North Dakota State Bison Depth Chart 2026

Unit

Tags · year-class · 3-SO = third-year soph

JobStarter2nd3rd4th5th+

Offense

12 starting jobsPrimary personnel · 11

×5

2Nathan HayesQB15-SR12% snaps '25 0Preston BrownQB22-SO—10Trey DrakeQB34-JR 13Zander SmithQB42-FR

16Henry NelsonQB5

×11

7DJ ScottRB14-JR—

PORTAL 5Myles MitchellRB22-FR—4Nyeoti PunniRB34-SR 32Barry KpeenuRB43-SOPORTAL

28Cortez LeGrantRB5

PORTAL

×3

44Luke KokatFB15-SR—96Abraham MyersFB23-JR—85Jett ZabelFB32-SO

—open

X×6

15Mekhi CollinsX15-SR—84Logan ConklinX23-SO—82SJ GreenX32-FR 30Kelly WatsonX44-JR

12Myles EllisX5 20Drake SchlosserX6

Z×6

17Isiah St. RomainZ13-SO—21Chris KielZ22-FR—86Dylan VokalZ32-FR 89Tochi OkoroZ43-JR

27Joaquin JordanZ5 87Brandon WaltonZ6

F×6

18Jackson WilliamsF13-JR—+2 ROLES 3Jeremiah PattersonF24-SR—+2 ROLES 83Cade OstermanF34-JR

PORTAL 11Jordan McCantsF44-SR

80Jacob KilzerF5 23Kye SchlichtingF6

×8

40Kaden ZenzenTE15-SR—81Reis KesselTE23-SO—9Gabriel CunninghamTE3FR (3)43Cash DannerTE4FR (3)

88Isaac EllisonTE5

LT×4

76Ryan BabatzLT12-SO—71Nate TastadLT23-SO—63Trey McPartlandLT3FR (3)73Alex WardenLT4FR (3)

LG×4

62Griffin Empey

LG14-JR—72Nate SchnecklothLG24-JR—67Earl BrownLG3FR (3)57Gavin WangLG4FR (3)

C×4

61Gage SchmidtC13-SO—66Jack LiwienskiC24-JR—77Austin SchultzC33-JR 70Tucker ThienemanC4FR (3)

RG×3

75Josh MaginRG15-SR—68Coy OkesonRG22-SO—59James NellisRG3FR (3)

—open

RT×3

55Kene AneneRT13-SO—

PORTAL 78Noah StommesRT23-SO—74Brett TastadRT3FR

—open

Defense

11 starting jobsBase front · Nickel sub

DT×7

94Logan LarsonDT15-SR—95Zach VanderpoolDT23-SO—99Obald NiyonkuruDT34-JR

PORTAL 53Chase EvinkDT42-FR

65Brody ClubbDT5

NG×6

8Keenan WilsonNG14-JR—54Alijah WayneNG22-SO—48Blake SchiltzNG3FR (2)98Jack HansenNG42-SO

58Zach HellendrungNG5 60Thomas RobertsNG6

EDGE

DE×5

9Kelton McCaslinDE14-SR—93Anthony OkesDE23-JR—56Allante BurleyDE35-SR 90Truman GriffithDE42-SO

97Simon VintonDE5

EDGE

DE2×4

11Matthew StenbrotenDE213-SO—0Victor IseleDE224-JR—91Ethan WoodDE232-FR 92Daniel DevineDE24FR (3)

WLB×5

3Gavin SellWLB12-FR—41Peder HaugoWLB23-SO—21Noah TaylorWLB34-JR 50Damian DevineWLB4FR (3)

47Jacob WrbanekWLB5

MLB×5

1Donovan WoolenMLB13-JR—52Keith WilliamsMLB23-JR—

PORTAL 55Oliver LuchtMLB34-JR 35Ryland SatterMLB43-SO

38Ben ScheppMLB5

SLB×5

25Ray James Jr.SLB13-SO—42Alex ElliottSLB24-JR—

PORTAL 40Chase BrixiusSLB32-FR 44Carter ApplSLB4FR

46Jack WilsonSLB5

CB×6

16Marion MooreCB1FR (3)—4Najee NelsonCB23-JR—2EJ DavisCB33-SOPORTAL 19Will RosenmeyerCB43-SO

31Q BarnslaterCB5 34Deron RussellCB6

CB2×6

12DJ VoltzCB215-SR—

PORTAL 28Kendrick CarterCB222-FR—23Kegan HuberCB235-SR 7Chance TuckerCB244-SR

32Brayden DozierCB25 24Kobe RussellCB26

FS×5

14Taylen EadyFS13-SO—6Jaylin CrumbyFS24-JR—33Walker BraatenFS32-FR 22Hudson ArtzFS44-SR

