GRAND FORKS, ND. – With North Dakota kicking off the 2024 season in less than a week, the Fighting Hawks announced the team captains at the end of practice on Sunday. As voted by their peers, Bo Belquist, Malachi McNeal, Josh Navratil, Jaden Norby and Wyatt Pedigo were all selected as team captains.

Belquist has appeared in 38 games for UND with 25 starts at wide receiver. In North Dakota's all-time record book, Belquist enters the season at No. 3 in career receptions (206) and No. 4 in career receiving yards (2,373). His mark for career receptions is also No. 2 in UND's Division I record book, trailing only Greg Hardin (2010-13), who had 216 receptions in his career. Belquist's 11th grab of the season will net him the Fighting Hawk Division I record for catches in a career. The New Rockford, N.D., native is coming off a stellar season in 2023, where he started 10 games at wide receiver and appeared in every contest. He led the team and ranked No. 25 nationally in receptions per game (5.5). Belquist also tied for No. 5 in the MVFC in receiving touchdowns (6), was No. 6 in total receiving yards (722) and No. 7 in receiving yards per game (64.3). He finished the year with three 100-yard receiving performances and led the team in chunk plays with 12 plays of 20 yards or more. He also served as a team captain in 2023 and ended the year as a Second Team All-MVFC selection.

Belquist has already received a handful of accolades prior to the start of this season, being named to the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl Watchlist, garnering Stats Perform FCS Second Team Preseason All-America accolades, Third Team Phil Steele All-America honors, Preseason All-MVFC status as both a first team wide receiver and an honorable mention all-purpose player, and was picked as a first team wide receiver on the Phil Steele Preseason All-MVFC Team.

McNeal started every game at linebacker last season and has appeared in 24 contests as a Fighting Hawk. Last season, he led the team with 10 quarterback hurries and was second on the team in total tackles (68), solo stops (43) and tackles-for-loss (7.0). McNeal was also third on the team in total sacks (3.0). He recorded a season-high 2.0 TFL's in the 49-10 win over Western Illinois and blocked a punt in the 49-24 victory over No. 6/7 North Dakota State. He also had a pass breakup at Northern Iowa to go with a season-high 11 total tackles.

Navratil has appeared in 36 games in his UND career and started all 12 games at linebacker and served as special teams contributor in 2023. Last season, he finished the year fourth on the team in sacks (2.5) and fifth in tackles-for-loss (4.0). He also accumulated 33 total tackles, with 17 of them being solo stops. Navratil recorded a quarterback hurry in the 55-7 drubbing of Drake in the season opener, forced a fumble in the 37-22 victory over Northern Arizona in the Potato Bowl USA Game, forced a fumble at Boise State, put down a season-best five tackles in the 36-33 overtime win against Indiana State and blocked a punt in the 22-21 win over Illinois State. He was also a standout in the classroom and was named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.

Norby has seen action in 34 games as a Fighting Hawk and started 10 of them at tight end or fullback. Last season, he appeared in every game as either a tight end or fullback and received seven starts. Norby hauled in five grabs for 56 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 11.2 yards per grab. His first career touchdown was a 19-yard reception in the 45-31 victory at Murray State. His blocking helped UND rank No. 2 in the MVFC and No. 3 nationally in completion percentage (70.3) and Fighting Hawk quarterbacks also had the No. 14 passing efficiency rating (153.02) in the country with the help of his blocking. He excelled in the classroom as well, earning honorable mention MVFC All-Academic status and was named to the MVFC President's Council Academic Excellence Team. The Ashby, Minn., native, is no stranger to the community and has volunteered over 310 hours of community service, making him the first UND football student-athlete to eclipse the 300-hour mark in community service since the university started tracking hours in 2012. Norby was North Dakota's nominee for 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Norby was named a Second Team Preseason All-MVFC selection by both the conference and Phil Steele.

Pedigo has received 19 starts at linebacker for UND in his career and seen action in 31 contests. Last season, he started all 12 games at linebacker and led the nation with four fumble recoveries. He also tied for No. 17 in the MVFC in total sacks (4.0), while also leading the team in total tackles (72), solo tackles (47) and tackles-for-loss (7.5). Pedigo tied for second on the team in quarterback hurries (8), recorded four fumble recoveries and forced two fumbles. He put down a season-high 10 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble at Boise State and also had a season-best 2.5 TFL's and 2.0 sacks in the 36-33 overtime win against Indiana State. Pedigo had one of the top plays in the FCS last season at No. 6 South Dakota when he chased down Carter Bell after a 64-yard reception at the UND 1, punched out the football and eventually recovered it in the end zone for the touchback. At the end of the season, Pedigo received Second Team All-MVFC recognition. Coming into 2024, Pedigo received the nod as a Second Team Preseason All-MVFC pick by both the conference and Phil Steele.

North Dakota will open the 2024 season on Saturday, visiting Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised by FS1 and carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.