“The people I encountered at UND — just the role models that I had, the men that were there to shape me and guide me, I had a lot of people pushing my sled at North Dakota,” said Kleinsasser (you can read more here). “I can’t thank everyone enough for what they gave me and the track that they sent me on.”
After helping UND to a 32-10 record with 88 catches for 1,309 yards and 10 touchdowns over four seasons in Grand Forks, Kleinsasser was invited to the 1999 Senior Bowl and was selected 44th overall by the Vikings. In 2012, Kleinsasser entered his school’s Hall of Fame.
In the pros, he was impactful and loveable. Kleinsasser started 130 of 181 games across 13 seasons for the Purple. He brought in 192 receptions for 1,688 yards and six TDs in his career, in addition to toting the rock 43 times for 147 yards and another score. Kleinsasser’s blocking was fundamental to franchise-leading RB Adrian Peterson’s success from 2007-11, and one of his TDs became a cultural phenomenon when it was featured as the play that got rewatched over and over in the 2004 rom-com 50 First Dates.
Other CFB greats honored this year include Saint John’s (MN) WR Blake Elliott (2000-03), Oregon DT Haloti Ngata (2002, 2004-05), Minnesota C Greg Eslinger (2002-05), West Virginia RB Steve Slaton (2005-07), Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick (1999-2000) and Texas Southern DL Michael Strahan (1989-92).
A day before Kleinsasser’s achievement, former Gophers and Vikings WR Isaac Fruechte was named to the 2026 class of the American Football Coaches Association’s 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
Fruechte has served as UND’s offensive coordinator and QBs coach since 2024 after spending two seasons as the OC at Winona State. He added titles as the associate head coach and QBs coach in 2023.
A graduate of Caledonia High School, Fruechte attended Rochester Community and Technical College before transferring to the U of M. He was a team captain there in 2014 and finished with 50 catches, 702 receiving yards and three TDs in 38 games. Later on, he spent some time on the Vikings practice squad and appeared in the 2016 season finale (five offensive snaps and 11 on special teams).
You can read more about Fruechte’s successes in the coaching ranks here.