GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Last season, the University of North Dakota made its NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) debut. A standout team in the former North Central Conference, the Fighting Sioux finished with a record of 6-4 in 2009 and captured their sixth-consecutive winning season
Chris Mussman returns for his second season as head coach and his 10th season overall on the UND football coaching staff. Also returning are Mike Mannausau (Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator), John Kelling (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary), Greg Breitbach (Offensive Coordinator), Tim Belmore (Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator), Rod Carey (Offensive Line), Josh Kotelnicki (Special Teams/Inside Linebackers), and Nate Baukol (Strength and Conditioning). Mussman and his staff will be joined this season by a new inside linebackers coach, George Love and new running backs coach Jace Schillinger.
North Dakota will return a total of 30 letterwinners from the 2008 squad and will have to fill the gaps left by the 22 student-athletes no longer on the roster.
Of those 22 players lost, 19 were seniors. Of those 19 seniors, 15 were starters. Of those 15 senior starters, three are listed top-10 in both the UND single-season and career record books.
“We need to develop offensively and it may take some time to find our identity on offense,” Mussman said. “The defense is where the bulk of our experience returns. Up front, we should be solid defensively.
“We still have some things to do and settle on all sides of the ball, but right now I am ready for fall camp and to get things started.”
QUARTERBACKS
Junior Jake Landry (Grand Forks, N.D.) enters his first year as the starter. Landry appeared in four games while backing up record-setting starter Danny Freund in 2008. Landry was efficient in those appearances, leading the offense and completing three of four throws for 77 yards and a score. He is ready to take over the offense after strong spring practices.
Sophomore Brent Goska (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) will provide competition and depth for the offense. Goska has made significant strides since 2008 and is ready to compete for playing time. Redshirt freshmen Marcus Hendrickson (Perham, Minn.) and Seth Nichols (McVille, N.D.) continue to improve and will provide depth at the position.
RUNNING BACKS
Sophomore Catlin Solum (Fargo, N.D.) enters the 2009 season as the starter for the Sioux after a productive freshman season in limited action. Solum scored once and gained 127 yards on 27 carries. Junior Steven Battle (Grand Forks, N.D.), redshirt freshmen Mitch Sutton (Stevens Point, Wis.) and newly signed transfer Jarrel Davis (Miami, Fla.) will provide depth and athletic ability for the Sioux offense.
At the fullback position, senior Marcus Tibesar (St. Paul, Minn.) returns and looks to continue his consistent play as a runner, pass catcher and blocker for the Sioux. He will also see time at the tight end position. Redshirt freshman Ethan Magstadt (Maple Grove, Minn.), who will also pull double duty, will push for playing time at both the fullback and running back spots.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The 2009 wide receivers bring a mix of experience and youth to the offense. Seniors Ryan Konrath (White Bear Lake, Minn.), Kellen Leupp (Stanley, N.D.) and Matt Cole (Sacramento, Calif.) lead the group after a productive 2008 and solid spring practices. The trio finished 2008 with 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Each is ready for a great 2009.
Sophomore Ismael Bamba (Montreal, Quebec) led the receivers in 2008 with 21 catches for 310 yards and three touchdowns. He is preparing for a more consistent and solid 2009. Sophomore Chris Anderson (Duluth, Minn.) and junior Ryan Dressler (Bismarck, N.D.) will also factor into the mix this season. Both are returning from injuries, but have the ability to be impact players in the offense.
Sophomore Drew Daggett (Frazee, Minn.) and redshirt freshman Jon Heimler (Menomonie, Wis.) will compete for playing time after good spring practices.
TIGHT ENDS
The tight ends are led by Tibesar and senior Noah Dombrovski (Foley, Minn.), who both look for strong seasons after great spring practices. Dombrovski is in his first season at tight end after two years at linebacker.
Redshirt freshman Seth Wisthoff (Glenburn, N.D.) and junior Michael Gowan (Cando, N.D.) will push for playing time and provide solid depth this season.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Seniors Kyle Bondy (Williston, N.D.), Zach Keller (Minot, N.D.) and David Koelln (Rochester, Minn.) anchor the 2009 offensive line. Bondy was a second team all-conference performer and looks to improve in his second year as a starter. Keller and Koelln started for the first time in 2008 and played well. Both provide leadership and hard-nosed play for the Sioux.
Juniors Creighton Schroyer (Pipestone, Minn.), Keith Queoff (Milwaukee, Wis.), Matt Bakke (Grand Forks, N.D.), sophomore Brandon Quesenberry (Billings, Mont.), and redshirt freshman Ian McGurran (Fargo, N.D.) will compete for playing time in the interior and will provide depth.
Sophomore Connor McKendry (Costa Mesa Calif.) and redshirt freshmen Emmett Lynch (Lester Prairie, Minn.) and Caleb Gillson (Buyck, Minn.) will compete for playing time at the tackle spots.
DEFENSIVE LINE
UND's defensive line returns a solid group of veterans and some new faces to the program who will get their first taste of action.
Defensive end will be anchored by four seniors and two underclassmen. The seniors will be counted on for their experience and big play capabilities to lead the way for this group. Seniors Link Gottbeheat (Tomah, Wis.) and Nick Nolte (Janesville, Wis.), will assume the starting roles heading into fall camp. Senior Nate Wayne (Menomonie, Wis.), a two-year starter at nose, has made the move to defensive end and showed great promise in spring ball and will push Gottbeheat.