26Evrett TaitFS5

SS×5

29Darius Givance

SS15-SR—30Jaylen ArchibaldSS22-FR—20Will SteilSS33-SO 27Landon MeierSS42-SO

36Gunner ThielgesSS5

Special Teams

5 starting jobsCoverage & return units

×2

37Drew KleinK15-SR—38Jayden OnuongaK2FR—

—open

×2

18Jackson WilliamsKR13-JR—+2 ROLES 3Jeremiah PattersonKR24-SR—+2 ROLES

—open

×2

48CJ AndersonLS15-SR—

PORTAL 57Gabe VernettiLS2FR—

—open

×2

39Aaron BickertonP15-SR—

PORTAL 51Caleb McGrathP24-JR—

PORTAL

—open

×4

18Jackson WilliamsPR13-JR—+2 ROLES 3Jeremiah PattersonPR24-SR—+2 ROLES 13Mikhale FordPR32-FR 19John GoresPR45-SR

Offense

12 starting jobs

Primary personnel · 11

PosStarter2nd3rd4th5th+

QB2Nathan Hayes 0Preston Brown 10Trey Drake 13Zander Smith16Henry Nelson

RB7DJ Scott 5Myles Mitchell 4Nyeoti Punni 32Barry Kpeenu28Cortez LeGrant8Braylon Toliver26Brady Wavrunek22Charles Ross III34Jonathan Harvey45Gatlin Empey25Godson Rufus-Okomhanru

FB44Luke Kokat 96Abraham Myers 85Jett Zabel—

WRX15Mekhi Collins 84Logan Conklin 82SJ Green 30Kelly Watson12Myles Ellis20Drake Schlosser

WRZ17Isiah St. Romain 21Chris Kiel 86Dylan Vokal 89Tochi Okoro27Joaquin Jordan87Brandon Walton

WRF18Jackson Williams 3Jeremiah Patterson 83Cade Osterman 11Jordan McCants80Jacob Kilzer23Kye Schlichting

TE40Kaden Zenzen 81Reis Kessel 9Gabriel Cunningham 43Cash Danner88Isaac Ellison49Colten Gunderson87Noah Nelson46Caden Ward

OLLT76Ryan Babatz 71Nate Tastad 63Trey McPartland 73Alex Warden

OLLG62Griffin Empey 72Nate Schneckloth 67Earl Brown 57Gavin Wang

OLC61Gage Schmidt 66Jack Liwienski 77Austin Schultz 70Tucker Thieneman

OLRG75Josh Magin 68Coy Okeson 59James Nellis—

OLRT55Kene Anene 78Noah Stommes 74Brett Tastad—

Defense

11 starting jobs

Base front · Nickel sub

PosStarter2nd3rd4th5th+

DLDT94Logan Larson 95Zach Vanderpool 99Obald Niyonkuru 53Chase Evink65Brody Clubb64Jason Hunter69Skyler Werner

DLNG8Keenan Wilson 54Alijah Wayne 48Blake Schiltz 98Jack Hansen58Zach Hellendrung60Thomas Roberts

EDGEDE9Kelton McCaslin 93Anthony Okes 56Allante Burley 90Truman Griffith97Simon Vinton

EDGEDE211Matthew Stenbroten 0Victor Isele 91Ethan Wood 92Daniel Devine

LBWLB3Gavin Sell 41Peder Haugo 21Noah Taylor 50Damian Devine47Jacob Wrbanek

LBMLB1Donovan Woolen 52Keith Williams 55Oliver Lucht 35Ryland Satter38Ben Schepp

LBSLB25Ray James Jr.42Alex Elliott 40Chase Brixius 44Carter Appl46Jack Wilson

CBCB16Marion Moore 4Najee Nelson 2EJ Davis 19Will Rosenmeyer31Q Barnslater34Deron Russell

CBCB212DJ Voltz 28Kendrick Carter 23Kegan Huber 7Chance Tucker32Brayden Dozier24Kobe Russell

SFS14Taylen Eady 6Jaylin Crumby 33Walker Braaten 22Hudson Artz26Evrett Tait

SSS29Darius Givance 30Jaylen Archibald 20Will Steil 27Landon Meier36Gunner Thielges

Special Teams

5 starting jobs

Coverage & return units

PosStarter2nd3rd4th5th+

K37Drew Klein 38Jayden Onuonga——

KR18Jackson Williams 3Jeremiah Patterson——

LS48CJ Anderson 57Gabe Vernetti——

P39Aaron Bickerton 51Caleb McGrath——

PR18Jackson Williams 3Jeremiah Patterson 13Mikhale Ford 19John Gores

Offense

12 starting jobs

Primary personnel · 11

QB5 listed

Nathan Hayes#2QB15-SR12% snaps '25 QB20Preston Brown2-SO QB310Trey Drake4-JR QB413Zander Smith2-FR

