Bison football 2025 fall camp preview: Offense

FARGO North Dakota States offense will have a brand new look both on and off the field in 2025.

Gone is Cam Miller, who won two national titles during his time with the Bison and filled the record books as quarterback over the last five seasons.

Also departed is NDSUs longtime quarterbacks coach in Randy Hedberg, who retired in February after 14 seasons with the Bison and nearly forty years in collegiate coaching.

The Bison will have their third different offensive coordinator in three seasons, with Jake Landry departing after one season for the running backs job at Iowa State.

He was replaced by offensive line coach Dan Larson, a former head coach in his own right, who has been on the Bison staff since 2019.

The other offensive changes are two new arrivals.

Dylan Chmura takes over as the offensive line coach for Larson.

Chmura comes to Fargo after a stint at Tennessee State.

A former Big Ten player and son of a former Packer great, he was a graduate assistant for Tim Polasek at the University of Iowa.

All-time NDSU great Sam Ojuri has returned to the school as well to coach the running backs, after spending the last handful of years at Illinois State.

The old running backs coach; Joe Beschorner, was moved over to coach the quarterbacks.

Follow all of that? How it translates on the field is yet to be determined, but thats a lot of change.

The transition started during spring football, but it bears watching during fall camp with people in new positions and new members on the staff.

All told, the Bison will have to replace seven starters on offense from the national championship game in Frisco in January, including Miller, three offensive linemen, the freshman of the year at running back and two other skill positions.

Its a group that has some experience and plenty of talent, but the younger players are going to tell the story of how good the Bison offense is in 2025.

QUARTERBACK It goes without saying how good Miller was in 2024.

A near Walter Payton Award winning year, throwing 33 touchdown passes to just four interceptions and he was at his best in the biggest moments.

That opening will be filled by senior Cole Payton, who has been waiting four years for his chance.

The 6-foot-3, 233-pound left handed monster was one of the highest profile recruits in NDSUs Division I history.

Hes had the opportunity to show his athleticism off over the last four years, most notably with his legs.

Payton has scored four touchdowns ranging from 60 to 73 yards, displaying some impressive speed.

He enters 2025 with just 58 passing attempts, with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Paytons ability to throw has long been under the microscope from fans, and hes heard it.

He has a simple answer for critics.

"I wouldnt be playing quarterback here, I wouldnt have been the backup these last couple years if I couldnt throw the football.

...

Keep doubting, but I can throw.

Payton missed the final half of last season after tearing his labrum on a run in the third quarter of the Dakota Marker game against South Dakota State.

He had surgery shortly after to be fully healthy for spring football.

Payton wore a purple jersey during April which was a super non-contact signal for the defense.

He says hes 100 percent and eager to show it when fall camp begins in two weeks.

Payton will be pushed by junior Nathan Hayes.

The 6-foot-3, 219-pound backup got invaluable experience last season after Payton went down.

Regarded by Miller as having the best arm on the team, Hayes showed that in spurts last year, with a couple of impressive throws in mop-up duty against Murray State and Missouri State.

Hayes also displayed some impressive speed, scoring on a 51-yard touchdown run against Tennessee State.

Polasek has been complimentary of Hayes and his potential running the offense.

It bears watching on how the Bison will try to find ways to get Hayes on the field.

Its the opposite of what the scenario has been with Payton over the last three years, when he came in the game, opposing defenses knew he was going to run the ball.

It will be interesting to see if Payton and Hayes are on the field at the same time.

Trey Drake, Zander Smith and Preston Brown are the other quarterbacks on the roster.

Drake is a sophomore, who saw his first game action last season.

Smith is a freshman, who enrolled early from Florida.

He looks like hes 25, not 18, and has impressed with his arm strength and knowledge of the offense.

Brown is a highly-touted freshman from Missouri, who was recruited to play two separate positions at NDSU and is getting a chance to play quarterback to begin with.

That's something to watch to see how he fares when fall camp begins.

OFFENSIVE LINE I could have started this preview with the offensive line and not get any argument with how successful NDSU has been in producing NFL talent.

Chmura will have his work cut out for him this year, having to replace three players that are playing professionally.

