Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to the start of weekly college football odds and Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
66: Nash Jensen, OL (Sr.) — North Dakota State
NDSU is known for its development of offensive linemen, notably taking 250 or 260-pound recruits with a good frame and getting them up to 300 pounds after a couple of years. Nash Jensen did the opposite. He arrived in Fargo at 6-foot-4 and 349 pounds. Jensen trimmed 20 pounds in one year and has been playing around 328 pounds since.
He’s also played in a lot of games since.
A two-star recruit out of the Twin Cities metro with other offers from Georgia State, Illinois State, Montana State, New Mexico, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, and Wyoming, Jensen entered the lineup as a redshirt sophomore in 2019, starting all 16 games at left guard. NDSU went 16-0 and rushed for a school-record 4,601 yards. Jensen was named a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American.
Jensen started all 10 games in 2020-21. He then started all 15 games last fall, making it 41 straight starts at left guard.
Due to the extra year of eligibility granted during the 2020-21 COVID season, Jensen is returning for a sixth season. After finishing No. 2 in FCS rushing offense (280.6 YPG) last year, the Bison have all of their top RBs back. And Jensen is one of four starting offensive linemen returning, accompanied by pro prospect Cody Mauch and standout Jalen Sundell.
