North Dakota State won its seventh FCS national title in eight years on Jan. 5. The list of standout players during this dynasty run is quite impressive, from record-breakers to current NFL players.
So what would it look like if we formed the ultimate starting lineup of NDSU players from 2011-2018?
Let's give it a shot.
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Offense
QB: Carson Wentz
2014, 2015
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(Photo by Sam Herder)[/credit]
The Bison have had the all-time FCS wins leader in Easton Stick and the No. 2 guy on that list in Brock Jensen. But when neither of those guys make this all-star team, you know you've been spoiled.
That's because, well, Carson Wentz is Carson Wentz.
He continued the Bison dynasty in 2014, returned to the next year's title game after missing eight games due to injury and put on a performance that caught the eye of the NFL. The North Dakota native was picked No. 2 overall by Philadelphia and has turned into one of the better young QBs in the league. [divider]
RB: Bruce Anderson
2015, 2017, 2018
Anderson never got a season like John Crockett did in 2014. Crockett was the workhorse back who went for 1,994 yards rushing after back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons in 2012 and 2013.
But Anderson is the most physically impressive and skilled RB the Bison have had. If he was a feature back who rushed 25-30 times a game, his numbers would be ridiculous. They already are pretty good: 2017 featured 1,216 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns and this year he had 924 yards and nine TDs.
Crockett went undrafted and got on with the Green Bay Packers, where he played in two games in 2015. Anderson is a legitimate 2019 NFL Draft prospect. [divider]
FB: Andrew Grothmann
2011, 2012, 2013
The ultimate fullback. Grothmann was a small town North Dakota guy who worked on the family farm and pursued an agriculture major.
He had all of one rush attempt for zero yards and 12 catches for 120 yards and one touchdown in 57 games played. But Grothmann was named the best fullback in the FCS in 2013 as Crockett and Sam Ojuri both rushed for more than 1,000 yards. [divider]
WR: Zach Vraa
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
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(Photo by NDSU Athletics)[/credit]
Vraa had two catches during his redshirt freshman season in 2011 before breaking his collarbone. That allowed him to return for a sixth year in 2015. Vraa was the down-field threat for the Bison after Warren Holloway graduated in that 2011 season. Vraa had his best year in 2013, where he led the Valley in receiving yards per game (79.4).
He is the school career record holder in receptions (195), receiving yards (2,957) and receiving touchdowns (28). [divider]
WR: Darrius Shepherd
2015, 2017, 2018
Shepherd's dominant senior season gives him the small edge over Ryan Smith (2011-2013).
He finished 2018 with 62 receptions for 1,065 yards and nine touchdowns. Shepherd had a clutch touchdown catch in the 2017 title game versus James Madison and also came up big in the 2015 regular season game against Northern Iowa.
Shepherd finishes his career with 57 games played, 188 catches (ranked 2nd in NDSU history) for 2,841 yards (ranked 2nd) and 20 touchdowns (ranked 6th). [divider]
TE: Andrew Bonnet
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Bonnet was an athletic TE/FB hybrid who became a fan favorite because of his flowing long hair and ability to hurdle defenders at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds.
He played in all 61 career games as NDSU had 1,000-yard rushers in his four seasons. Bonnet provided an added element to the passing game by lining up in multiple spots. He finished his career with 56 catches for 574 yards and eight TDs. [divider]
LT: Billy Turner
2011, 2012, 2013
Turner was rock solid protecting the blind side of Jensen. He was one of many players who should've been in a Big Ten uniform coming out of the Twin Cities area.
At 6-foot-6, 314 pounds, Turner was a two-time All-American. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft and is currently playing for Denver. [divider]
LG: Zack Johnson
2012, 2013, 2015
Johnson played as a true freshman in 2012, and at 6-foot-4, 331 pounds, was part of a scary left side of the line next to Turner in 2013. Johnson earned All-MVFC Second Team honors that year.
An injury redshirted Johnson in 2014, but he returned for All-American seasons in 2015 and 2016. Johnson was a dominant run blocker and received an invite to the East-West Shrine Game. [divider]
C: Tanner Volson
2017, 2018
The 9-man North Dakota high school recruit bided his time and earned a full-time starting role in 2017. Volson was named to the All-Conference Second Team as a junior and made a name for himself in 2018.
The 6-foot-4, 306-pounder had several All-American honors and was the Rimington Award winner as the best center in the FCS and also was named the top offensive lineman by the FCS Athletic Directors Association. [divider]
RG: Austin Kuhnert
2014, 2015, 2017
Perhaps the toughest dude to strap on a Bison helmet. Kuhnert went viral in the 2017 playoffs when video caught him snapping his elbow back into place in the huddle. He was equally versatile as tough.
At 6-foot-4, 304 pounds, he started 11 games at left guard in 2014, then started 26 games at center the next two seasons before moving to right guard in 2017 and starting 14 games. Kuhnert received several All-American accolades as a senior and got an invite to the East-West Shrine Game. [divider]
RT: Joe Haeg
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
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Zack Johnson, 66, and Joe Haeg, 59 (Photo: Sam Herder)[/credit]
Haeg was a two-time All-American at left tackle in 2014 and 2015, but his first two seasons he started opposite of Turner at right tackle. He grew from a skinny walk-on to 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds.
Haeg was the second Bison to be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, taken in the fifth round by Indianapolis and has started many games there.
