Bizon Bitz Ep. 2

NDSU football is in camp, and TJ has it for you. Some new recruits and some big transfers from the college portal, that and wayyyyy more! 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
We're now let's do the Bison Bits with TJ. Jets.
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever and whenever you
are listening to this program. I'm TJ and this is
Bison Bits. By the way, my opening for all you
radio people that remember good Am Radio. That is Art

(00:29):
Bells opening from Am coast to coast. So I'm not
that original, I'm not that smart, but I am is
clever enough to talk about Bison football because that's my passion.
And we have started practice Infargo July thirtieth. There's some

(00:49):
interviews that come out as the season, at least the
practice season started the thirty first outside of the Nodak
Mutual Insurance practice facility, and we're starting to learn a
couple of things we should look for. I talked about
last week some of the things that were excited about
or some names being thrown out. And Grant Olsen, the

(01:13):
defensive coordinator, was in an interview on July thirtieth with
our good friend Dom Mizzo. He really wanted to talk
about his linebackers and that seems to be a point
of emphasis. We know they already have Logan cop he's
the only senior when we're dealing with linebackers. He's the
only senior right now in that linebacking car. They lost

(01:36):
Enoxybumana last year to the transfer portal. People were pretty
bummed out about him. He was quite the newcomer from
Fargo South and I wasn't sure where he went, and
I found out, just like anyone can, he went to Wyoming.
So I'm not sure if that was a good thing
for him or not. Is he really improving? Of course,

(01:57):
Wyoming is where Craig went. Craig Bull had a pretty
successful career there. They got to some Bull games, but
they're rebuilding. They were three and nine last year. Enoxy
Bomana goes to Wyoming, is that a good thing for him?
I don't know. That's how it turned out and that's
where he went, But that leaves that linebacker room a
little thin, not a lot of depth. That doesn't mean

(02:20):
they don't have a lot of talent, and they've got
some young guys coming up that I've made some notes on.
They've got some really young Peter Hogo is a red
shirt freshman. He was a running back last year. He's
originally recruited by NYSU to play linebacker, but the lack

(02:41):
of depth that running back put Hago in that running
back room definitely not his strength. That he did do
some good mop up time in the backfield and help
that running back car out quite a bit. They're gonna
get him back at linebacker. I think that's a big plus.
Austin Alta Peter, he's a junior, played a little last year.

(03:03):
He's gonna have to step up and take on a role.
Oliver Luke is a sophomore and it looks like they're
awfully high on him. Just a sophomore, but they really
like him. Alex Elliott is the transfer from the University
of Minnesota. I personally am a big fan of his.
It sounds like the rest of the coaching staff is too,

(03:26):
And according to Grant Olsen, if he's ready to play,
they're gonna throw him in there. I think this is
a team that's changed their philosophy under the coaching staff,
under this new regime of Tim Polisek, that if they
can play, they're gonna play. With the transfer portal, you
never know how long you're gonna have them, So if

(03:46):
they're ready to play, get him on the field, help
or allow them to make contributions. Accordingly, and I think
Alex Elliott's gonna be one of those that you're gonna
see him play. He's gonna get a lot of reps
here in fall camp to see what he can do.
Donovan Woollen is a sophomore outside linebacker. Again, he played
last year really smart. I think I mentioned that he

(04:09):
played last year really smart. He's quite the leader as
a sophomore and got some natural ability as an outside linebacker.
You're gonna see him make some big plays. You're gonna
see him maybe step up into that leadership role after
Logan Copp graduates and then Donovan Wollen's a sophomore excuse me,

(04:30):
nate standing junior middle linebacker. This is something that needs
to be talked about more. And I think you're gonna
if you go to Bison games, you're gonna see a
lot of him. If you watch him on TV, listen
to the radio, you're gonna hear his name a called
a lot. Niden Staling has got the biggest upside according
to Grant Olsen. He believes not only is he very athletic,

(04:53):
maybe the highest ranked linebacker they may have ever had
in program history. And that includes going back to Nick Laduka.
If you're using combine numbers to gauge talent and to
gauge ability, Nathan Staling is going to be the guy
you need to keep your eye on. So again, they're

(05:15):
bringing in two sophomores, three sophomores excuse me, Richard freshman,
and two juniors to go with Logan Kopp the only senior.
Very young at linebacker, but enormous, enormous talent that they're
going to have to mold and get ready for this year.
I don't think anyone's too stressed out about it, at
least the way they're developing. Coach Olsen had mentioned in