Redshirt freshman Ross Brenneman (Omaha, Neb.) had an outstanding spring and has surprised the coaches by jumping right into the rotation. Brenneman will start the season pushing Nolte at right defensive end. Senior Nick Farstveet (Bismarck, N.D.) and junior Kyle Krusenstjerna (Apple Valley, Minn.) round out the defensive end position. Farstveet had a good spring after recovering from injury that hampered him most of last season. Krusenstjerna, who missed the last game of the season and all of spring ball with aninjury, is expected to make a full recovery.
True freshman Brock Lundeen (Huber Heights, Ohio) comes to UND after a successful career at Huber Heights High School and fellow freshman Seth Stanchik (Hudson Wis.), a great all-around athlete, will bring his athletic ability to the Fighting Sioux. Another newcomer, Brent Cole (Warroad, Minn.), is a big, physical player who possesses the ability to have a great career for the Sioux in the future. All three will redshirt this season.
Junior Ty Boyle (International Falls, Minn.) will assume his role as the starting nose guard. Boyle, who earned All-Great West Conference honors as a sophomore, will be looked upon to lead a talented group at the nose guard position.
Sophomore Broc Bellmore (West Fargo, N.D.) will enter fall camp as the reserve nose guard and will provide valuable depth to the position. Bellmore, UND's strongest defensive lineman, will see significant playing time this season after a great spring.
Freshman Devin Benjamin (Minneapolis, Minn.) enjoyed a great spring and has taken great strides in learning the position. He combines the size and strength needed to be an outstanding nose in North Dakota's 3-4 system.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
The outside linebackers are an experienced group. Senior Jeff Tescher (Bismarck, N.D.) and junior Ryan Kasowski (Grand Forks, N.D.) will start at the outside linebacker position. Tescher is the senior leader of this unit while Kasowski will bring energy and knowledge. Competing for the starting positions are junior Ross Cochran (Kenosha, Wis.) and senior Clayton Leith (Hawthorne, Wis.). Both Cochran and Leith will make major contributions to the defense after great spring seasons. Both will also play vital roles on special teams.
Sophomore Matt Moody (La Habera, Calif.) and redshirt freshman Jay Nelson (Wheaton, Minn.) will also compete for playing time after having good seasons.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
The inside linebackers bring experience and leadership to the UND defense. Senior captain Andrew Miller (Menomonie, Wis), who is the unquestioned leader of the group, is looking to bounce back from an injury that sidelined him for the spring. Senior Ryan Pollow (Germantown, Wis.) and juniors Curtis Dublanko (Thorsby, Alberta) and Paul German (Fargo, N.D.) are all upperclassmen with game experience. Along with sophomores Dan Hendrickson (Minot, N.D.) and Mitch Goertz (Rothschild, Wis.), all of the inside linebackers had great springs and will be competing for the starting positions as well as playing time.
SECONDARY
Only one senior graces the Sioux secondary this year but that doesn't mean it is devoid of experience. Three safeties and three corners have played significant minutes in the secondary. The lone senior is Tyson Heiser (Waunakee, Wis.), who has made it all the way back from an injury. Heiser had a great spring and will continue to battle for a starting spot this fall. Starting at safety are juniors Joel Schwenzfeier (Hallock, Minn.) and Kris Ankenbauer (Murphy, Texas). The pair finished sixth and seventh, respectively, on last year's team in tackles. Schwenzfeier has great ball instinct and is a young leader who will be looking to have a breakout season this year. Ankenbauer is one of the best hitters on the team and continually improves his ball skills.
Redshirt freshmen Erik Mersereau (Port Washington, Wis.) and Justin Belotti (Kenosha, Wis.) also had great spring campaigns. Mersereau earned a starting nickel role during the spring and will compete for even more playing time during fall drills. Belotti proved himself as a playmaker throughout spring and his contributions to the Sioux will continue to increase.
Sophomore Alex Provo (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) will continue to provide necessary depth as his skills continue to improve. Karl Hager (Larimore, N.D.) is the only incoming safety this year for the Sioux.
The cornerback position is dominated by sophomores. Dominique Hawkins (Rockford, Minn.) is the one returning starter from last year's squad. Hawkins, who led the team in interceptions, was second on the team in tackles and has continued to improve after having a great spring. He will start at the left side corner.
Returning from injury is sophomore Delano Saporu (Blaine, Minn.), who made big strides during the offseason. Saporu put those gains to good use during the spring and came away with the starting spot at right side cornerback.
Sophomores Mitch Kudrna (Dickenson, N.D.) and Kenny Watkins (Plano, Texas) both had good spring practices and, with continual development, will make large contributions in 2009. Redshirt freshman Ben Beuchl (Kasson, Minn.) was a pleasant surprise from spring practices. After joining the team as a walk-on, he proved his worth and will push everyone for playing time.
Chavon Mackey (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Chris Hall (Jacksonville, Fla.) are the two incoming players at cornerback. Both possess outstanding speed and instincts and will work to make an immediate impact.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Brandon Hellevang (Fargo, N.D.) returns for his final season as the starting kicker for the Sioux. Hellevang was a second team all-conference punter last season with an average of 41.1 yards per punt and eight punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He also connected on 40-of-41 extra points and seven field goals.
Brett Cameron (Winnipeg, Manitoba), who redshirted last season, has a great leg and will serve as the starting punter.
Three-year starter and senior Jeff Tescher (Bismarck, N.D.) returns as the long snapper and will bring both consistency and great leadership to his role.
Hawkins and Bamba will handle the return duties for the Sioux. Both bring great speed and athletic ability to the position and the potential for a big return.
The Fighting Sioux will open the season in Lubbock, Texas on Sept. 5 against Texas Tech.
- Go Sioux -
