Bison spring practice update: The home stretch and some young players to watch

Today was practice number ten out of an allotted 15 during the spring, aiming towards the Green and Gold Showcase, which will conclude the spring practice on April 20.

Here are some observations and thoughts as the home stretch of spring ball is here.

LINEBACKER DEPTH

Defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Grant Olson was spending plenty of time with his group this morning, and there are several young players that are getting reps and his attention.

Marcus Gulley, Enock Sibomana, Nathaniel Staehling and Austin Altepeter all have caught Olson’s eye and have earned increased reps.

Gulley returns for his second and final season with the Bison after a year where he played mostly on special teams. Gulley is 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds and finished with 28 tackles last season. He told me after a full year with the Bison; “Now it’s like when I was at MSU Moorhead when I knew all the plays. I can fly around and play fast.”

Staehling is an intriguing player as well that played a lot on special teams and will see his role increase this upcoming year. He along with Moorhead’s Altepeter have had some great spring practices. Olson said Altepeter has had his best practices as a Bison since he got here.

The former Spud has been beset by injuries since coming to NDSU. He missed his senior season at Moorhead with a knee injury and had to deal with another injury arriving with the Bison. He has yet to play a game with NDSU, but there are reps out there with Julian Wlodarczyk’s graduation. Altepter could be a name to watch, he was highly regarded coming out of high school, and committed early to NDSU. He’s 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds and finally seems to seem comfortable with the Bison defense.

YOUTH AT WIDE RECEIVER

NDSU brings back experience at the wide receiver spot in Eli Green, Braylon Henderson and Raja Nelson.

After that, there is a big dropoff with the returning receivers. The next highest catch amount for a returning receiver is Tyler Terhark with four., then Chris Harris, Mekhi Collins and Bryce Lance, each with one.

It appears Collins is ready for his breakout moment. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver from Mankato was highly touted out of high school with a pair of Power Five offers in Iowa State and Kansas State.

Collins registered his first career catch at U.S. Bank Stadium last fall, but didn’t get another catch the rest of the season. With his size and hands, it only seems logical that new offensive coordinator will try to get Collins involved more in the offense.

He and Carson Hegerle are entering critical year three in college football. Typically, coaches will tell you that the third year is when the light bulb typically comes on and players start to catch on.

That’s a player that certainly will grab attention as the season draws closer.

TOLD YOU SO?

Without being prompted, several coaches approached me at practice and said “Marty Brown is one to watch. He’s going to help us.” The redshirt freshman running back from Omaha has continued to impress and seems like a young player that is ready to make an impact this upcoming fall.

ON THE SIDELINES

It’s no surprise to see experienced players sitting out spring football, it’s happened at NDSU since the Bison made their first deep playoff run in March of 2012.

That continues this spring as several Bison are being held out for either the entire month or a portion of the practices either to heal from offseason surgeries or to recover after another 15-game season that NDSU had in 2023.

The names are long and are impact players that are being held out: Eli and Will Mostaert, Carson Williams, Hunter Brozio, Cole Wisniewski, Logan Kopp, Logan Hofstedt, Eli Green and Chris Harris.

NEW STAFF IMPRESSING

I have been to three practices (it’s tough when practice ends when Hot Mic is on the air); but new cornerbacks coach Will Johnson and safeties coach Devin Klieman each have impressed me. They are energetic and flying around with their position groups. It may not mean anything once we get close to the start of the season, but for both of them, who are in their first year as full-time staff members, they each caught my attention.

GAMES MOVING

We’re about five weeks away from the first few weeks of the 2024 college football TV schedule being announced, I’m on record saying that the NDSU - Colorado game will be selected by FOX and moved to Friday, August 30.

Another Valley school had their season opener moved, Murray State will open the new year at Missouri on Thursday, August 29. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

So far, three Valley teams will play on that Thursday, joining Youngstown State at Villanova and South Dakota hosting Northern State.