(05:35):
his interview that there are more distractions than ever for
players of these transfer portals. So when they get the
camp all these distractions, new guys coming in, some of
them might actually be thinking about the transfer portal for
next year. They're trying to simplify the mental process of it.
Just show up, do your job on each play, don't

(05:56):
look at the season so in a mac scale, let's
focus on practice and go out and have a good time.
But he did mention that he's looking for leaders on
all sides of the ball with so many seniors gone
he's looking for leadership, at least on his side of
the ball, the defense, the offense too, but on the defense,

(06:18):
every position he's trying to find the leader, a leader
in the cornerback, in the d back room, leader in
the linebacker room, the defensive line room. He's looking for leaders.
That's one of the keys he's looking for here in
this fall camp. On Wednesday, Wednesday, I was up for
Bison practice because they usually have a very early evening

(06:40):
practice outdoors and the weather was very smoky. Wasn't good
for the respiratory, but other than that, it wasn't overly hot,
and sure as heck wasn't raining. But they didn't have it,
and I forgot until I heard the interview that the
NCAA has gotten rid of to A days and coach
Olsen said he's not a fan of it, since high
school still has two A days. Doesn't know why they couldn't.

(07:01):
They couldn't give two A days to the NCAAA teams.
Granted they're trying to cut down on concussions, but they
like to use their two days for character development. That's
what they like to work on things, especially those freshmen
who need as many reps as they can get. They
get them in there and that's where they develop some
of that character, giving them tons of reps, tons of reps,

(07:22):
tons of reps. So the lack of two days, Coach
Olsen's not not a big fan of it. I can't
imagine many college teams are a fan of it at all,
the truth be told. Also, this year, the Bison do
have more portal transfers coming in than maybe they've had
in the last so many years. And one thing that
Coach Olsen mentioned that Coach Polisik wanted them to talk

(07:45):
about is you're selected to this transfer and we took
you in because you fit the Bison mold, and we're
going to teach you the Bison way. It's not about
this is how we always do it. This is how
how it's done. This is how the Bison do it
from years back. They do it one way. They've always

(08:07):
done it one way, and that's how they do it.
So they need to teach these transfer guys this is
how we're This is how not this coaching staff does things,
but this is how the North Dakota State University Bison
do things on the field. This is how we practice.
This is how we prepare, this is how we train,
this is how we eat, this is how we study,
and that's a big aspect as to how they bring

(08:30):
in these transfer people. So these next three four weeks
are going to be a lot about teaching these portal
guys about the Bison way. There are six incoming freshmen
at linebacker, getting back to the linebacker. Six incoming freshmen

(08:50):
at linebacker, So coach grand Olsen said, the smartest thing
for them to do, since they don't have the two
days and they're limited so they don't get to tackle
and they don't get to hit as much as they
once did, is guys like Logan Cops not going to
have a lot of practice time. He is a preseason
All American. He was named on the preseason All Americans.

(09:12):
So obviously coach Osen's perspective is guys like Logan Cop
other seniors that are there that have been established, even
on the offensive side of the ball, they know exactly
what they're going to get out of him. Logan CoP's
not going to hit a ton of people. He's going
to get some hit in. He's gonna need to get
toughened up. It's been a long offseason, but these six
incoming freshman linebackers with the lack of depth. As I

(09:34):
pointed out here, they're going to get a lot of
reps and a lot of reps. As a matter of fact,
he talked about the very first practice, they're gonna take
these freshman linebacker and move them off to a different
part of the practice practice field, excuse me, and start
to work with them more and more in depth. The
linebacking corps and the role of that position in the

(09:55):
in the Tampa two that North Dakota State runs is vital,
and if you want watch enough football, you realize that
you can't have a real big, heavy linebacker because in
the Tampa two defense, you are covering a lot of ground.
In the passing game, it's your responsibility as a linebacker
to drop back into coverage and cover the middle, to

(10:15):
squeeze that cover two down and to take away that
that throwing lane deep over the middle. So you've got
to read the play action, then haul your butt back
and get ready to make a play potentially in the middle.
Can't have big linebackers. There's a lot of reads, a
lot of work, a lot of looks. So they need
to get these freshmen up to par and up the
stuff because it's a next man up mentality at North

(10:36):
Dakota State. Even if the superstar gets hurt, it's an
unfortunate thing, but someone has to step in. So the
next night just steps in and he's expected to play
at a certain high level. And I think that is
so important that they're gonna get these freshman linebackers as
much practice time as they can. I'm not saying they're
gonna run with the ones. I doubt they will, but

