FCS football isn’t always a priority for general managers and scouts. However, the 2021 North Dakota State University (NDSU) Pro Day will be one of the most popular stops in the 2021 NFL Draft process. The alma mater of new Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz and Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Billy Turner has won eight of the last nine FCS national titles. Additionally, NDSU has several prospects for the 2021 NFL Draft process.
The 2020 NDSU season was postponed until spring 2021 to try and ensure they could play games safely. A game between the Bison and Central Arkansas was played in October, allowing 2021 NDSU prospects to remind scouts what they could do.
When is NDSU’s Pro Day in 2021?
The pro day for the North Dakota State Bison will take place on March 12.
Top North Dakota State prospects working out at pro day
Trey Lance
Trey Lance is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. A one-year (plus one game) starter, he dominated the competition. Lance threw 28 touchdowns without an interception, rushing for 14 more.
His one-game showcase against Central Arkansas was his only game of the 2020 season. He didn’t reach the heights that he had during 2019, but there were still positives. He still had a mediocre day passing, though with 143 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, further showing why he’s so highly regarded.
Lance will not run the 40-yard dash at the 2021 NDSU Pro Day. On the contrary, he is letting his game film do the talking. When you watch the tape, his speed is evident.
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He wore a GPS device in the FCS National Championship against James Madison, which put any questions to rest. With no receivers open, he spotted a hole and took off, scrambling for a 44-yard touchdown. Per NFL’s Next Gen Stats, his top speed of 21.54 mph would have been the 12th-fastest speed recorded among ball carriers last season and the fastest registered by a QB.
Trey Lance currently ranks 14th on Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst Tony Pauline’s big board. Pauline believes that Lance may have to sit for a season and learn before he’s ready to start in the NFL. That shouldn’t cause him to fall too far in the 2021 NFL Draft, however. Similarly, Pauline has Lance going to the Carolina Panthers with the eighth overall pick in his recent mock draft.
Dillon Radunz
Dillon Radunz had a strong showing in Mobile, where he was named the Senior Bowl overall practice player of the week. He performed impressively at both tackle and guard. Furthermore, stepping up and facing higher-level competition didn’t phase him.
The NFL Combine would have been the perfect place for Radunz to showcase his talent and versatility in position drills. The setting will be different, but he’ll have a similar opportunity to impress scouts in Fargo during the NDSU Pro Day.
Draft Analyst Ian Cummings believes that Radunz is “a physical, proactive run blocker, and he has the athleticism to be a solid pass blocker for years.” There were initial concerns over his size. He answered them at the Senior Bowl, however, measuring at 6’5″ and weighing in at 304 pounds.
Radunz currently ranks 82nd on Pauline’s big board. Draft Analyst A.J. Schulte has the Chicago Bears taking him in the second round with the 52nd overall pick in his recent mock draft.
Other 2021 NDSU prospects ranked by Pauline include Cordell Volson and Josh Hayes.
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