RB11 listed

DJ Scott#7RB14-JR—

PORTAL RB25Myles Mitchell2-FR RB34Nyeoti Punni4-SR RB432Barry Kpeenu3-SOPORTAL

FB3 listed

Luke Kokat#44FB15-SR—FB296Abraham Myers3-JR FB385Jett Zabel2-SO

WRX6 listed

Mekhi Collins#15X15-SR—X284Logan Conklin3-SO X382SJ Green2-FR X430Kelly Watson4-JR

WRZ6 listed

Isiah St. Romain#17Z13-SO—Z221Chris Kiel2-FR Z386Dylan Vokal2-FR Z489Tochi Okoro3-JR

WRF6 listed

Jackson Williams#18F13-JR—+2 ROLES F23Jeremiah Patterson4-SR+2 ROLES F383Cade Osterman4-JR

PORTAL F411Jordan McCants4-SR

TE8 listed

Kaden Zenzen#40TE15-SR—TE281Reis Kessel3-SO TE39Gabriel CunninghamFR (3)TE443Cash DannerFR (3)

OLLT4 listed

Ryan Babatz#76LT12-SO—LT271Nate Tastad3-SO LT363Trey McPartlandFR (3)LT473Alex WardenFR (3)

OLLG4 listed

Griffin Empey

#62LG14-JR—LG272Nate Schneckloth4-JR LG367Earl BrownFR (3)LG457Gavin WangFR (3)

OLC4 listed

Gage Schmidt#61C13-SO—C266Jack Liwienski4-JR C377Austin Schultz3-JR C470Tucker ThienemanFR (3)

OLRG3 listed

Josh Magin#75RG15-SR—RG268Coy Okeson2-SO RG359James NellisFR (3)

OLRT3 listed

Kene Anene#55RT13-SO—

PORTAL RT278Noah Stommes3-SO RT374Brett TastadFR

Defense

11 starting jobs

Base front · Nickel sub

DLDT7 listed

Logan Larson#94DT15-SR—DT295Zach Vanderpool3-SO DT399Obald Niyonkuru4-JR

PORTAL DT453Chase Evink2-FR

DLNG6 listed

Keenan Wilson#8NG14-JR—NG254Alijah Wayne2-SO NG348Blake SchiltzFR (2)NG498Jack Hansen2-SO

EDGEDE5 listed

Kelton McCaslin#9DE14-SR—DE293Anthony Okes3-JR DE356Allante Burley5-SR DE490Truman Griffith2-SO

EDGEDE24 listed

Matthew Stenbroten#11DE213-SO—DE220Victor Isele4-JR DE2391Ethan Wood2-FR DE2492Daniel DevineFR (3)

LBWLB5 listed

Gavin Sell#3WLB12-FR—WLB241Peder Haugo3-SO WLB321Noah Taylor4-JR WLB450Damian DevineFR (3)

LBMLB5 listed

Donovan Woolen#1MLB13-JR—MLB252Keith Williams3-JR

PORTAL MLB355Oliver Lucht4-JR MLB435Ryland Satter3-SO

LBSLB5 listed

Ray James Jr.#25SLB13-SO—SLB242Alex Elliott4-JR

PORTAL SLB340Chase Brixius2-FR SLB444Carter ApplFR

CBCB6 listed

Marion Moore#16CB1FR (3)—CB24Najee Nelson3-JR CB32EJ Davis3-SOPORTAL CB419Will Rosenmeyer3-SO

CBCB26 listed

DJ Voltz#12CB215-SR—

PORTAL CB2228Kendrick Carter2-FR CB2323Kegan Huber5-SR CB247Chance Tucker4-SR

SFS5 listed

Taylen Eady#14FS13-SO—FS26Jaylin Crumby4-JR FS333Walker Braaten2-FR FS422Hudson Artz4-SR

SSS5 listed

Darius Givance

#29SS15-SR—SS230Jaylen Archibald2-FR SS320Will Steil3-SO SS427Landon Meier2-SO

Special Teams

5 starting jobs

Coverage & return units

K2 listed

Drew Klein#37K15-SR—K238Jayden OnuongaFR

KR2 listed

Jackson Williams#18KR13-JR—+2 ROLES KR23Jeremiah Patterson4-SR+2 ROLES

LS2 listed

CJ Anderson#48LS15-SR—

PORTAL LS257Gabe VernettiFR

P2 listed

Aaron Bickerton#39P15-SR—

PORTAL P251Caleb McGrath4-JR

PORTAL

PR4 listed

Jackson Williams#18PR13-JR—+2 ROLES PR23Jeremiah Patterson4-SR+2 ROLES PR313Mikhale Ford2-FR PR419John Gores5-SR

Program & Venue

Program

North Dakota State Bison

North Dakota State University

Conference Mountain WestFootball began 1894Location Fargo, North Dakota

Home

Fargodome

18,700Listed capacity

Location Fargo, North Dakota

Coaching staff

Head coach

Offensive coordinator

Defensive coordinator

Identity

Mascot Thundar

Green Primary

Yellow Secondary