WILLMAR - After making major strides in his senior season at Willmar, wide receiver Max Doering didn’t want to see his football career end.
Luckily, he doesn’t have to just yet.
Doering’s jump to the next level became official Wednesday, when he signed a National Letter of Intent with St. Cloud State, a NCAA Division II program, in the Willmar High School gymnasium.
In two years as a varsity wideout, Doering caught 79 passes for 1,010 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He had 53 receptions for 657 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior in 2015. Three of those scores came in a 42-0 playoff win over Thief River Falls, Willmar’s first postseason victory since 2010.
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While he also received offers from Southwest Minnesota State and Concordia St. Paul, Doering says he is fully confident he made the right decision signing with the Huskies.
“I visited St. Cloud and I really liked what they had to offer,” he said. “Their facilities, coaching staff (that it’s) close to home. It just felt like the best fit for me.”
Willmar head coach Jon Konold is certain the St. Cloud’s coaching staff can expect the same strong effort he got from Doering.
“They’re getting a really good kid,” Konold said. “Max will work hard and develop into a fine player for them.”
Before taking the field for the first time as a college player, Doering acknowledges he needs to make improvements to his game.
One of six receivers to sign with the Huskies in 2016, Doering says he needs to make major gains in strength and speed if he hopes to stand out from the pack.
But with the lengthy recruiting cycle behind him, he is excited that he can finally turn his focus to the future.
“I’m really excited,” Doering said. “It was a long process and I’m really looking forward to (getting to campus).”
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