(10:58):
they're gonna do a lot Of're gonna get a lot
of work. They're gonna get a good idea as to
what this defense is all about. And this defense, though
they lost some seniors, still looks like it could be
one of the strengths on this team. Solid at the
defensive back. I think they're very talented. Even though they're
not real deep at linebacker and they don't have a

(11:20):
lot of maturity and age, they still have some real
talented guys. So grand Olsen seemed really excited about the
linebacker play, so much that he focused a lot of
his conversation with dom Izzo pertaining to that linebacker. But
gran Olson did say in his interview, look for a
couple other guys. Victor Islett is a defensive end. They

(11:42):
really like him. Talent Eden is a defensive back, and
Will Styles is a defensive back. And Will Styles is
someone you probably heard last year. He played in some games.
He's got some really good reps underneath his belt. He's
going to make a difference. That defensive back field is
going to be very mature. Jillen Crumby should be far

(12:04):
more seasoned. Last year people picked on him at d back.
He was a true freshman, eighteen year old kid. That
defensive backfield is gonna be much better, and we'll see
what happens as they go along. But overall, coach Oshi
really is pretty darn excited about what he's seeing with
his boys. And again that linebacking corps. Nate Stalings the junior,

(12:30):
Darren Wallens the sophomore who they really like. Staling is
the one that could be one of the most athletic linebackers.
Austin Altipeter is a junior who played last year. Peter
Halgo agains coming back over to that off to the
defensive side from the offensive side. He's a red shirt freshman.
Oliver Looked is look is a sophomore. They really high

(12:51):
on him and Alex Elliott, the transfer portal sophomore from
University of Minnesota. These guys are gonna, they're gonna, they're
going to have an impact. I'm really excited about that.
I got to do a little bit of reading of
bits and pieces out there about some of the early
practices because they started in the middle of the week.

(13:12):
The old line is starting to develops. That's what this
Bison football team has always been about. It's the Rams.
It's moving the line back in the wishbone days of
Ventram and Chad Stark to today. That offensive line has
been big. It's been beefy. It moves people and they

(13:32):
will run you over. And it's starting to take a
little shape. Going into camp last week, I said, one
of the question marks is what is that offensive line
going to look like. You graduated two great tackles, one
of them went off in the NFL, as we know which,
you've got some question marks. And as of in the
first few practices with pads and hitting, Bo Johnson is

(13:57):
at left tackle. He's from Spring Lake, Minnesota, and Josh
Meghan the right tackle. They got him at right tackle.
He's from Shokapie and both guys who saw some time
last year. Looks like they've been plugged in for now.
We'll see how they gel with the rest of it.
Josh Meghan was actually a lineman, a defensive lineman for
North Dakota State. He's converted over to right tackle. He

(14:20):
is six six' three oh four, now so great size
at the right right. Tackle right, tackle right, Tackle, yes right,
tackle great size and if you, know if he's A bison,
tackle he's gonna have extremely good, footwork he's gonna have good,
punch he's gonna be, quick and we'll see if he
can stay. There played in twelve games last. Year megan

(14:41):
did as a backup in twenty twenty, Four so, again
he's got some. Ability he's not he's not completely. Green
And Boll johnson saw some saw some fill in time
last year as, Well so that's starting to fill. In
because it looks Like Trent frailey right now is at.
Center you, Know Griffin empy is going to be at
the left, guard and that's the way it's shaping. Out

(15:01):
the right guard is a little. Open you have a
lot of. Contenders you've Got Jack, owinsky his father was
an offensive lineman for The Minnesota. Vikings you Got Dylan,
Lockerly he's six five and three ten sitting there at,
guard and you also Have Nate schneckloth all have seen.

(15:23):
Time schnecklof is a sophomore From. IOWA i really like him.
TOO i think It's lewinsky's to, take but you never.
Know Devin lockerby is unbelievably a big. Guy, again six
five three, ten some big. Boys not offensive line it's
starting to. GEL i think you can see some mixing
and matching for a little bit till they get maybe

(15:45):
a little more comfortable with what they want to. Do
BUT i really like the way that that offensive line
is starting to shape. Up and it could be your
starters could be from left to, Right, Johnson, Epi, freeley
Maybe lewinsky And. Megan that could be your offensive, line
which is. GREAT a couple other INTERVIEWS i picked up

(16:07):
on in terms of running, back Coach Paul sick wants
a new running back to get plenty of practice. Reps
he wants all the new running backs to get plenty of.
Reps he wants to see what they can. Do Rep Rep. Rep.
Rep brikapenu did not play much On friday in, practice
did not practice much, really no, reason just that he's a.

