honors twice. He broke the Rough Rider’s school records for receiving yards in a season and longest play.

He redshirted one year at USF and used one year of eligibility, so Ovenden will join DWU with sophomore athletic eligibility. Because of his hiatus, he will not have to sit a year and will be eligible to play immediately this fall. Ovenden was teammates at USF with current DWU graduate assistant coach Trey Erickson.

Ovendon is the son of Mark and Debby Ovendon of Sioux Falls. He plans to major in special education.