Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Scholar-athlete award winner Sam Berg, a defensive lineman and center from New Life Academy, earned MCAA Most Outstanding Lineman honors. He was named third team All-Metro by the Star Tribune and was a Pioneer Press All-State Honorable Mention. Berg is a member of the National Honor Society and won an AP Scholar Award. He was the Student Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child and organized and played a benefit concert toward the construction of a drinking well in Uganda. Berg plans to study engineering in college. He is the son of Jerry and Vicky Berg.

A two-way player and captain for Springfield High School, Ryan Beyer earned All-Conference honors and was chosen All-Area by the New Ulm Journal. He is All-Conference and All-State Academic, a member of the National Honor Society, and involved in FFA, Kids Against Hunger, the National Turkey Federation, and is a DARE Senior Role Model. Beyer plans to study business in college. He is the son of Clayton and Deb Beyer.

Ryan Buria of Mountain Iron/Buhl High School is a two-way player who helped his team reach the State tournament. He earned team MVP honors, Duluth News Tribune and Mesabi Daily News All-Area honors, Pioneer Press All-State Honorable Mention, All-Conference honors by the St. Louis County Football Conference, Most Valuable Running Back by the St. Louis County Football Conference Coaches, and Old Spice Player of the year for the Mountain Iron/Buhl School District. He is ranked first in his high school class and serves as the president of the National Honor Society. Buria is active in his local Habitat for Humanity initiative and serves on the Mountain Iron/Buhl Community Education Board. He plans to study business or construction management in college. He is the son of Joe and Brenda Buria.

Tyler Hamblin is a three-year starter from Cretin Derham High School. He is a Minnesota State High School ExCEL Award winner, a member of the National Honor Society, the author of four books, and an accomplished public speaker. He was named to All-State teams by the Minnesota Associated Press, the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, and the Minnesota Vikings and is involved in a variety of service and arts activities in his community. He is the son of Ken Hamblin.

Joe Hatch, a two-year starter in three sports at New Prague High School, was selected first-team All-Conference and his team’s Special Teams Player of the Year in football. Hatch has been involved in a variety of service activities including youth coaching and sports camps, Feed My Starving Children, Operation Christmas Child, and food drives.  He plans to attend Winona State University and major in education. He is the son of Charles and Carmen Hatch.

Zach Horejsi of Little Falls Community High School was named the Brainerd Dispatch player of the year, Morrison County Record Player of the Year, St. Cloud Times Player of the Week, Central Lakes Conference All-Conference, and team MVP. He is a member of the National Honor Society, a three-sport captain, food shelf and Share-A-Meal volunteer, and orientation leader. Horejsi was also part of a group that traveled to Sabinas Hidalgo, Mexico, to help build dormitories for an orphanage. He plans to study math education in college. He is the son of Greg & Marla Horejsi.

Scholar-athlete award winner Andrew Hughes of Holy Family Catholic High School earned All-Conference Honorable Mention and helped lead his team to the State Final. He is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, the National Honor Society, and received the HFCHS Football Academic Award in 2009. Hughes is involved in a range of service activities including Feed My Starving Children and Celiac Walk-MN. He plans to attend the University of Minnesota and study biology and pre-medicine. He is the son of Linda Hughes.

Running back and linebacker Dillon Olson of Grygla High School was selected All-State 9-Man, AP All-State, Minnesota Vikings All-State, All-Conference, All-Conference MVP Back, and was a finalist for the Mr. Football award. Olson was instrumental in leading his team to a 12-1 and State semifinal finish. He is Academic All-State and received the Triple A Award for his scholastic efforts. His leadership and service activities include student council, Riverwatch, Peer Helper, and work with the Lutheran Youth Organization. He plans to study biology at the University of North Dakota. He is the son of Duane and Mary Jo Olson.

Alex Taray of Floodwood High School earned Academic All-State honors, made the Dean’s List while participating in the PSEO at Hibbing Community College, and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He has served on the Northland Foundation Youth Philanthropy Board for three years and participates in Knowledge Bowl and the Peer Helpers program. This season, Taray was named first team All-State 9-Man , Duluth News Tribune first team All-Area, All-Conference in the Great Northern Conference and Conference MVP at defensive back, and his team’s MVP-Defense. He plans to attend Concordia University, St. Paul and study exercise science. He is the son of James and Brenda Taray.