Alex Eisen/MDN Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood wide receiver Isaac Undlin (right) makes a catch in a 9-man football game played this past season in Mohall.

LANSFORD — Isaac Undlin is blazing his own trail.

With both of his parents playing basketball back in their college days, the sport very much ran in the family for Undlin. Although the Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood senior is currently playing high school ball, he’ll be ditching the hardwood and hitting the turf next fall.

Undlin made it official on Wednesday, signing a letter of intent to join the Minnesota State Moorhead football team. The decision comes three and a half months after the 6-foot-4, 185-pound WR/TE completed his dominant senior season with the Mavericks, posting a monstrous stat line of 29 receptions for 578 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“Not a lot of kids get to play at the next level,” Undlin said. “I was pretty open to playing (basketball or football) at college early on. But, when it came down to it, I just kind of liked football a little better.”

Undlin’s road to becoming a college athlete didn’t come easy, as the future standout dedicated countless hours to his craft since beginning football with the school in the seventh grade.

That path got even harder his junior year when Undlin made the switch from quarterback, which he’d been since he was a kid, to playing wide receiver. But Undlin more than made up for lost time at the position as he went on to tie the all-time scoring record for MLS at 314 total points before hanging up his jersey.

Undlin was a nightmare for opposing defenses, as he

exploited coverages and lifted his team to the second round of last season’s 9-man state playoffs.

“It helps a lot when you have (Undlin) on third down and you need a first down,” MLS head coach Cale Peterson said. “It’s good to have a guy you can throw it up to and know you have about an 85 percent chance of him coming down with it.”

In addition to leading on the field, Undlin set the tone for the Mavericks off the field as well. It’s a role that took adjusting to early on for such a young player, but he ultimately embraced the responsibility and ran with it.

“Asking him at such a young age to take that role on was kind of tough on him, but as he got older he grew into that leadership role naturally,” Peterson said. “The younger kids definitely look to him to lead by example, and when things go well for him they go well for the rest of us.”

With the signing, the Dragons will be getting one of the best red zone threat wide receivers from North Dakota. Undlin boasts a resume highlighted by two all-state selections.

But, despite all of his accolades, Undlin still plans to go to Moorhead with a chip on his shoulder.

“I want to bring a physicality level (to Moorhead) and a good work ethic,” Undlin said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

Justin Martinez covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow her on Twitter @JTheSportsDude.