All told, four starters are gone from the offensive line, with Grey Zabel, Mason Miller, Hunter Poncius and Jake Rock all graduated.

NDSU brings back two starters that excelled last year.

Trent Fraley made a seamless transition from Marshall to the Bison, starting all 16 games at center.

Hes been named a preseason All-American and will be the captain of the offensive line.

Griffin Empey earned a starting spot out of fall camp as a redshirt freshman and never gave it up, starting 11 games at left guard and another three at right guard, missing two games because of injury.

He took reps at center as well during practice to give NDSU some flexibility up front, but the Wisconsin native was impressive all of last year.

The Bison coaching staff have been bragging about the young offensive linemen they have recruited over the last few years, and now is the time to see if theyre ready to go.

Beau Johnson appears to be the next in line to take over at left tackle.

The 6-foot-6, 297-pound giant from Spring Lake Park, Minnesota got a majority of reps at left tackle during spring practice.

The third-year sophomore has been under the eye of Polasek after he arrived last December.

I'm just trying to earn my spot right now, earn my stripes, try to get that starting roll that I haven't got yet, Johnson said.

But Im confident in myself.

I've been sitting behind the guys too long now, but I'm ready to go right now.

The other open spots would be right tackle and right guard.

Right tackle looks to be occupied by a former defensive lineman in Josh Magin.

The Shakopee, MN.

native battled a pectoral injury during winter workouts and most of spring football.

He returned for the end of practice in April, but at 6-foot-6 and 304-pounds, he appears to be the leader in the clubhouse at that spot.

Right guard seems to be more up in the air as camp approaches.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Liwienski started two games last year and has the experience, while junior Devin Lockerby and sophomore Nate Schneckloth got a ton of reps during spring football.

That position appears to be a battle to see who could win it.

There are some young players to watch for the rotation as well, three redshirt freshmen each could be in the mix to play.

Nate Tastad, Noah Stommes and Coy Okeson were all noted for their work on the Scout Team last season and will be expected to play a larger role this season.

Tastad has consistently been impressive and Stommes is a favorite among some of the offensive staff.

Of note, during the Green and Gold Showcase, this is how NDSU lined up to start with the number one offense from left to right: Johnson, Empey, Fraley, Schneckloth and Magin.

RUNNING BACK For fans of a certain age, Ojuri was part of one of the best backfields in Bison history, paired with fellow future Hall of Famer, John Crockett.

Ojuri will have some work to do after the departure of Jerry Rice Award winner Marty Brown to Miami in April.

NDSU returns West Fargo native Barika Kpeenu as the most experienced back.

After that, theres more unknowns than answers.

NDSU added Kennesaw State transfer DJ Scott after Brown transferred.

Scott played sparingly over the last two years for the Owls, hes 5-foot-11 and 217 pounds.

He has a history with Ojuri as he tried to recruit Scott out of high school to Illinois State.

He knew Coach Ojuri from high school, felt like Day 1 when he arrived on campus, said Scotts high school coach, Greg Odierno.

We were texting back and forth and I told him, DJ this fits your running style and he was impressed with the offensive line play.

Scott describes himself as a downhill running back, hes not going to dance around and gets stronger as the game goes along.

Scott comes to NDSU with three years of eligibility remaining.

Scott wasnt the only portal addition, as NDSU nabbed Cortez LeGrant from the University of Minnesota.

The 5-foot-10, 189-pound LeGrant didnt play for the Gophers in the two years he spent there.

LeGrant brings a speed element to the backfield and also an ability to return kicks that was appealing to the Bison coaching staff.

I see myself fitting in with the backs there already by bringing energy and excitement into the room.

LeGrant said.

The other returning back is Owen Johnson, who hasnt played a down since October 2023, when suffered a serious knee injury in the loss at the University of North Dakota.

He has worked his way back after missing out on all of last year.

Johnson was back for spring football and looked like his old self, both out of the backfield and catching the ball.

His dual ability brings another element to the running backs.

Two freshmen could be ones to watch as well.

Myles Money Mitchell enrolled early with Smith in January and already was impressive during spring football.

