1 week Ago By Dom Izzo
FARGO — An eventful week for North Dakota State football wrapped Friday as the Bison put a bow on their third week of spring ball in front of nearly 140 coaches from around North Dakota. The Bison held their annual coaches clinic over the last two days. It was a week that featured a trip to Washington, D.
C. to be honored by President Donald Trump and then had starting linebacker Enock Sibomana enter the transfer portal. There were no apparent hangover effects from either instance, as the mood from the team was upbeat heading into the final two weeks of camp.
The Bison had some players back on the field participating in practice, namely middle linebacker Nathaniel Staehling. Staehling had been limited in his return to the field after undergoing shoulder surgery in October, but the white non-contact jersey was off and he was a full-go. Staehling is seen as the heir apparent to take over in the middle for outgoing seniors Nick Kubitz and Luke Weerts.
Staehling at 6-foot-2, 233-pounds has the perfect frame to be a difference maker at that position. Staying at the linebacker spot, Donovan Woolen has popped in the times the media has been able to watch practice. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound sophomore made an eye-opening play during Friday’s practice where he tracked down speedy wide receiver John Gores on pass and knocked the pass away.
Woolen’s athletic ability was seen sparingly at times last year, playing in 11 games, but it appears he’s the leader in the clubhouse to take Sibomana’s starting spot. NDSU could roll into the season with a starting linebacker corps of Woolen, Staehling and two-time first-team Missouri Valley selection Logan Kopp. Moorhead’s Austin Altepeter and Fargo North’s Peder Haugo will be in the mix as backups.
Redshirt freshman Ray James is out of spring ball after having offseason labrum surgery, he practiced all year long on the scout team with a torn labrum, but the coaching staff is high on his potential. It will be interesting to see if this is a position that the Bison look at the transfer portal to potentially grab some more depth. Incoming freshman Gavin Sell has been discussed about getting some run, but he doesn’t arrive until June.
The last freshman linebacker to see significant reps, besides Woolen, was likely Nick DeLuca in 2014. Friday was the first time the media had a chance to visit with the quarterbacks. Senior Cole Payton has a different aura around him this spring, knowing his time has arrived to be the starting quarterback.
Payton arrived in Fargo as a highly touted recruit out of Omaha in 2021, and has been able to show flashes of his athletic ability through the last four years. He has attempted just 58 career passes over those four years and has heard the questions about his ability to throw. “I can throw, just wait and see,” Payton said.
“I wouldn’t be playing quarterback here if I couldn’t throw the football. Just keep doubting, but I can throw.” Payton and Nathan Hayes have been getting plenty of reps and Hayes' arm continues to impress when he’s in live action.
It’s going to be a fascinating battle as fall camp opens in late July on what NDSU could do at the quarterback spot. The two true freshmen that arrived in January have also turned some heads. Payton said that quarterback Zander Smith “is the youngest amongst us, but looks the oldest.
” Smith has a full beard, but is just 18 years old. “I knew it was going to be cold and insulate my face a little bit,” Smith said. “My mom is the hugest fan, but as long as I keep it clean she’s ok with it.
” Smith said he had his welcome to college football moment early in spring football, where he snapped the ball and froze for about 15 seconds. He said he hasn’t done that again in the weeks that followed. Running back Myles “Money” Mitchell looks the part of a player that could see the field in the fall.
When asked on what separates him from the other running backs: “Our room is really talented, I feel like my pass catching ability is pretty good,” Mitchell said. “I’m still learning from the older guys and just trying to get better.” PLAYERS TO WATCH Two transfers have caught my attention through the practices I’ve been able to attend.
Safety Jaylen Archibald has stood out with his size and speed at a position where the Bison suddenly have depth with Ryan Jones, Darius Givance and Jaylin Crumby all returning this season. Albany defensive end transfer Jack Iuliano has shown some speed off the edge in drills. With the Bison losing Hunter Zenzen, Loshiaka Roques and Kole Menz from last season, there’s going to be a need for a player or two to step up at that spot.
NDSU may not be done adding either at that position. PORTAL WINDOW OPENS This week will surely be a nervewracking one for Polasek, as the second portal window opens on Wednesday. It’s a nine-day period, where any player can go in, closing on April 25.
Sibomana classifies as a graduate transfer, that’s why he was able to enter last week. Last year the Bison saw Eli Green enter the portal shortly after spring ball had concluded. NDSU though was active after spring football wrapped, adding three players out of the portal in cornerback Anthony Chideme-Alfaro, punter Aaron Bickerton and wide receiver Cade Osterman.
That may be something to watch over the next few weeks is just not the players potentially leaving, but the ones that could be coming in..
