Northern State football is ready to move into NSIC's upper ranks. What to know about 2022 team

Mike Schmidt’s debut season as Northern State’s coach got delayed a year by the pandemic, but it was worth the wait.

The Wolves beat up on teams they were supposed to and finally showed themselves capable of playing with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s heavyweights and were truly just a few breaks away from being a playoff team.

Now, it’s time for the Wolves to take the next step.

“It was a nice start,” Schmidt said. “We were super competitive, and that’s step one when you’re trying to revamp a culture, is to be competitive right away, and we did that. Competing with the top teams in the league and being a playoff contender was a big first step for our program.”

About Northern State football

2021 Record: 7-4

Coach: Mike Schmidt (3rd year, 7-4)

Offensive coordinator: Ryan Schlichte

Defensive coordinator: Jeff Larson

Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense

2021 summary: The Wolves went 7-4 in 2021, and narrowly missed the Division II playoffs. They took MSU-Mankato to overtime in the season opener (the Mavericks were ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time) and almost came back from down 28-0 to beat Mary (an eventual 49-42 loss), while mixing in a 41-10 stunner over USF. That had them at 7-2 before season-ending losses to Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth. It was a major step forward for a team that has for much of the last decade been better than the also-rans but not equipped to play with the big boys.

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Who’s gone: Quarterback Hunter Trautman graduated after a huge 2021 season. Talented playmaker Vance Barnes also moves on, as well as ball-hawking defensive back Chance Olson. All-NSIC offensive tackle Emmit Bohle transferred to Arizona State.

Who’s new: The Wolves have loaded up with transfers, many of whom are expected to make an immediate impact. D-lineman Ian Marshall comes in from Oklahoma State. Quarterback Anthony Vespo arrives from Missouri Western. Other transfers include Felipe Alvear (Oklahoma Baptist), offensive lineman Raynor Beierle (Idaho), D-linemen Emeka Jillani (Ball State) and Collin Olla-Chatman (Quincy, where he was two-time All-GLVC) and wide receiver Hunter DeRize (Idaho).

Who’s back: Running backs Isaiah Cherrier and Brett Benton and receiver Dakota Larson return on offense, while the defense brings back Nate Robinson, Brennan Kutterer, Luke Gunderson and the starting secondary – Hunter Hansen and Lynden Williams and cornerbacks Zach Bohnenkamp and Jack Meyers.

Scouting the offense: Highly regarded offensive coordinator Isaac Fruechte left to take the same job at Winona State, to be replaced by former Minnesota State-Mankato quarterback Ryan Schlichte, who will be one of the youngest coordinators in the country.

Michael Bonds, a 6-foot-1 graduate senior, is expected to be the starting quarterback. Bonds backed up Trautman last year after transferring from Miami of Ohio. He’ll have capable weapons to work with, led by Benton, last year’s leading rusher after transferring from Wyoming. Cherrier is back at running back as well, while 6-2 senior Dakota Larson returns after catching 65 passes for 914 yards and 11 touchdowns.

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The offensive line is young and will be made up mostly of freshmen and transfers, and that could be the biggest question mark facing this team.

Player to watch: Stanley Hoskins, a 5-8 junior running back from Britton-Hecla, is a weapon the Wolves haven’t been able to utilize yet, but are excited to unleash.

Scouting the defense: Defense was the weak link for NSU last year, allowing 31.6 points per game and finishing dead last in the conference in yards allowed. There are new coaches and new players aiming to fix that. The secondary should be a strength and Schmidt feels good about the linebackers. How much better the defense really is may depend on the front four, which should get a shot in the arm from Marshall, Jillani and Olla-Chatman.

Player to watch: Jillani appeared in 18 games (one start) at Ball State, giving the defense significant high-level experience that should immediately provide a significant upgrade to the front four.

Special teams: Senior kicker/punter Payton Eue returns after making 14-of-21 field goals and averaging 36 yards per punt last year.

Outlook: The Wolves got the attention of the entire NSIC last year. It’s obvious the addition of the spectacular Dacotah Bank Stadium has been a huge shot in the arm to the program, allowing NSU to get their foot in the door with recruits that previously wouldn’t have been interested. Winning seven games was important, but going toe-to-toe with the league’s heavyweights was an even bigger accomplishment.

But now it gets harder. Now opponents know what the Wolves are capable of. How they respond to being a favorite as opposed to an underdog will be one of the most interesting storylines in the NSIC this fall.

"We feel like we're in that group of contenders," Schmidt said. "There's no dragon that can't be slayed in the NSIC this year. With a 2-loss team being the league champ last year that shows you there's a lot of parity in the league. We feel like we can get up into that upper echelon."

Northern State University football schedule

Sept. 1 vs UPPER IOWA

Sept. 10 at Wayne State

Sept. 17 vs MSU-MANKATO

Sept. 24 at Augustana

Oct. 1 at Mary

Oct. 8 vs WINONA STATE

Oct. 15 at Minot State

Oct. 22 vs CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL

Oct. 29 vs MSU-MOORHEAD

Nov. 5 at Bemidji State

Nov. 12 vs MINNESOTA DULUTH

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Northern State football ready to move into NSIC's upper ranks