He displayed quickness and power during the Green and Gold Showcase to wrap up practice in April, enough so that Mitchell playing beyond the freshman four games is now in question.

I just wanted to prove to the team that I belong, Mitchell said.

I wanted to prove myself right, that I made the right decision to come here early.

And I also got to prove to this whole program, the whole staff and the whole team that I belong here earlier than I was supposed to.

The other freshman back is Charles Ross III, a 5-foot-9 speedster from Kansas City.

He was an explosive player in college and it remains to be seen how he adjusts to college and fall camp practices if he gets to play in four games this season and potentially beyond.

Barry Kpeenu, Barikas younger brother transferred to NDSU in January from Rochester Community Technical College and Brady Wavrunek round out the Bison running backs.

Its a group that has some question marks with the departure of Brown and the graduation of TK Marshall.

WIDE RECEIVER You can make the argument that NDSU has the most talented group of wide receivers in FCS heading into 2025.

The Bison graduated two players from the wide receiver spot in Braylon Henderson and Tyler Terhark.

It starts with All-American Bryce Lance returning after a record-setting season where he caught 17 touchdowns and exploded on the scene in a major way.

Lance transformed his career in a way that no one saw coming, going from one career catch to a potential high NFL Draft pick.

It will be difficult to match his numbers from a season ago, but Payton and Lance arrived together in Fargo and have been working with each other for the last four years.

Lance isnt alone with sixth-year senior RaJa Nelson returning after missing a majority of last season with a nagging lower body injury.

Nelson was healthy enough for the playoffs, coming up with a couple of huge catches in the national championship game.

Hes joined by two giants in Mekhi Collins and Chris Harris, each who blossomed last year, combining to score five touchdowns and 45 total receptions.

Jackson Williams was pegged early on by Polasek during fall camp last year as a potential player to watch and he didnt disappoint.

Williams did most of his damage on special teams, scoring a punt and kick return touchdown.

Expect Williams to be a much bigger piece on offense, he had just eight receptions in 2024, but that number could easily double this fall.

Another young player to potentially watch is Willistons Isiah St.

Romain, who splashed during spring practice.

St.

Romain showed an ability to go over the middle and make plays and showed his impressive speed.

The question will be is there enough passes for St.

Romain to get on the field? NDSU also returns John Gores and Cade Osterman, who each came up with big receptions last year and will be counted on again this fall.

Silas Evans arrived on campus last August and was said to be progressing well as the season went along, it will be interesting to see if he can get on the field.

The Bison added two high-profile freshmen wide receivers in Maple Grove (MN.)s Dylan Vokal and Florida product SJ Green.

Each was highly sought after in the 2025 recruiting cycle and if not for a clogged wide receiver room, they could be players this fall.

TIGHT END From a position that has a ton of experience to one that simply doesnt.

Joe Stoffel graduating leaves a big hole at the tight end spot.

Stoffel had routinely been at the top of the receiving charts each of the last two years, and that safety net is gone.

There was some chatter about the Bison potentially adding a tight end through the transfer portal, but Polasek rebuffed that, saying hes confident in what his returners can bring to the table.

Carson Williams becomes the most veteran player in the group.

The former FBS transfer has just nine career catches in his three years with the Bison, but his frame at 6-foot-4 and 247 pounds is one that could be a mismatch.

Perhams Finn Diggins has mainly been a blocking tight end, who has just seven career receptions in three years.

Williams and Diggins have accounted for all but one reception from tight ends on the roster.

There is plenty of youth at this spot that will be worth watching this next month.

Barnesvilles Kaden Zenzen has just one career reception, but could be a potential downfield threat.

Two redshirt freshmen impressed on the Scout Team last year that with good falls, could see the field.

Fargo Souths Reis Kessel was solid during spring ball and capped that off with a good Green and Gold Showcase.

There is another Zabel on the roster, Jett had numerous FBS offers out of high school and turned those down to come to NDSU.

Well see if either of these players are able to break through and get on the field.

Theres a real chance that things may start out slowly for the offense in 2025 as both players and coaches adjust to the new personnel and staff that will be calling and running the plays this fall..

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