(16:30):
Senior they know what he can. Do he's pretty much penciled,
in so they don't want him stealing reps from. Again
like the linebacking corps a pretty young. Group but, really let's,
see it looks Like Dj scott the transfer From kennesaw
through the, portal looks like he's starting to maybe separate

(16:54):
just a little bit from the rest of the running.
Backs he's five eleven two oh, six so he's got fair.
Size be a little, bigger it'd be nice For Paul,
sik but he's got great. Footwork he fires off the,
ball he's. Fast he just needs to adjust to the
offense right. Now but it looks like he's created just
a small. Separation we'll see what happens in the next
couple of weeks as as time goes. By and then

(17:17):
another true freshman running, Back Miles. Mitchell he's been kind
of a. Beast he's got great burst into the secondary
and when he gets in the, secondary he can make
people mess and he has great speed to the end.
Zone so of all the running, BACKS Dj scott And
Miles mitchell look like they're being able to to do
something that at least MAKES Paula sick talk about them

(17:39):
in interviews and raise an. Eyebrow so that's really. Good
so that's what The bison. Do the cream wall rise
to the. Top everything's gonna work out, well but they
want those kids to get their reps in And paulasekal challenge.
Coach Paul sick is definitely A bison football. Coach he's

(17:59):
gonna challenge you that just because you're a younger guy
doesn't necessarily mean you're. Ignored do something to make us notice,
you do something to make yourself stand, out and see
what you can do to help this. Team and that's
exactly what's. Happening in other news from the first week of,
practice the tight end position which has been a real.

(18:23):
Bummer usually The bis them that good tight ends and
they still, do but they have very inexperienced tight. Ends
junior tight end From Wisconsin Luke cocoit has really nice
catches so far in. Practice more importantly for This bison
offense And tim Poul, sick he's been blocking extremely, well
had some nice, catches but he's been blocking extremely, well

(18:45):
so they really like. That Carson, williams who everybody is
pretty sure should get the starting, nod is still having
hamstring problems and that's really the bummer. Too one of
the reasons they're struggling so bad with their tight ends
Is Carson. Williams he played a lot last year Behind Joe,
stoffel cannot get that hamstring to. Heel has not seen

(19:07):
the field, yet and that is something to be concerned
about right. Now if if You're Kim poulsick in the
offensive coaching, staff But luke cokeit hopefully can continue to
progress and, grow but we'll keep an eye on that
tight end position as the camp goes. Along And johnny
goris Little Johnny gores who made a big catch Against

(19:28):
East Tennessee state to keep the drive alive that gave
The bison the lead late last. Year he's catching. Everything
he's got a great catch, radius has played extremely well
in camp and that just goes this just goes To Johnny.
Gores but it really adds to what is already a,
deep deep wide receiver room For North Dakota. State so
that'll be great for in the issues. Quarterbacks they will

(19:51):
have a lot of fun with those great wide. Receivers
so no matter who's throwing the, football there's going to be.
Some there's gonna be SOME i think you're gonna. SEE
i think you're gonna see some tremendous wide receiver numbers
out of This North Dakota state offensive squad that you've
never seen. Before and we've seen some decent numbers over

(20:14):
the last couple of, years BUT i think this year
might even be something else that will blow your. Mind
This bison wide receiver corps is gonna light them. UP
i think we're gonna hear more about them throughout the,
camp and we're gonna hear about how the running backs are,
separating and we're just gonna keep. Going this week's gonna
be a whole new, week full week of. Practice pads
will be on And i'm gonna get more information as

(20:37):
to what's going. On i'm working on some. Interviews but
it's very tough with the restrictions that Their Field sports
has in terms of the the rights to the, team the,
broadcasting and and then you, know they just have rights
to who they can distribute to other. Sources so it's,
tough but we're gonna do our. Darness we're gonna come
up with something god. Willing But i'm gonna keep following

(20:59):
practic this AND i want to get back to you
as to What i'm seeing short one. Today but that's
biz and bits and we're, Glad, hey we're glad you listened.
Though episode two in the books next week will be
a new. One until, then take care of yourself and each.
Other see your preseason watch. List he's gonna be. There

(21:19):
Jalen crummy was a freshman last year and got picked
on a, lot but learned a lot along the. Way
he should be real. Solid Ryan jones will come back
and take some. Snaps Jaylen duffy will be at. Cornerback
he started eight games as a true, freshman and, then

(21:40):
AS i, Said anthony Chettam, alfaro he's a newcomer of the.
Year they just got so much depth there now With
Antoine booth junior From James madison And Jacquez, alexander who
we didn't hear too. Much lie he played a little
bit last. Year they're gonna on six deep in that.

