We got answers to the questions everyone had been asking us the last few weeks: had we heard anything on how many people will be let in the FargoDome on Gameday and how can I get my tickets? Here are the cliff notes from NDSU Deputy Director of Athletics Todd Phelps:
- Up to 9500 fans will be allowed in the FargoDome
- No tailgating will be allowed as long as the Dome isn’t at 100% capacity
- Fans that opted in for season tickets for the Spring should be getting an email from the NDSU Ticket Office very soon
- There will be concessions available in a socially distance matter
- Fans that can’t make it to games in the Spring are encouraged to transfer their tickets to another user via the NDSU Ticket Marketplace
- Deadline to claim your tickets is Monday, February 8th
While it does have a unique feel to it (what doesn’t right now), we are 20 days away from NDSU Football being played on the turf of Gate City Bank Field inside the Fargodome. Here is a brief look at the Stampede in the Spring Time:
QUARTERBACK
Patience pays off for Bison Senior QB Zeb Noland. The Iowa State Transfer will be the starting QB for Tyler Roehl’s offense this Spring and perhaps next Fall after backing up Trey Lance the last two seasons. Noland has a big time arm and capable ability in the QB run game that has always been a big staple of the NDSU Offense.
Behind Noland, the battle for the backup job will be a dual between two young QB’s. Logan Graetz out of River Falls, WI and Cam Miller from Solon, IA have been had plenty of bright spots in practices and work outs since they arrived on campus.
The big story both figuratively and literally is Virginia Tech transfer Quincy Patterson. Patterson currently has a waiver in to the NCAA to become eligible this Spring. If not, he will be right in the mix for the starting QB job in the Fall of 2021.
RUNNING BACK
Even with the departure of Adam Cofield to Western Kentucky, it is a full room that new assistant coach Joe Beschorner inherits. The Bison will be led by a mixture of Seth Wilson, Kobe Johnson, Jalen Bussey, DJ Stewart, Dominic Gonnella, and TK Marshall. Wilson is healthy and ready to become the next feature back in this offense. We all saw Kobe Johnson’s capability in the Fall of 2019. Bussey burst on to the scene in the Western Illinois game and both Gonnella and Marshall have a bright future. Factor in the Fullback position and the Bison have a room with quality experience and youth who will all get a shot at some point this Spring.
WIDE RECEIVER
Tyler Roehl has told me that last Fall this WR corp was the deepest that he’s seen at NDSU last Fall. Factor in every one returning and it’s the deepest WR room with a more experience feel to it. Christian Watson and Phoenix Sproles are the headliners. Who can forget Watson’s 2nd Quarter vs Montana State in the Semifinals in 2019? Braylon Henderson and Cole Jacob provide speed and physicality in the slot and on the outside. Jacob Lippe saw action in 2 games in 2019 and both Raja Nelson and DJ Hart provide a next level burst that can be used in Special Teams as well.
TIGHT END
There isn’t a better 1-2 combo at the TE position in the FCS than Josh Babicz and Noah Gindorff. Both are now Juniors, both stand at 6-6 with Gindorff now at 266 and Babicz at 255. That won’t be a fun duo to game plan for in the Valley for Defensive Coordinators. Travis Yohnke out of Carlos, MN will also be in the mix to see some snaps as well.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Rams as we all know are the life blood and culture of NDSU Football. It’s a room that is under some transition with players graduating and moving on to the NFL and Dan Larson taking over the group moving in from the RB room. Cordell Volson moves from Right to Left Tackle. Nash Jensen is looking to take the next step at the LG spot while Jalen Sundell moves to Center to take over for Karson Schoening. On the right side, the Kubas brothers Zack and Jake will battle it out at Guard and Cody Mauch will take over at RT after a season as the third Tight End in the Ogre package. There are plenty of young O Lineman in this group as well that solidify the depth and future of the position.
CODE GREEN
The Defensive Line will be a group to watch in the Spring and can use the games for much needed seasoning for the upcoming Fall of 2021. As it stands, Costner Ching returns as the lone interior D Lineman that has seen snaps and major contribution. Lane Tucker will have to play a lot of snaps with the graduation of Matt Biegler. Factor in Redshirt Freshman Javier Derritt and Eli Mostaert and there are bodies here that are ready to play. On the edge, who will emerge as the next dominant pass rusher a la Derrek Tuszka, Greg Menard, and Kyle Emanuel? Tony Pierce and Spencer Waege are viable candidates with Waege playing inside as well. Logan McCormick returns for his Junior season and Brendan Cook is a young player that showed great promise in non conference play in 2019 prior to injury. Bartty Ogbu and Will Mostaert are also in the mix at DE to give the entire group plenty of numbers to attack opposing Offensive Lines.
LINEBACKERS
Park River native Jackson Hankey is back after a Sophomore All American season and leading the Herd in tackles. James Kaczor makes the permanent move to WILL LB and Jasir Cox continues at SAM after taking over for Jabril when he left for LSU. Luke Weerts is as game ready as he’s ever been in the system and Mason Hofstedt is back after injury in the Fall of 2019. Keep an eye out for Freshman Cole Wisniewski as well who caught the eyes of the coaches back last Summer.
SECONDARY
At the CB spot Josh Hayes is back and will be the leader of this group. Hayes performed extremely well in the 2020 National Championship vs James Madison and will fall in line as the next lock down Corner for Code Green. At the other Corner position we have a solid position battle between Jayden Price and Destin Talbert. Price, out of Derby, KS has continued to grow the past few seasons while Talbert looks to use his experience in 2018 and 2019 to lock down a starting spot this Spring.
At Safety, the All American Micheal Tutsie is back and will be one of the best in the FCS once again. Tutsie is coming off a season with 7 INT’s, tied for 2nd most in a season all time at NDSU. Dawson Weber started the Delaware and USD games last season and is ready to take over the other Safety spot. Julian Wlodarczyk was a Special Teams stud in 2019 and we’ll get more snaps in the Spring. A name to watch is Dom Jones the 6-2 RFr out of Duluth, GA.
SPECIAL TEAMS
After missing most of 2019 with an injury, Jake Reinholz returned for the National Championship Game vs James Madison and will be the Kicker this Spring. Griffin Crosa also has plenty of game experience and is available. James Kaczor takes over as the Holder and will run the Swinging Gate after Touchdowns. Ross Kennelly is back to snap.
In the return game Kobe Johnson and RaJa Nelson will be tasked in KOR, while Nelson and Braylon Henderson will take over for the departed Trevor Heit who graduated and moved on to life after college.
Even with some of the big departures from the Fall of 2020, the Spring version of the Bison are the favorites in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the #1 team in the FCS. A sneaky good game to watch early? February 27th at Southern Illinois vs a Saluki team who got snubbed from the FCS Playoffs and battled the Bison well, coincidentally, in the last regular season road game NDSU played in back in November of 2019. I for one can’t wait for football to be back regardless of what season it is. The boot meets the ball at 2:30pm on Sunday, February 21st.
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