Bison DE Waege looking to take the baton from Tuszka of 2019

By Jeff Kolpack

The Forum Fargo

It was a different offseason for North Dakota State defensive end Spencer Waege in that when he looked around for a veteran player, that vision turned to himself. He’s that guy now.

It used to be Greg Menard when he came to NDSU from Watertown, S.D. That transitioned to Derek Tuszka and both of those players left their college careers as defensive ends who made life miserable for quarterbacks, especially in their junior and senior seasons.

Waege wants to be that guy.

“It’s a role I’ve been looking forward to,” he said.

The first step in that goal is Saturday afternoon when the Bison host the University of Albany (N.Y.) at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.

The Great Danes boast one of the top running backs in the FCS in Karl Mofor, but are mostly known around the country as the home to quarterback Jeff Undercuffler.

The 6-foot-5, 231-pound sophomore led the FCS in passing touchdowns in the last full season in 2019.

“He’s definitely one of the bigger ones we’ve played against in awhile,” Waege said. “He has some size and really good arm talent so it will be a challenge for our whole defense in general.”

The Bison will counter with a defensive front that is expected to rotate around 10 players, including Waege and Tony Pierce at one end spot and Brayden Thomas and Logan McCormick at the other.

Tuszka’s final year was 2019 and he didn’t leave without giving the younger players some good habits.

“One thing with Derek I always noticed is how much time he put into watching film,” Waege said. “Anytime I popped into the coaches office upstairs Derek was always in coach Buddah (Williams’) office watching film. He was such a student of the game and you could tell he was because when it came to Saturdays he was doing great out there. He knew what was going to happen and he was playing fast so stuff like that is what I really took away from him.”

Waege remains in consistent contact with Tuszka, who was waived by the Broncos earlier this week but was expected to be signed to the practice squad.

“If I have questions filmwise or anything, I can talk to him,” he said.

A backfield by committee

Dominic Gonnella is listed as the No. 1 Bison tailback, but that’s mostly for paperwork purposes only. Expect a host of players to get carries against the Great Danes. Junior Kobe Johnson is back healthy after missing time last spring.

“Kobe healthy is a special player,” said NDSU head coach Matt Entz.

TaMerik Williams, a transfer from SMU, is expected to make his Bison debut. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds he’s the biggest of the NDSU backs — unless Hunter Luepke gets a few carries at tailback.

Luepke is actually lighter this fall at 6-1 and 236 pounds. He’s the scheduled starting fullback but may also line up at tight end. Last year, with injuries hindering the backfield, Entz said the offensive almost had to “force feed” the ball to Luepke.

“That’s not the case right now,” Entz said.

In a changeup from Williams and Luepke, the Bison can go to sophomore Jalen Bussey, who at 5-5, 161 has had several electrifying runs in his short career. Sophomore TK Marshall also had a few looks last spring. Etc. etc. etc.

► The Bison have won five straight season openers since the 38-35 loss at the University of Montana in 2015. They have won 22 straight home openers since a 23-21 loss to Emporia State (Kan.) in 1998, back in the Division II years.

► NDSU receiver Christian Watson and offensive lineman Cordell Volson were named to the preseason watch list for the Senior Bowl. The Bison have had 10 Senior Bowl participants in seven in the last eight years. Last year, offensive lineman Dillon Radunz and linebacker Jabril Cox (who transferred to LSU for his senior season), played in the game.

► Mofor, not Undercuffler, was named to the Walter Payton Award watch list, the honor that goes to the best offensive player in the FCS.

► Indiana State’s 26-21 win last week over Eastern Illinois gave the Missouri Valley Football Conference a 3-1 record in “week zero” games. The only defeat was NDSU’s loss at Montana.

► The Missouri Valley and Big Sky conferences will once again have their “Challenge Series” with nonconference games. There are six games scheduled between the leagues starting on Saturday with the University of North Dakota at Idaho State. Perhaps the marquee matchup is Northern Iowa at Sacramento State on Sept. 11.