Four years later, Hayden Johnston still grinding it out with Bison football

It’s in his DNA.

It’s built into the mentality of a lot of Bison offensive linemen over the years, a position where playing a lot as a true or redshirt freshman is rare. But this spring has provided another step in Johnston’s reward for hanging with a team despite hardly playing.

He’s been taking snaps with the first team offense.

“It’s an every rep mentality,” Johnston said. “You can’t get too far ahead of yourself, make the main thing the main thing and keep on taking steps ahead.”

Johnston came to NDSU in the fall of 2020 from Albert Lea (Minn.) High School. That was the height of the pandemic, with the season being postponed to the spring of 2021. Johnston got into the first round FCS playoff game against Eastern Washington.

That was followed by two straight years of not playing at all.

“You wait your turn and once your turn shows up, you take advantage of it,” he said.

That at a position that has little glory as a backup. It’s hard work, something that perhaps these days would lead other players to hit the transfer portal in an effort for more playing time.

“That’s just the culture in life nowadays,” Johnston said. “You need to stick things out and work through some stuff.”

Offensive line coach Dan Larson has seen that a lot over the course of his five years at NDSU. Larson sees a player who was always asking questions and taking notes over the course of the last four seasons.

As a scout team player, Johnston had to often face the starting defensive line in practice.

“I think it embodies everything that Hayden is about,” Larson said. “This place matters to him. The degree matters to him. The program matters to him. It’s really hard when you don’t see a lot of playing time and doing the things we ask those guys to do on a daily basis but he keeps showing up and it’s paying off for him, too.”

A senior academically, Johnston will graduate this spring in business administration and plans on adding another major next fall. He has two more years of eligibility because of the pandemic and it’s not off the table that he’ll take advantage of that.

“It’s this season right now, let’s get after it,” he said. “Every day, though, just excited to be out here. Looking around, it’s a blessing to come out here and strap it up with the guys. I wouldn’t give NDSU up for anything.”

When Johnston first got to NDSU, Karson Schoenig was the starting center. Jalen Sundell took it from there until he was moved to left tackle and Brandon Westberg took the position the last two seasons.

“It was important to observe and understand what their mentality was,” Johnston said. “You’re in the middle of every single play, you set the tone and you set the mindset for the entire O-line. You’re the one getting it going.”

As to who will get it going in the season opener at the University of Colorado late next August has yet to be determined. It's one of the few positions with the Bison that appears wide open. Johnston is battling with Marshall transfer Trent Fraley, who is currently out for a couple of weeks with a minor knee injury, and redshirt freshman Griffin Empey.

There’s also versatility with players between guard and center, like redshirt freshman Jack Liwienski. The sophomore Fraley, Larson said, learned the offense quickly since arriving at NDSU. If they need advice from an older guy, Johnston would be a good source.

“I hope every day I walk in here and set a tone for the younger guys and set a good example for them,” he said.