The 2021 spring season is one full of opportunity. When you add together the spring season being followed up by another full season in the fall and the spring not counting as a year of eligibility for student athletes, you get a chance for many young players to get a chance on the field. The same thing will ring true for the University of North Dakota football program. Head Coach Bubba Schweigert will be looking to replace lots of production and experience on his roster and also a coordinator on his coaching staff.
COACHING STAFF
Starting with the coaching staff. Bubba Schweigert in in his seventh season at the helm for UND and will be trying to make the playoffs again after getting in the bracket in 2019 with a 7-4 record before falling to Nicholls State in the opening round.
UND will be replacing Defensive Coordinator Eric Schmidt, who left for Fresno State after six seasons as the DC and Defensive Line Coach with UND. In steps Brett Holinka the former UND Linebacker that was a part of the inaugural Division 1 team for UND back in 2008. Holinka has made several stops on his coaching career including the University of Mary in 2018 as their Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. Holinka returned to his alma mater in 2019 as the Outside Linebackers Coach.
OFFENSE
On offense UND turns over six starters from opening day in 2019.
QUARTERACK:
Nate Ketteringham graduated after two season as the starter. Ketteringham threw for 2,612 yards last season with 16 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. They also lost backup quarterback Andrew Zimmerman to graduation. He appeared in 3 games last season and was a captain last year.
The new signal caller could be multiple names in 2021 but it may start with redshirt freshman Tommy Schuster. Schuster came into the program last season from Macomb Michigan and Chippewa Valley High School. Schuster appeared in three games throwing for 168 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception and a completion percentage of 53%. He also ran for 20 yards on five attempts but did have over 1,000 yards rushing in high school.
Using multiple quarterbacks in this spring season is certainly not out of the question. Two other names seem most likely to receive playing time. Brock Boltmann has spent the past two years as a WR for UND but was brought in from Edina High School in Minnesota as a QB. He should be expected to take some snaps for the Fighting Hawks. Boltmann was a nominee for 6A Mr. Football in Minnesota as a senior. So far in college Boltmann has only six completions for 39 yards and one touchdown. The other name is Quincy Vaughn a 6’4’’ 240 pound true freshman out of Hamilton Ontario. Vaughn was named to the All-Canadian first team in 2018 and 2019 and was a four year starter earning MVP honors in each of them. Vaughn has impressed so far and with the extra time to prepare for this spring season he will be in the discussion for playing time now and in the future.
RUNNING BACK:
New faces as well at the running back position where Fargo South alum James Johannesson has graduated and Cameron McKinney has transferred out of the program. Johannesson was the leading rusher a season ago with 530 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was used in short yardage and goal line situations most often. McKinney transferred out after a season at UND in which he ran for 169 yards on 28 carries (six yards per carry) with two touchdowns. The leaders in the backfield will be Dalton Gee and Luke Skonka. Gee ran for 210 yards on 44 carries in 2019 with one touchdown and also had 12 receptions for 74 yards. Skokna had 190 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and 13 receptions for 72 yards.
WIDE RECIEVER:
Wideout is the position with the most turnover of production as starters Noah Wanzek and Travis Toivonen both ended their careers and graduated. Wanzek was a four-year starter with nearly 2,700 yards and 18 touchdowns in his career. He was also one of the most reliable targets for UND quarterbacks. Toivonen found the endzone seven times in 2019 leading all receivers and totaling 684 yards. UND does return Garett Maag who played in all 12 games last season with 59 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns. Outside of Maag there will be many new faces asked to step up on the outside throughout the year.
TIGHT END:
UND lost their starter at tight end in 2019, Alex Cloyd. The tight end position isn’t utilized often in the UND offense but Cloyd did have three touchdowns on just 10 receptions in 2019. There are a couple names to replace him and including Senior Derek Paulson and Mandan native redshirt sophomore Trae Steckler.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
The offensive line is the one area UND does return the majority of its snaps from a season ago. The only missing piece is Center Nathan Nguon who did miss significant time in 2019. The line is led by senior Ryan Tobin who not only has played in every game the last three seasons but was also an honorable mention on the Missouri Valley preseason all-conference team.
DEFENSE
On defense UND lost 5 starters from opening day in 2019.
SECONDARY:
UND has multiple losses in the secondary. Leonard Nelson their starting safety on opening day in 2019 graduated after last year. He played in six games recording 18 tackles. They also lost cornerback Hayden Blubaugh to transfer to Division 2 Washburn University in Kansas. Blubaugh started eight games a season ago with 38 tackles and one interception. Evan Holm is a returning senior that has played in 31 games at cornerback and had 18 tackles with one interception last year. Senior Jordan Canady was named a preseason all-conference honorable mention member in the backend after recording 87 tackles and two tackles for loss to go along with an interception and a forced fumble in his junior season.
LINEBACKER:
UND does have a new defensive coordinator but last year they employed four linebackers and that is expected to stay the same in the spring. UND will have to replace two of their most talented and productive players at the second level in Donnell Rodgers and Jade Lawrence. Rodgers led UND with 126 tackles and also added three sacks and an interception. Lawrence was also very productive with 51 tackles two sacks and two interceptions. Jaxson Turner, a preseason honorable mention member on the all-conference team, does return to the middle linebacker position and had 4.5 sacks which was second on the team in 2019. Senior Ray Hass and redshirt sophomore Caden White are expected to replace the departures of Rodgers and Lawrence for UND.
DEFENSIVE LINE:
On the defensive line UND will only have to replace one starter but that starter in Mason Bennett who was so productive at UND he got himself drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the first round of the CFL draft. Bennett lead UND with 5.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss with one forced fumble in 2019. Junior Jalen Morrison and redshirt Sophomore Jaelen Johnson do return but will be relied upon to produce higher than they did last season. Morrison had 24 tackles while Johnson had 29. Johnson did have five tackles for loss including a sack.
This spring season marks the official move of UND into the Missouri Valley Conference and not only will it be the start of a new era for UND in terms of its conference affiliation but it also will be a new era with many different names making an impact on both sides of the ball for the Fighting Hawks.
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