De Pere's Gehin, Ashwaubenon's Newel commit to North Dakota football on same day

De Pere senior Noah Gehin was in the same room as Ashwaubenon senior Adam Newel when the two football players visited the University of North Dakota last month.

Both had offers from the Fighting Hawks, and both had liked the program since the moment the coaching staff started recruiting them.

Newel told Gehin he planned to commit later that day. Gehin did the same, about one hour after Newel.

The two will go from rivals in the Fox River Classic Conference this season to teammates in less than a year.

“I think that’s pretty cool, same conference,” Newel said. “Two dudes from the same area. I think that’s a pretty big deal.”

North Dakota went 5-6 last season but had a winning record each of the previous three years.

Gehin a top tight end with De Pere

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Gehin has established himself as one of the top tight ends in the state and the best in the FRCC.

He was a first-team all-conference selection in the North Division as a junior, helping the Redbirds win the FRCC championship for the first time since 2015 and earn a No. 1 seed for the WIAA Division 2 playoffs.

Former De Pere coach Chad Michalkiewicz already was touting Gehin going into last season, calling him as good as any at the position in the area.

Gehin earned his scholarship not through dazzling offensive numbers, although he’s been capable of putting up stats when given the opportunity.

His blocking ability has separated him from others, helping the Redbirds generate offense and springing running backs for big gains.

It’s the stuff that doesn’t always get noticed by everyone on Friday nights, but college scouts certainly do.

“I feel like my physicalness and run blocking is what got me recruited,” Gehin said. “I might not be the best receiver out there, but I feel like I am the best blocking tight end in the state or the best at any of these camps.”

Which perhaps is why he felt in some ways he was being underrecruited. He attended plenty of camps and believed he stood out at most, but the offers just weren’t coming in the way he hoped.

Gehin received Division II offers from Minnesota State in May and the University of Minnesota Duluth in June before finally landing one from the Fighting Hawks.

It was his biggest offer, and the one that also was his favorite because of the staff. He attended a camp at the school in June and clicked with tight ends coach Shawn Kostich.

“I would just try to stay calm, stay confident in myself,” Gehin said about his recruitment. “Just believe in myself that I’m better than who I line up against. Just knowing that my time will come and just have to be patient.”

Gehin is the latest Redbirds player to commit to a DI school while playing for Michalkiewicz, an era that ended after 11 years when Michalkiewicz was hired at Kimberly in February.

The list includes former standouts such as Aaron Vopal (Wisconsin), Sam Hafner (Valparaiso) and Miles Salinas (Colgate).

Gehin’s blocking will continue to be important for the Redbirds in Ben Strickland’s first season as coach, but he also could see a few more targets with the graduation of leading receiver Jack May and Anders Davidson.

With his future decided, he can concentrate on his final prep campaign.

“I kind of wanted to get it done before the season just so I could get it off my shoulder,” Gehin said. “And then the way they offered me, it was an offer that I couldn’t turn down. … I felt really confident in my decision. I felt like it was a good fit for me. Good school, great coaching staff.”

Newel generates interest with offseason camps

While Gehin had a big junior year, that wasn’t the case for Newel.

Things didn’t go the way the 6-2, 285-pound defensive lineman-offensive lineman hoped. He didn’t have the type of film he wanted for recruiters, missing a decent portion of the season after undergoing an appendectomy.

It made the offseason camps he attended even more important. Newel felt he showed well at them, giving him the opportunity to play at the next level.

He generated some DIII interest in May before landing his first scholarship offer from DII Southwest Minnesota State University.

Minnesota Duluth and Upper Iowa soon followed.

But when he got that offer from North Dakota in July, nothing could top it. He had been in contact with the school longer than any other, including making a game day visit last season.

“It’s every kid’s dream to kind of prove to everyone they were able to do it,” Newel said of earning a scholarship. “It’s every kid’s dream of playing Division I sports if you are into sports.

“I had ups and downs, and it was hard for me when I knew I couldn’t play a football game during my junior year. That really took a toll on me. But once spring came around, coaches started coming in and talking to me. I got my confidence back up, and coming into camp season, I think I really proved myself.”

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Newel expects to line up at nose tackle for the Fighting Hawks. He’s always enjoyed tackling better than getting tackled.

He is 100% entering training camp this week and is prepared to help the Jaguars rebound from a 3-7 season, although they still made the playoffs in 2021.

Newel has his scholarship, but he’s still just as hungry and prepared to work.

“I’m relaxed, but I’m amped up at the same time,” Newel said. “I’m just ready to go play some football. I still have stuff to prove, but not to as many people.”

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: De Pere's Gehin, Ashwaubenon's Newel commit to North Dakota football