(22:01):
Backfield they're going to be, very very, solid and they're
probably gonna need to be because they're gonna have a
little bit. Younger according To Paul sik you, know a
little bit younger defensive. Line they were pretty seasoned for a.
While BUT i thought the end of that, interview Dom mizzle,
asked give me some names of some breakout, players And

(22:26):
Paula sick mentioned a defensive tackle by name, Mckenan, Wilson, Jackson.
Dutonheffer if you you out follow The, bison you know
what he can. Do calton mccaskin is a defensive end
that's a newbie coming. In Donovan whedon is coming at,
linebacker and Then Jackson. Williams and that led to one
quick thing that he wanted to point. Out paullus, said

(22:48):
this might be the most talented wide receiver corps That
North Dakota state has ever. Had it's absolutely mesmerizing what
they've done at wide receiver last. YEAR i don't think
you could ask for much more on that wide receiver.
Cord they have, size they have, speed they have, well they're.

(23:14):
Strong just the names and just the names alone is
amazing at wide. Receiver And i'm gonna quick look up
that roster. HERE i have so many windows OPEN i
can find it alrighty here it is So Rajah nelson comes.

(23:40):
Back he's a. Senior of, Course Bryce lance sixty three two.
Nine Mackay collins six four two fourteen made some big
catches last, year especially Against East Tennessee. State there's Also

(24:00):
harris good, returner unbelievable, speed six three two ten runs
like the. Win but he is going to get some.
Catches there's no doubt about. It he's gonna get some.
Catches he's gonna be a real important. Factor he can
stretch the field faster Than. Bryce gonna be able to
stretch the field and make a Difference he's gonna, make

(24:20):
especially if they decide to run two goals on each
side of the, field one to the top of the,
screen one to the. Bottom if you're watching it on,
television of, course safeties are going to just pull their hair.
Out so and then you got guys Like Kate, olsterman
who's an Ex Gold golden. Golfer he's a sophomore From Elk, River,
minnesota great possession. Receiver you got Little Johnny gore's five

(24:42):
six one, seventy The, Fargo shanley native who made some
great catches last year as. Well they are really, deep
really really deep at wide, receiver and don't be surprised
if this Is Chris harris's breakout, year and that was
brought up By Paul sei as. Well This bison team
is going to be. Okay after listening to the interviews

(25:06):
with the, players looking at some of these, stats it's
going to be a wonderful year For North Dakota state
if they can stay, healthy and that's always the key
with college. Football can you stay? Healthy time will. Tell
but they have a great training. Staff Coach Jim kramer
is one of the best conditioning coaches in all of

(25:29):
college FOOTBALL fcs OR. Fbs he's. Great so they're already
getting their workouts. In they get their conditioning. In Polo
sick did say that THE ncaa is looking to add
An ota in the, summer Which polisick. LOVES i don't
know if every school loves. IT i would assume they.
Would polisick loves. It he said it'll be great for

(25:51):
the incoming freshmen and sophomores to get more time on the,
field to understand the, playbook to understand the. System really
excited about, that so look for some changes there with An,
ota and, boy The bison will really take advantage of.
That they have great. Facilities some of the best in the.
Nation i've toured it. Unbelievable i'm even read it's it's
more modern than THE Tcf Performing arts Are Performing ARTS

(26:17):
Tcf Performing Performance center where The Viking. Strain i've read
it's even more advanced than. That so The bison got
great things going. On they're gonna hopefully be hungry And
i'm sure they will be for this for this campaign
as they get ready for twenty twenty. Five, Well i'm
gonna call it good right. THERE i can talk all

(26:39):
day long BECAUSE i get a little, excited but it's.
Hell it's been, fun AND i Appreciate Beer Belly sports
to allow me this. Opportunity and by the, way i'd
like to say something About Beer Belly. Sports i've met
them and they don't have beer. Billies they don't have
beer bellies at. All they they don't have beer. Bellies

(27:04):
they're normal. Bellies the company should be Called Normal Belly
sports BECAUSE i don't see bar, bellies to be honest with,
You so they're kind of. Phonies BUT i really appreciate
them nonetheless having me. On so we're gonna have a
good time this football. Year hopefully we can get the
rights to get some, interviews but we're just going to
talk buis in. Football i'm going to get more comfortable

(27:26):
as we go, along as the season goes, along and
we'll do more of. This so thank you so much for.
Listening this has been bisen. Bits i'm your, HOST. Tj
take care of yourself and each other until, later see
you