Hank is one of the most dynamic offensive playmakers in the NSIC. He has the ability to score every time the ball is in his hands. Whether carrying the ball inside, creating explosive plays on the perimeter, or making plays as a receiver out of the backfield, he is a constant matchup problem for opposing defenses. His versatility forces defenses to account for him on every snap, making him the centerpiece of our 2026 offense.

Dawson has made an unbelievable impact on our program on and off the field since the day he set foot on campus. He has a very competitive spirit that rubs off on his teammates. Dawson is a natural leader the pushes and makes everyone around him better. He has made our program better over the last 4 years.

Jake enters his senior season as one of the most accomplished defensive players in Division II football and the unquestioned leader of the Northern State defense. A two-time All-American and two-time First Team All-NSIC selection, Adams has established himself as one of the premier linebackers in the country. He has already broken Northern State's Division II career tackles record with 303 career stops and owns the program's single-season record after recording 147 tackles in 2024, a season in which he finished second in the nation in total tackles and third in tackles per game. Jake's production is matched only by his consistency and leadership. In 2025, despite playing just seven games, he still led the Wolves with 93 tackles, averaging 13.3 tackles per game while earning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice. His instinctive play, relentless motor, and ability to impact every phase of the game make him the heartbeat of our defense. As he enters his final season, Jake Adams has already cemented himself as the greatest linebacker in Northern State's Division II history and is poised to cap his remarkable career with another All-American caliber campaign.

Jefferson is a great leader with a canny presence that garners respect. He has a dominant demeanor and is expected to lead our defense in competing for a Championship. We are excited about Jeff's development as a performer on a large stage.

The returning players, especially on our offense where multiple starters and all-conference players return. I believe that our defense has the talent to be a conference contender with more experience and opportunity. As far as Special Teams we return all-region K/P Jake Pecina and several return threats that need to step up with the graduation of All-conference WR/Returner Isaiah Huber.

Gunnar was pre-season Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 and was playing in that manner prior to his season ending injury early in the season. He has all the talent and football intelligence you can ask for in a leader. He is a two-time captain and three year starter.

Jermaine has been a multi-year starter and all-conference player. He has all the tools you want in a cornerback and I believe still has his best football ahead of him.

After a disappointing 2025 campaign this team is hungry to get back on the field and reestablish our brand of play here at BSU. We return a large portion of our two deep and key contributors from last year's squad and are excited about the group of young men that arrived in the spring along with incoming class this fall.

Connor is a unique athlete that has the potential to be a home run threat not only with his arm but his legs as well. He is a returning All-Conference selection and has been a key contributor since his red-shirt freshman year.

Caden will be a three-year starter for us and is a returning First Team All-Conference player for us last season. He is our QB on the defensive side of the ball. He brings a violence from the third level and has developed into a very well-rounded overall player for us in the back half.

We are excited to see our team come together this fall. We believe we have a great group of men joining the team this year. Half of the roster will be at Concordia for the first time this fall, so there will be a ton of competition as we build our program.

Joel is one of the guys who stepped up as a leader for us in my first year. He has impressed us with his work ethic and he has embraced Coach Armstrong and his coaching. We are excited to see all of his work come to fruition this fall.

Ben has been a pillar on defense for us this spring. He has great versatility and has developed as a playmaker. We are excited to see him lead this fall.

I am excited to see the progress of our team from 2025 to 2026. We return a strong nucleus of experience, coupled with a large group of young players ready to prove themselves in our program. We need to become a more physical team on both sides of the line of scrimmage, make plays when give the opportunity and expect to experience success in 2026.

Cole is a dynamic playmaker who made great tremendous strides for UJ Football during the 2025 campaign. These characteristics have continued to grow as Cole has embraced his role as one of our team leaders. Leadership, toughness and unselfish play have become trademarks of Cole, and I am excited to see his hard work and dedication continue to carry over to the field this season.

Limited to the final 5 games of the season in 2025 due to injury, Trayten was a physical force in the middle of our defense. His strength, power and explosiveness make Trayten a disruptive player in the NSIC. Hard work, dedication and an amazing work ethic have propelled Trayten to higher levels this winter, spring and summer; we are eager to see the impact he will have this fall.

