Bison enjoying normal offseason with spring practice starting for first time since 2019

It will be the first time most of the players will go through the drills and repetitions for 12 days of practice. The pandemic wiped out the 2020 spring season and the Missouri Valley Football Conference played the ‘20 season in the spring of 2021.

“This is the first consistent offseason that they’ve had,” Bison head coach Matt Entz said of his players. “The consistency piece has allowed us to have some sustainability here.”

The offseason started not long after the Bison won their ninth Division I FCS national title in 11 years in early January in Frisco, Texas. Remember that bucking leap fullback Hunter Luepke did in the end zone after scoring a touchdown against Montana State? He can leap higher now; his vertical jump improved by 4 1/2 inches.

Running back TK Marshall is up to 210 pounds. Freshman fullback Truman Werremeyer from Fargo Davies is up to 242 pounds and he could work himself into the mix in spring ball.

“Not to pat ourselves on the back, but to see the value of what was missing over the course of the last couple of years,” Entz said. “There is some unbelievable athleticism the kids have. But at the same time, the last two things you want to be recognized for is being talented and having a lot of potential. That means you haven’t executed and made plays yet.”

Making plays in spring camp is mainly for the younger players. The following veterans will not practice: tight end Noah Gindorff (ankle), defensive end Spencer Waege (knee), running back Jalen Bussey (foot) and linebacker Cole Wisniewski (Achilles). Entz said Gindorff will be an assistant tight ends coach.

In addition, offensive linemen Cody Mauch and Nash Jensen, safeties Dawson Weber and Michael Tutsie and linebacker James Kaczor will be limited because of their veteran status. Mauch and Jensen played almost 1,600 snaps since the 2021 spring season. Wide receiver Phoenix Sproles is healthy after an injury-plagued season last fall, but the veteran probably won’t need a lot of practice reps.

Entz said junior Will Mostaert was moved inside to defensive tackle to play alongside his brother Eli Mostaert.

Cam Miller will open spring as the starting quarterback. The junior took over midway through last season and completed 103 of 152 passes and 14 touchdowns.

“He asked me in our individual meeting in January if it was his job to lose,” Entz said. “I said, no, it’s your job to keep.”

Senior Quincy Patterson, who started the season as the starter, came on during the playoffs in an effective QB run package. This spring could be big for redshirt freshman Cole Payton, who at 6-foot-3, is up to 229 pounds.

“I think it will be extremely valuable,” Entz said. “We’ll continue to use our double-rep method as much as we can based on numbers and health. So there’s going to be for every rep we have on a script, we’re going to get two. We’ll walk out of there with 100, 120 snaps and you hope he’s getting at least 30% of those.”

Entz said backup cornerback Jerrod Vines returned home to Michigan and running back Mitchell Kartes gave up football because of injuries. About 125 players are expected for fall practice with NDSU limited to 110 in fall camp until school starts.

Entz said he’s open to take in a transfer or two via the portal, but that decision hasn’t been made.

“Just because we do have some needs,” Entz said. “I don’t want to say voids, just some unknowns right now, so we might have to look outside the box a little bit. I know that’s not customary for NDSU, but at the same time, my job is to protect the program and make sure we continue to move forward.”