Tonderum commits to SMSU
Jason Wilcox — Sports WriterArticle Photos
ARMSTRONG - Tyler Tonderum made the Armstrong-Ringsted Mustangs one of the best offenses in all of Iowa high school football the last three seasons.
Now, the all-time leading rusher in the history of Iowa Eight-Man football will step into an offense already among the leaders in their conference.
Tonderum, a senior standout tailback, put ink to paper Wednesday like so many other prep standouts to continue his athletic career at the collegiate level.
What's more, he won't even have to get readjusted to a new team nickname.
Tonderum will take a northwest run after signing a national letter of intent to play running back for the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs in Marshall.
"I thought it was a good fit for myself. It's some place I can go to for four years and feel really happy with being there," said Tonderum.
Tonderum enters the program heavily decorated at the high school level.
Tonderum has been a starter the past three seasons for the Mustangs and each year led the school to the state championship game, finally taking home the top prize in 2009.
The three-time Sentinel All-Area offensive player of the year also is a three-time all-District 2 selection and racked up a career 6,395 yards on the ground.
Tonderum also scored a near unbelievable 56 rushing scores last season, placing himself on a few national lists in addition to 2,314 rushing yards his senior year alone, earning the right to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl.
As a junior, Tonderum had 2,165 rushing yards and 38 TDs on the ground, with 1,817 yards on the ground and 34 TDs as a sophomore.
"It (decision) came down to the Monday before signing day. February 1 was when I knew exactly where I'd be going," said Tonderum.
Being a player with such lofty numbers, it comes as no surprise that Tonderum has been on the wish list of many college football programs.
"It's been a fun time going through the whole process, but it's a relief to get it off my shoulders and now I can focus on having a great senior year," said Tonderum.
The University of Sioux Falls, Division I program Iowa State University and Morningside College were among his finalists.
"I can remember getting a few letters my sophomore and junior years, then my senior year I'd get a lot of phone calls. After the state championship game, the coaches were calling and visiting the school," he said.
The SMSU Mustangs are indeed looking for a new starting tailback as last season's top rusher, Zach Wysong (905 yards rushing), graduated.
In addition to the running backs already on the team, joining Tonderum in SMSU's incoming freshman class this season is Wabasso prep standout Derek Riley, who collected 4,927 total yards during his high school days with the Rabbits.
"Coach (Eric Eidsness) said me and him are going to be battling it out for the top (running back) spot," said Tonderum.
The SMSU Mustangs finished with the third highest scoring offense in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference last season. The team averaged 396.2 yards per game, the team's best total since 1993, while scoring an average of 36 points per game.
"Them being the Mustangs and being maroon and gold (colors) went well together, that maybe had a little effect, too," Tonderum said on playing for another Mustang team.
Tonderum plans to major in pre-physical therapy.
"I would like the basketball team to make a run at the districts, and when track season comes I hope to make some noise down there," Tonderum said on what he'd still like to accomplish as a high school senior.
