UND football adds Northern Iowa running back
May 10—GRAND FORKS — UND football's latest addition from the transfer portal will come to Grand Forks with Missouri Valley Football Conference experience.
Tyler Hoosman, who played four seasons at Northern Iowa, has decided to graduate transfer to UND to play his final season.
"I have one year left of eligibility, so I knew this year would be crucial if I want to get to that next level," Hoosman said. "I wanted to go out on a big note. I know UND has a lot of good players coming back. I think they can be a top team in the FCS if they can put together the last couple of pieces, and I feel like I can contribute to that."
Hoosman had announced on Twitter in late April that his final three transfer destination choices were UND, Western Illinois and Division II power Northwest Missouri State.
"It was a hard decision," Hoosman said. "Some schools came in late, both FBS and FCS, but I know how crucial it is to get in to a program in the summer. I'll be (in Grand Forks) at the end of this month and be there all summer."
After redshirting in 2017, Hoosman, a native of Plainfield, Ill., played for Northern Iowa for four seasons. His best season came in 2019, when he ran for 403 yards and four touchdowns in nine games.
In the fall of 2021, Hoosman appeared in 11 games but was limited to 68 rushing yards and a touchdown. He caught three balls for 23 yards.
Hoosman said he has a well-rounded skill set.
"I always try to bring thunder and lightning to my game," Hoosman said. "I don't like to be classified as one style of runner. I want to go through guys if I need to, but I have that speed and explosion if I need to."
Hoosman graduated cum laude with a business administration degree, as well as a minor in sports administration.
UND will be searching for a new featured running back in 2022, as Otis Weah, who was an FCS All-American in the spring of 2021, entered the transfer portal after the 2021 fall season.
Weah has yet to announce his next destination.
Hoosman, who's 6-foot and 215 pounds, will join a deep group vying for the starting role including Luke Skokna, Isaiah Smith, Gavin Ziebarth and Creighton Mitchell.
Skokna, Smith and Ziebarth have all rushed for at least 100 yards in a game for the Fighting Hawks, while Mitchell figured to work into the offensive gameplan before suffering a season-ending injury at a scrimmage leading up to the 2021 season.
After reaching the FCS quarterfinals in the 2021 spring, UND finished 5-6 in the fall of 2021 and missed the playoffs.
