If you want to know why the Dakota States are where they are, you have to know it all starts with recruiting and recruiting starts with the attitude of never being satisfied.
In 2020 North Dakota St. was enjoying their usual perch on top of the FCS world with star QB Trey Lance. But Covid dealt everyone a cruel blow and NDSU/Lance only played one football game in the fall of 2020. After that Lance elected to prepare for the NFL draft. As a 1st rounder and the overall #3 pick, it is hard to second guess that decision. NDSU appeared ready to attack the spring with 3-star Iowa St. transfer QB - Zeb Noland. But to the surprise of many, true freshman Cam Miller eventually surpassed Noland, and he became the starter. Most schools would be happy with the season the Bison had in the spring. They won 7 of 10 games and made it to the 2nd round of the FCS playoffs. In Fargo winning 70% of your games is considered a crime against humanity and it induces a depression usually reserved for the closing of oil pipelines. Even though both Miller and Noland return, and even though either QB would likely produce a playoff participant, the Bison chose to fortify the position with the addition of FBS transfer Quincy Patterson. Patterson is a robust 235 lb. 4-star dual-threat QB from Virginia Tech. "Win the Portal" is the new rallying cry of the Fargoians. The Bison are set to win more than 70% of their games in the fall and a return to Frisco, TX appears quite possible.
Meanwhile, down south, South Dakota St. to be exact, the Jackbunnies just got back from a trip to Frisco. The Jacks made it to the National Championship game led by wunderkind QB Mark Gronowski a true freshman. The youthful Gronowski stuffed the trophy case in the spring - Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, you name it. If the Valley awarded it, then Gronowski got it. I thought SDSU would win the Championship, and maybe they would have, but Gronowski was injured early in the game and Keaton Heide had to come on in relief. Even playing with a backup QB, SDSU was in the game all the way losing a 23-21 heartbreaker. Heide is a sophomore in eligibility, so even if Gronowski misses the entire fall 2021 season you would think that SDSU is still in good shape. Heide is a capable QB, the defense is solid and the RB position has the best 1-2 punch in the league. I say that knowing that the MVFC is a conference that always has excellent RB's. North Dakota and NDSU will be strong at RB, but I don't think anyone can match Isaiah Davis and Pierre Strong. So Heide at QB with a possibility of Gronowski returning for the playoffs? That might be a plan at some schools but SDSU Coach Stiegelmeier moved quickly to improve the quarterback position. Chris Oladokun was a 3-star recruit out of Tampa. He held offers from Nebraska and Iowa St. out of HS but he elected to stay home and play for Charlie Strong at South Florida. Oladokun filled in as a starter at USF for a couple of games, but he sought a full-time starting position, so he transferred to FCS Samford. Oladokun enjoyed a stellar 2019 season at Samford receiving the SoConn player of the week award 3 times. As a grad transfer Oladokun flirted with Florida A&M before changing his mind and accepting an offer from South Dakota St. for 2021 fall season. Heide? Oladokun? Gronowski? We're not sure who will be behind center for the Jacks, but I am confident that Coach Stig will contend for the Valley title and the Jacks will be back in the playoffs.
Good is never good enough for the Dakota States
In 2020 North Dakota St. was enjoying their usual perch on top of the FCS world with star QB Trey Lance. But Covid dealt everyone a cruel blow and NDSU/Lance only played one football game in the fall of 2020. After that Lance elected to prepare for the NFL draft. As a 1st rounder and the overall #3 pick, it is hard to second guess that decision. NDSU appeared ready to attack the spring with 3-star Iowa St. transfer QB - Zeb Noland. But to the surprise of many, true freshman Cam Miller eventually surpassed Noland, and he became the starter. Most schools would be happy with the season the Bison had in the spring. They won 7 of 10 games and made it to the 2nd round of the FCS playoffs. In Fargo winning 70% of your games is considered a crime against humanity and it induces a depression usually reserved for the closing of oil pipelines. Even though both Miller and Noland return, and even though either QB would likely produce a playoff participant, the Bison chose to fortify the position with the addition of FBS transfer Quincy Patterson. Patterson is a robust 235 lb. 4-star dual-threat QB from Virginia Tech. "Win the Portal" is the new rallying cry of the Fargoians. The Bison are set to win more than 70% of their games in the fall and a return to Frisco, TX appears quite possible.
Meanwhile, down south, South Dakota St. to be exact, the Jackbunnies just got back from a trip to Frisco. The Jacks made it to the National Championship game led by wunderkind QB Mark Gronowski a true freshman. The youthful Gronowski stuffed the trophy case in the spring - Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, you name it. If the Valley awarded it, then Gronowski got it. I thought SDSU would win the Championship, and maybe they would have, but Gronowski was injured early in the game and Keaton Heide had to come on in relief. Even playing with a backup QB, SDSU was in the game all the way losing a 23-21 heartbreaker. Heide is a sophomore in eligibility, so even if Gronowski misses the entire fall 2021 season you would think that SDSU is still in good shape. Heide is a capable QB, the defense is solid and the RB position has the best 1-2 punch in the league. I say that knowing that the MVFC is a conference that always has excellent RB's. North Dakota and NDSU will be strong at RB, but I don't think anyone can match Isaiah Davis and Pierre Strong. So Heide at QB with a possibility of Gronowski returning for the playoffs? That might be a plan at some schools but SDSU Coach Stiegelmeier moved quickly to improve the quarterback position. Chris Oladokun was a 3-star recruit out of Tampa. He held offers from Nebraska and Iowa St. out of HS but he elected to stay home and play for Charlie Strong at South Florida. Oladokun filled in as a starter at USF for a couple of games, but he sought a full-time starting position, so he transferred to FCS Samford. Oladokun enjoyed a stellar 2019 season at Samford receiving the SoConn player of the week award 3 times. As a grad transfer Oladokun flirted with Florida A&M before changing his mind and accepting an offer from South Dakota St. for 2021 fall season. Heide? Oladokun? Gronowski? We're not sure who will be behind center for the Jacks, but I am confident that Coach Stig will contend for the Valley title and the Jacks will be back in the playoffs.
Good is never good enough for the Dakota States
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