Like all teams this time of the year we are excited about the season. We feel we have a good core group of kids coming back. We were in a lot of close games last year and hopefully the experience of those games will help us find a way this year. It’s a fun group to coach and we as coaches are looking forward to the season.

Karsyn has been a very productive player for us the last few years. He’s shown the ability to make big catches in crucial situations. He’s a local kid and the program means a lot to him. He has been a fun guy to coach and looking forward to watching him have a great senior year.

Chris has been a leader on our defense the last few years and we are really looking forward to him having a very productive senior year for us. He’s a great guy to coach as he’s an extremely hard worker and loves playing the game.

We will return a talented group of young men in all three phases of our team that includes 15 returning starters off of last year's team. Our team has had a focused off season and shown a lot of signs of continued development.

Carter returns off of a 2025 All Conference season as a captain and leader for our team. We will be excited to see Carter lead our group up front again this fall.

Preston returns as a captain this year coming off of a 2025 1st team All NSIC season. Preston has been a leader in our program and we look forward to seeing him as a playmaker this fall.

With the leadership of two Newcomers of the Year in the NSIC (Sam Backer & Jefferson Mobry) we are most excited for them to lead each unit. Our player lead team has great experience over the last two years in competing in 29 games, which will help us get off to a great start. With 2026 on the horizon we are looking forward to deploying our maturity & senior leadership for our campaign to win a title. We are most excited to see how the team continues the growth pattern that we have endured during Off-Season Training & Summer Conditioning.

Sam is a born leader with great charisma. He is the backbone of our offensive unit that allows his leadership to have an effect on the rest of the team. We are looking for Sam to perform at a high level and lead our team in competition for a Championship.

Jefferson is a great leader with a canny presence that garners respect. He has a dominant demeanor and is expected to lead our defense in competing for a Championship. We are excited about Jeff's development as a performer on a large stage.

This is one of the younger teams we've had in recent years, with many players stepping into meaningful game action for the first time. Replacing a talented senior class is never easy, and there are undoubtedly big shoes to fill. As we move through the season, our identity will continue to evolve. The key will be discovering what this team does best, building around those strengths, and making steady progress each week.

Nick provides a steady, stabilizing presence for our entire offensive line. With 32 career starts, he has developed into one of our team's most respected leaders. His versatility allows him to excel at multiple positions while making a significant impact in both the run and pass game.

Adam consistently finds a way to make the big play when our defense needs it most. He covers a tremendous amount of ground in the passing game while being a sound tackler. With a young roster this fall, his experience and leadership will be essential to helping our team reach its potential.

We're excited about the direction of our program and the group we have coming back this fall. Returning our entire offensive line, including our starting tight end, gives us a tremendous foundation offensively, while having seven starters back on defense provides the experience and continuity you need to compete every week in the NSIC. Our players have another year in our system, and that added experience has allowed them to play faster and more confidently within our style of play. We've also recruited well at the skill positions. While many of those players are still relatively unproven at the collegiate level, we're very optimistic about the talent we've added and believe they have the potential to elevate our football team. It's a group that's hungry to take the next step, and we're looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish together.

Aidan has been one of the cornerstones of our program over the past several seasons. Being a two-time All-Conference performer speaks to the consistency and high level he's played at, and now entering his fourth year as a starter, he's become the leader our offensive line depends on. As a team captain and member of our leadership council, he sets the standard every day with his work ethic, toughness, and commitment to the team. He's been a major reason we've developed one of the top rushing offenses in the NSIC, and what makes him even more impressive is the way he excels in the classroom as a nursing major. Aidan represents everything you want in a student-athlete and leader.

Kevin has all the tools to be a special player. Earning First Team All-Conference honors is a reflection of the work he's put in, but we believe his best football is still ahead of him because of his tremendous athletic ceiling. He's an important member of our leadership council and leads by the way he prepares and competes every day. His range, physicality, and athleticism allow him to impact the game in so many ways, and he's the type of player our defense is built around.

Northern State Football enters the 2026 season with tremendous momentum after taking a major step forward a year ago and leading the NSIC in total offense. This is one of the most experienced teams we've had, with veteran leadership and continuity throughout the roster, including six returning All-NSIC players on defense. Offensively, we return a talented and deep group that has the potential to be one of the conference's most explosive units once again. Our program's stability has been a significant factor in our growth. We have not lost a single starter to the transfer portal since 2023, allowing our players to develop together and build championship-level chemistry. With experience, proven playmakers, and high expectations on both sides of the ball, we believe this team is positioned to compete at the top of the NSIC in 2026.

