NDSU Football Set for Spring Ball: Begins Monday, March 24

FRESH OFF THEIR 10TH FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, THE BISON ARE READY TO RUN IT BACK.

FARGO (KVRR) –The North Dakota State football team is fresh off their 10th FCS National Championship. Now, for the first time in four years, there is a question mark at the Quarterback position.

While Cam Miller prepares for this professional career after starting at NDSU for the past four seasons, the Bison look for a new signal caller. The coaching staff says a big emphasis this spring will be competition. Not just at QB, but every position.

“Compete is still our number one core value,” said head coach Tim Polasek. “If there’s not competition at spots, then you’ve got to look back years in the past of recruiting, right? That’s kind of where that gets cultivated, you know, have you recruited well. I’m really excited to coach this group and to see if we, once again, can reach our full potential because we do have some question marks and then we have some areas that we can really leverage last year’s improvement.”

In all, the offseason treated the Bison well.

In the era of stars entering the transfer portal to go to a bigger program, the Herd retained a bulk of last seasons production. Most notably on offense: Running Back Marty Brown and Wide Receiver Bryce Lance.

The big new face on the offensive side of the ball is the man who will call the plays: Dan Larson. After four years coaching the Offensive line, Larson is ready for the new role and tells fans it is team effort.

“Every year you’re trying to replace some pretty good players up front,” said Larson. “I think there’s that pressure part of it of upholding and continuing the standard that’s been set in front of them. It won’t be about me, right? I mean, we lose Coach Hedberg, a tremendous coach. Joe Beschorner steps in and takes over his role and add Sam Ojuri to this mix. Bring in Dylan, Steve Crutchley’s still here, and he’s only continued to elevate our offensive staff, right? I’m excited to work with those guys. They’ll bring a lot to the table. You know, we’ll have a pretty good plan in place, but it’s our whole offensive staff that’s calling those plays. I’m just putting my finger on one.”

Defensively, Code Green brings back some key players from last season’s title team. All-MVFC First Teamer Logan Kopp arguably the biggest. But like every team, the herd loses guys to graduation. Defensive coordinator Grant Olson is confident that new stars will be born this upcoming season.

“Just the fact that that older guy graduated, that guy behind who’s been chomping at the bit to get to be the starter and to get to make all those plays in big games, they just seem to take off,” said Olson. “Across the board defensively, I met with every single player in January after the season, and there were some guys that surprised me in such a great way. They came in with a look in their eye that said, Coach, I’m coming to earn the starting spot. Watch out, get out of my way kind of an attitude. And I was so pleased about that, and they’ve been working their tail off. And in the Fall, I’ll tell you about who it was because they’re going to be making some plays for us.”

Spring ball has seemingly become less and less physical across the country, but Polasek says it’s all hands on deck the second the Bison hit the field Monday.

“We’re going to go with the double reps, and we’re going to double rep until we can’t,” said Polasek. “We need to be physical. We need to be physical for the number two D-Ends. We need to be physical for the tight ends, and we need a whole group of O-linemen that need to be physical in the way they put their socks on and put their shoes on, and the way they fit their pads versus everybody every day. We’re going to push it.”

The Bison hit the field for the first time this Spring on Monday, March 24. The media will be able to attend the start of Friday practice following, so stay tuned for interviews from the team throughout the next month.

The Bison’s championship team from last season will visit Washington D.C. on April 9.

Spring ball is wrapped up on April 25 with a Spring Showcase at the FargoDome.

The regular season opener is August 30 on the road vs. The Citadel.