North Dakota State has climbed the Stairway to Seven. Seven Championships in eight seasons. It is very unlikely we'll see anything like this again. It is, frankly, an unsustainable level of success.

That, though, is what falls at the feet of Matt Entz. NDSU, as of this publishing, has a new head football coach. All that is asked of him now (no pressure), is to continue a level of success normally reserved for the Dynasty Mode in EA Sport's NCAA Football franchise (RIP). Not only is he being asked to meet these expectations, he's being asked to do so less 24 seniors, including Easton Stick.

He'll also have to replace five assistant coaching positions. Entz vacated the linebackers coach/DC slot and outgoing legendary coach Chris Klieman is taking his offensive coordinator/RBs, offensive line, wide receivers and safeties coach.

This will easily be the most entertaining version of Spring Football that I've been a part of.

The Big Question Marks:

Coaching: Is Matt Entz ready? I believe he's ready and very much qualified to hold the position. Matt Entz was the no brainer hire for Athletic Director Matt Larsen but any time you're dealing with a first time head coach there is at the very least uncertainty. How does he mesh with the offensive players and coaches? Does the lack of control on defense bother him? Can he transition smoothly into the "closer" role as a recruiter instead of the head man in the Twin Cities?

Maybe more importantly, can he effectively replace himself as a linebackers coach, defensive coordinator and recruiter of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area?

Let's start there. I reported around Christmas time that Grant Olson would be returning to North Dakota State as a member of the defensive coaching staff. I'm still very comfortable with that information. Kansas State hosted Coach Olson, but I'm told that Grant will not be in Manhattan next season. He'll either be with NDSU or Indiana State but my info definitely indicates he'll be with the Bison. Olson is a Wayzata, MN high school product and one of the finest linebackers NDSU has ever seen. This would make Olson an ideal fit to replace two of Entz's specialities.

I'm not convinced, though, that Olson would be coming to North Dakota State as the defensive coordinator. His resume is a little thin for that. I also think that'd be a little difficult to explain to current defensive tackles coach Nick Goeser. Goeser has actually been at North Dakota State longer than Entz, and would be the obvious internal candidate for defensive coordinator. If it's not going to be Goeser, it'll be an external candidate, but one with more experience than Olson.

Offensively, I'm relatively comfortable reporting that Tyler Roehl will be the next offensive coordinator at North Dakota State. Entz will also retain QB Coach Randy Hedberg. The offensive line position is one that has been filled, though I'm not sure by who. The WR coach has traditionally been a coach with recruiting ties outside of NDSU's basic footprint. Entz could also fill that role with a new running backs coach.

I think Matt Entz is the exact right hire. I've said it about as many places as I can publicly say it. But I've been wrong before. That one time.

Quarterback: November 27th, 2010. Brock Jensen takes over the quarterback position in NDSU's first D1 playoff game against Robert Morris. It was the last time NDSU's starting quarterback position was in any kind of question. Jensen stayed remarkably healthy, handed the reigns to Carson Wentz, who promptly handed them to Easton Stick.

Stick was the most highly decorated quarterback recruit in NDSU history. That is until Trey Lance maintained his commitment to North Dakota State. Lance is the first three star QB to ever commit to North Dakota State, and did so despite an opportunity to be the next quarterback at Boise State.

Lance has the opportunity to be that "chosen one". He has the opportunity to be a four year starter, which would be an incredible achievement at any university, much less the standard for mid-major football. Despite his recruiting pedigree, nothing will be given to him (and I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way).

Both Holden Hotchkiss and Noah Sanders will be third-year sophomores. Hotchkiss has had the edge over Sanders during their time at North Dakota State. Both young men worked with Hedberg and Stick for two full seasons.

North Dakota State also added Iowa State transfer Zeb Noland. Noland has starts in the Big XII under his belt and shows a very live arm on film. He might not be as athletic as Stick and Lance but NDSU has had success with pocket passers in Division 1.

Welcome to the Herd, kid.



Trey Lance sprints 44 yards to the house, capping his first collegiate drive with a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/6Ucxujm7x6 — NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) September 15, 2018

Will they get anything from Dom Davis and Aaron Mercadel? Dom Davis and "Merk" were really the only two season long injuries at North Dakota State. The Bison stayed remarkably healthy this season. Mercadel seemed to thrust himself into an assistant coach role, wearing the headset and actively involving himself in the defense, seemingly on every play. The thing about getting these guys back is that they actually would be put in key spots. Davis has experience at safety and cornerback. The Bison just happen to be graduating Jalen Allison, Jaylaan Wimbush and Robbie Grimsley. Mercadel, strictly by experience if nothing else, would be a candidate to fill in for the graduated Levi Jordheim. If these guys can make it back from injury, they'd be in big spots.

Interior Offensive Line: You can get away with a lot if you're good at tackle. The Bison will be very good at tackle at next season. Dillon Radunz will be a junior and is about as talented as you'll see a college OT. Zack Johnson is already an All-Valley tackle and will return for his senior season. The interior is a different thing. Left guard to right guard are gone. Colin Conner, Tanner Volson and Luke Bacon have graduated. Once again, NDSU will have to play a "tackle" at offensive guard. Worked out fine with Conner, Bacon and Plankers, and it will have to happen again with Cordell Volson. Cordell is easily one of their best five next season and will likely play at a guard spot. Zach Kubas, Ben Hecht, and Nash Jensen will compete for the other position. Karson Schoening has the inside track to start at center, but should be pushed by Zach Willis.

