MENOMONIE – Last week we ran a story about Brooks Brewer earning Division III preseason All-America honor while playing for UW-Stout and this week Brewer added to his awards case. Brewer was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week and was selected as the WIAC defensive player of the week after helping lead the Blue Devils to a season-opening win over the University of Dubuque Saturday.  Brewer recorded four tackles, a tackle-for-loss and returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown.

But Brewer is hardly alone at the collegiate level at least five other Menomonie High School players — Ben Bystol, Isaiah Giron, Isaac Ellison, Brody Thornton and Reed Styer — are carrying Mustang pride into college football.

Ben Bystol – UW-Stout Offensive Line

Junior lineman Ben Bystol has been a steady presence up front for UW-Stout. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Menomonie native started all 11 games in 2024, helping the Blue Devils average 393.1 yards per contest. In WIAC play, the offensive line allowed just six sacks while powering the league’s top scoring offense and a perfect 27-for-27 mark in the red zone. A business major, Bystol played three games as a freshman and was a multi-sport athlete at Menomonie High School.

Isaiah Giron – UW-Stout Linebacker

Sophomore linebacker Isaiah Giron is working to carve out a bigger role at UW-Stout after making his debut in 2024. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Menomonie graduate appeared in one game last fall, recording a tackle for the Blue Devils. Giron, a business administration major, earned honorable mention all-conference honors in high school and gained a reputation for his work ethic and versatility on defense.

Isaac Ellison – North Dakota State University Tight End

A freshman at North Dakota State, Isaac Ellison brings strong two-sport athleticism from Menomonie to the Bison program. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound tight end was a first-team all-conference wide receiver in 2024, catching 54 passes for 855 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior year. He finished his prep career with 1,113 receiving yards and 16 scores while also earning all-conference recognition in basketball. Ellison, a three-year letterwinner under coach Mike Sinz, plans to major in business management and joins a NDSU program with a tradition of developing versatile tight ends.

NCSU is the defending NCAA Division I FSC champion, picking up the 2024 title with a win over Montana State. The Bison coaching staff has three former Stout assistant coaches – offensive coordinator Dan Larson, defensive tackle coach Kyle Morgan and offensive quality control coach KeyShawn Carpenter. Larson, who also works with the tight ends, was at Stout in 2005 and went on to become the head coach at UW-Eau Claire. Morgan was at Stout in 2014 and 2015. Carpenter was a Blue Devil running back from 2014-18 and coached at Stout in 2019-20 and again from 2022-24. Several other coaches have a history in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Head coach Tim Polasek coached at UW-Stevens Point, wide receivers coach Steve Crutchley plaed at UW-Eau Claire.

Brody Thornton – University of North Dakota Edge Rusher

Freshman Brody Thornton is beginning his career at the University of North Dakota after an impressive prep run at Menomonie High School. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound edge rusher was a first-team all-conference and all-region selection as a senior in 2024. Thornton made 63 tackles, including 14 for loss, with two sacks and two fumble recoveries, while also contributing 25 catches and three touchdowns as a receiver. A finance major, Thornton was a three-time varsity letterwinner who helped the Mustangs reach the WIAA Division 2 playoffs in each of his three varsity seasons.

Reed Styer – Concordia-St. Paul Quarterback

Junior Reed Styer has steadily developed his football career at Concordia-St. Paul. After redshirting in 2022, he saw action in 2023 and emerged in 2024 with three starts at quarterback. Styer completed 38 passes for 358 yards and his first career touchdown, while also contributing on the ground. At Menomonie, Styer was a three-sport athlete who excelled at quarterback. A two-time Big Rivers Conference champion, he led the Mustangs to a 15-3 record and a state quarterfinal appearance. Styer threw for 1,045 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also adding three scores on the ground.