North Dakota State ranks No. 2 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Bison finished 11-4 last year, advancing to the FCS semifinals before losing 31-29 at Montana in double-overtime.
Here’s a look at the 2024 NDSU football squad, which has 27 seniors under first-year head coach Tim Polasek.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (9)
1st Team
FB Hunter Brozio
DE Dylan Hendricks
LB Logan Kopp
S Cole Wisniewski
LS Hunter Brozio
2nd Team
QB Cam Miller
DT Eli Mostaert
Honorable Mention
TE Joe Stoffel
K Griffin Crosa
AP Raja Nelson (WR)
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (4)
Anthony Chideme-Alfaro (DB), Cornell
Aaron Bickerton (P), Howard
Payton Bodine (DE), North Dakota
Will Frattalone (DB), Northern Iowa
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (4)
Jacob Kilzer (QB), Air Force
Silas Evans (WR), Colorado State
Trent Fraley (OL), Marshall
Cade Osterman (WR), Minnesota
Transfers Lost To The FCS (0)
Transfers Lost To The FBS (2)
Eli Green (WR) to Iowa State
Javier Derritt (DL) to Kansas
For more FCS coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Offensive Outlook
The Bison return nine of last year’s 12 All-MVFC selections. Offensively, though, the Bison have several holes to fill.
NDSU loses three starters on the offensive line, its top running back, and its top two wide receivers. But the offense will be in good hands at the most important position, returning the quarterback duo of Cam Miller and Cole Payton.
Miller enters his fifth season of starting games for the Bison. He has 6,470 career passing yards, 48 touchdowns to 15 interceptions, 1,646 yards rushing, and 36 rushing TDs. He had his best season last fall, owning PFF’s highest offensive grade for an FCS quarterback while his 169.1 passing efficiency was No. 2 in the subdivision. Miller finished 208/289 passing for 2,688 yards, 19 touchdowns, and four interceptions, plus 629 yards rushing and 13 scores.
Payton (6’3″ 232 lbs) is a physically impressive quarterback. He’ll again be a key part of the offense. Last year, Miller and Payton led NDSU with 13 rushing touchdowns each. Miller’s 629 yards on the ground ranked No. 2 on the team, and Payton’s 615 yards was No. 3.
The Bison ranked No. 4 in 2023 FCS rushing offense, averaging 237.3 yards per game. The QB run game is lethal, but they’ll need some production to step up at running back. NDSU has to replace leading rusher TaMerik Williams (767 yards, 8 TDs last year). Barika Kpeenu (501 yards, 4 TDs) and TK Marshall (386 yards, 6 TDs) look to elevate their play. Redshirt freshman CharMar Brown also has the potential to elevate into a feature role.
With Zach Mathis graduating and Eli Green transferring to Iowa State, the Bison lose their top two receivers. RaJa Nelson (31 catches last year for 388 yards and 2 TDs) and Braylon Henderson (16 catches, 280 yards, 1 TD) provide some experience, but there isn’t much production after them. The next most productive wide receiver is Tyler Terhark, who had four catches for 52 yards last year. The Bison will look to younger receivers to turn recruiting hype and potential into production.
Joe Stoffel can provide a reliable target. He’ll be one of the better tight ends in the FCS this season after hauling in 25 receptions for 293 yards and six TDs last season.
But it all starts up front for the Bison. NDSU routinely owns one of the best offensive lines in the FCS, a consistent factory of NFL-level talent. This may be its biggest reloading project in years, though. The Bison return only two starters — Grey Zabel (6’6″ 301 lbs) and Mason Miller (6’7″ 299 lbs). Zabel turned down large NIL offers from Power 4 programs. He appears primed to be NDSU’s next offensive lineman in the NFL. He and Miller are two very good linemen, but there are unknowns at the other three spots.
Defensive Outlook
NDSU’s defense eyes a return to its dominant form with a veteran-laden 2024 unit.
The Bison allowed 19.9 points per game last year, ranking No. 18 in the FCS. Comparatively, their national championship-winning teams allowed 11.1 PPG in 2021 and 12.3 in 2019.
The experience is there to go from a pretty good defense to a great defense. NDSU returns nine players who started at least seven games last year, including its top four tacklers — safety Cole Wisniewski (92 tackles, 8 INT), LB Logan Kopp (85 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3 INT), safety Sam Jung (66 tackles), and LB Nick Kubitz (54 tackles).
The Bison have stars at all three levels.
Wisniewski was the highest-graded FCS safety in 2023 and is a potential Day 2 2025 NFL Draft pick. Kopp is one of the better returning FCS linebackers after an All-MVFC First Team season. DE Dylan Hendricks is another All-Conference First Teamer, coming off a breakout season that saw him record 40 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. And DT Eli Mostaert (37 tackles, 4 TFLs) is a three-time All-MVFC selection who finished last year as PFF’s No. 8 FCS interior defensive lineman.
Additionally, LB Luke Weerts (128 career tackles), DT Will Mostaert (70 career tackles, 12.5 TFLs), and DE Loshiaka Roques (52 career tackles, 7 TFLs) are fifth or sixth-year seniors with a ton of big-game experience.
Depth up front should especially be strong. Rotating on the d-line is an NDSU specialty. And behind the Mostaert twins are Kody Huisman and Jaxon Duttenhefer, two juniors who bring plenty of reps.
The secondary is a completely different story than last offseason, going from inexperienced to a veteran backend. With Wisniewski and Jung at safety, and Marcus Sheppard and Jaquise Alexander at cornerback, the Bison return 44 starts in the secondary from 2023. Transfer CB Anthony Chideme-Alfaro, who started several games at Cornell, also looks to have an impact.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
NDSU Football Schedule
8/29 at Colorado
9/7 vs Tennessee State
9/14 at ETSU
9/21 vs Towson
9/28 at No. 24 Illinois State
10/5 vs North Dakota
10/12 at No. 9 Southern Illinois
10/19 vs No. 1 South Dakota State
10/26 at Murray State
11/2 vs Northern Iowa
11/16 vs Missouri State
11/23 at No. 5 South Dakota
Bold indicates MVFC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