BisonReport Projected 2-Deep

Offense:

QB: Trey Lance, Zeb Noland

RB: Seth Wilson, Ty Brooks, Adam Cofield, Saybein Clark / Dimitri Williams

FB: Brock Robbins, Garrett Malstrom

X-WR: Christian Watson, Zach Mathis

Slot: Trevor Heit, Jimmy Keporouos / Victor Kizewski

LT: Dillon Radunz, Cordell Volson

LG: Zach Kubas, Nash Jensen

C: Karson Schoening, Zach Willis

RG: Cordell Volson, Ben Hecht

RT: Zack Johnson, Jalen Sundell

TE: Ben Ellefson, Josh Babicz/Noah Gindorff

Z-WR: Phoenix Sproles, Andy Voyen/DJ Stewart/ Dimitri Williams

Defense:

SDE: Spencer Waege, Tanner Sundt

3T: Cole Karcz, Matt Biegler

NT: Jack Darnell, Quinn Alo

WDE: Derrek Tuszka, Tony Pierce, Logan McCormick

SAM: Jabril Cox, Jasir Cox

MIKE: Jackson Hankey, Beau Pauly

WILL: Jaxon Brown, Aaron Mercadel/ Mitchell Kartes

CB: Josh Hayes, Dom Davis

FS: Jimmy Football, Dawson Weber

SS: Michael Tutsie, James Kaczor

NB: Destin Talbert, Tre Fort

CB: Marquise Bridges, Jayden Price

K: Jake Reinholz/Griffin Crosa

P: Garret Wegner

LS: Ross Kennelly

Notes:

TJ Holl? Holl was a machine against North Dakota State in the quarterfinals. He was all over the field. 16 (!) total tackles and three tackles for loss. He talked a lot, too. Holl is one of those guys that you can't stand if he plays for the other team, but you love him if he's on your squad. Entz told me at the signing day press conference that they might look at a "four-year" transfer. Holl has self-reported an NDSU offer. This would be a match made in heaven. It sounds nuts but it would be transformational for the LB group. The other spot with Hankey and Cox is a pretty big question mark. Inserting a stud like Holl would change that question mark to an exclamation point.

21 was a really good player but had a little too much to say in a game that ended 35-0 for my liking. pic.twitter.com/VkcHVUdsUJ — Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) December 9, 2018

Freshman Easton offense. What does that mean you ask? Go back and look at the games that Stick started as a freshman when he was filling in for Carson Wentz. 85 rushing attempts (just himself) to 147 pass attempts. Take the victory in Youngstown for example. Easton went 9 for 18 through the air, but the Bison ran it 42 times for 184 yards. If Lance is the starter, watch out for that offense.

Am I saying that Lance can't throw the ball? Of course not. What I am saying though, is this Bison group is going to be so deep at the positions that allow them to run the ball, and specifically to read-option run the ball, that it's an extremely viable strategy. Tailback is four deep (Wilson, Brooks, Cofield, Clark). Fullback is two deep (Robbins, Malstrom). Tight end is four deep (Ellefson, Babicz, Gindorf, Anderson). Everything they want to run in a power run game setting is there for the taking. They're also pretty thin at receiver from an experience standpoint.

What to do with Dimitri? Dimitri Williams took a redshirt season in 2018, appearing in the allowed four games. The move, as far as Chris Klieman let us know, was to allow Dimitri to move back to his high school position of running back. That's all well and good, but I'm not sure it makes a ton of sense. As I've pointed out more than once, NDSU is both deep and diverse at the tailback spot. They have speed backs, they have big backs, they have feature backs. They're loaded. The receiver group? Who knows. A member of the staff who is now at K-State told me this season that the young receivers were "so freakin' talented". While that's great, receiver is a nuanced position and all that Zach Mathis and DJ Stewart are right now is potential. They could be Bison Hall of Famers they could catch 10 balls a season and then graduate. Who knows? We do know that Williams can play receiver, and the Bison just might need him to give them snaps outside.

Jerry Rice / Buck Buchanan? If Trey Lance wins the starting job and if Jabril Cox stays healthy both of these guys have legitimate shots at the FCS's two major awards that are not the Walter Payton Award. I'm not going to drone on about the mistake that was made by the FCS Media on friday night, but maybe they'll have a chance to make up for it. Jabril Cox will be one of the best five or six linebackers in all of college football next season. He's that good. Lance will have a chance to have a 15 rushing TD / 15 passing TD type of year as well. Keep your eyes peeled.

this one won't loop.



this is exactly the scheme i was talking about in the game preview over on @BisonReport. The DL is full go on the rush because @_Brillo is there to spy, seek and destroy. pic.twitter.com/WcFwIn11b1 — Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) December 15, 2018

Bottom Line

North Dakota State won't get touched in the non conference. Butler is bad. UND is also bad. UC Davis is at home and Delaware graduated 31 guys including Nasir Adderley (he'll be a big part of my pre draft analysis. Kid can play). They'll kick the ball off at Illinois State with a 4-0 record. This upcoming season will not be last season. It's too damn difficult to go undefeated. North Dakota State's season will hinge on whether they drop one, or "slip" and drop two conference games. An 11-1 season would almost assuredly result in a top two seed and playoff home games throughout. A second loss could put them in danger of the first true road playoff game in a very, very long time. The outside FCS media will likely underestimate this team, but I just don't see the big drop off. Easton Stick was a great player, maybe the best Bison ever, but he's not the whole team and neither are the 23 seniors that left with him. The Bison will be very good in the secondary and as pass rushers, and that matters so much in this day and age of college football. Offensively, they'll run the ball and score enough to win more often than not.