Hank is one of the most dynamic offensive playmakers in the NSIC. He has the ability to score every time the ball is in his hands. Whether carrying the ball inside, creating explosive plays on the perimeter, or making plays as a receiver out of the backfield, he is a constant matchup problem for opposing defenses. His versatility forces defenses to account for him on every snap, making him the centerpiece of our 2026 offense.

Jake enters his senior season as one of the most accomplished defensive players in Division II football and the unquestioned leader of the Northern State defense. A two-time All-American and two-time First Team All-NSIC selection, Adams has established himself as one of the premier linebackers in the country. He has already broken Northern State's Division II career tackles record with 303 career stops and owns the program's single-season record after recording 147 tackles in 2024, a season in which he finished second in the nation in total tackles and third in tackles per game. Jake's production is matched only by his consistency and leadership. In 2025, despite playing just seven games, he still led the Wolves with 93 tackles, averaging 13.3 tackles per game while earning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice. His instinctive play, relentless motor, and ability to impact every phase of the game make him the heartbeat of our defense. As he enters his final season, Jake Adams has already cemented himself as the greatest linebacker in Northern State's Division II history and is poised to cap his remarkable career with another All-American caliber campaign.

I am really excited about this group. Since January there has been a focused and determined mindset about them. That mindset continued through spring practices and into the summer. We have a large group of upperclassmen that have played quite a bit of football. I have a lot of confidence that they understand what it takes to succeed in the NSIC.

Hank is one of the hardest working players I have had the opportunity to coach. He leads by example and is constantly working on his craft. He has made an impact on our program since the day he arrived - not just on the field but off it as well. He has a quiet confidence about him that raises the play of those around him.

Andy is a prototypical MIKE linebacker. He is a big, physical kid who can run sideline to sideline. He is a student of the game and plays a key role in getting our defense lined up and ready to play. His effort and attitude sets the tone for that side of the ball.

We will have a 2026 team that has a nucleus of players that have playing time in the NSIC over their careers as a starter or in a reserve role. We are excited for our group to take the next step in consistently competing in the NSIC and showcasing their growth and talents.

As a transfer last season, Macloud came in and led our offensive unit in 10 games. Macloud is an experienced competitor with a strong offensive background and skilled knowledge of the QB position with pocket presence. We look forward to him taking the next step in his learning and leadership of our offensive scheme & personnel.

Avery was injured in 2025 in the opening game and we look forward to having him back on the field. An explosive player, who led our team in sacks in 2024, we look forward to his experience, leadership and energy in 2026.

I'm excited about our senior leadership going into the fall. Our senior class is a special group and have played a lot of football for us over the past seasons. They know what it takes to be successful and have done a great job of making sure our team is connected and working to become the best versions of themselves.

Dawson has made an unbelievable impact on our program on and off the field since the day he set foot on campus. He has a very competitive spirit that rubs off on his teammates. Dawson is a natural leader the pushes and makes everyone around him better. He has made our program better over the last 4 years.

Luke is a hard nosed farm kid. He brings a different level of toughness to our defense and defensive line. Luke leads with his work ethic and actions. Each year Luke's impact on our defense has grown. I'm excited for his senior season.

Our guys have had a great offseason, and we look forward to seeing that pay off this fall. We have a good mix of experience and some young hungry guys excited to make an impact this fall. We return leaders and impact players on both sides of the football. We look forward to starting fall camp to prepare for the grind of the NSIC schedule.

Jackson is a man of high character who does everything right, all the time. He has a tremendous work ethic both on and off the field and is consistently trying to improve his craft. He is a tremendous leader who brings infectious energy and gets the best out of his teammates. Our program is fortunate to have him, we have been really pleased with his development over the past couple of years. Jackson's best football is ahead of him, and we can't wait for him to lead us into the 2026 season.

David is a hard-working dynamic player for us. He is great on first and second down stopping the run. He is also an impact player when teams throw the football. David is a vocal leader in the locker room and leads by example on the field. He's also a 4.0 student and the first person to sign up for volunteer activities.