An Early Glance At The 2005 Bison    In 2005 it looks like the Bison offense, in particular, will have the potential to be a dominant force. The three biggest question marks of the 2005 Bison are the offensive line starters and how the offensive line depth chart will stack up, the depth of the defensive line and who will be the shutdown cornerback. This article assumes the roster will return intact. Offense NDSU lost its offensive coordinator Tim Albin, whose duties were assumed by offensive line coach Pat Perles. The green and yellow added former Bison Steve Laqua as the runningbacks coach. They retained Brent Vigen, who added the duties of passing game coordinator to his responsibilities, and Reggie Moore, wide receivers coach.     The offense starts with the offensive line, where the Bison lost three starters. Among the offensive linemen on the 2005 roster are returning starters senior Tim Popowski (6-2, 311 1st team all-GWFC) and junior Justin Buckwalter (6-4, 313) along with 2004 backups and potential starters, sophomore Nate Safe (6-5, 298) , junior Jake Erickson (6-3, 298) and junior Adam Tadisch (6-6, 309). This group does not include a center. The only returning experienced center is senior Hugh Medal (6-1, 282). For purposes of depth alone, another lineman will have to be converted to center. Hugh is a very dedicated hard working athlete, but we think spring practice will go a long way in determining who will snap the ball in the fall. Other candidates for the center position would have to include redshirt freshmen Zach Harrington (6-2, 290) and James Septak (6-2, 310). Those eight along with redshirt freshman Blake Anderson (6-4, 322), sophomores Tyler Lekang, (6-2, 282) and Jerrod Wagner (6-4, 292) will form the first and second string lines. The offensive line seems to be the only area on the offensive side of the ball with all starters not set and with little experienced depth. Look for another big body or two to be moved to the offensive line or maybe a redshirt pulled in the fall. A couple injuries could make the offensive line very thin.     The tight end position returns two very talented players in seniors AJ Cooper (6-1, 226) and Andy DelaBarre (6-3, 237). After those two there are senior Derek Arndt (6-5, 237) and sophomore Casey Radtke (6-1, 266). It would seem that redshirt freshman Jeremiah Wurzbacher (6-5, 244) will quickly begin to see playing time because of his size and athleticism.     At wide receiver the Bison return one of their best ever in senior Travis White (5-11, 173 2nd team all-GWFC, 57 rec, 776 yds, 9 tds). Also back is the lightning fast senior Marques Johnson (5-8, 159). Depth will come from sophomores Nick Jackson (6-0, 177) and Mike Dragosavich (6-5, 190) and highly recruited redshirt freshmen Kole Heckendorf (6-1, 173) and Alex Belquist (5-11, 177). Another top candidate is former Minnesota high school player of the year John Majeski (5-11, 190). Redshirt freshmen Steve Manthei (6-0, 181) and Jon Buckner (5-9, 172) round out the receiving corps.     The Bison lost a great fullback to graduation in Johnny Frank but may have a replacement in redshirt freshman Tyler Jangula (6-0, 216) who will rotate with another Tyler, the very talented sophomore Tyler Roehl (5-10, 228).     The runningback corps returns intact. Returning are juniors, starter Kyle Steffes (5-11, 204 1st team all-GWFC, 1055 yds rushing) and backup Mark Moore (5-9, 200 132 yds rushing) and sophomores alternate starter Cinque Chapman (5-8, 173 737 yds rushing) and punt and kickoff return sensation Shamen Washington (5-6, 140 215 yds rushing, 12.6/carry).     At quarterback, the Bison return sophomore Steve Walker (6-1, 198 47-60-0, 705 yds, 10 tds) who started and won the last three games. Steve could be a good one, barring injury. Redshirt freshman Ryan Parsons (6-1, 186) appears to be the backup at this time, with sophomore Andy Thoreson (6-4, 195) providing necessary depth. Defense Defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow has also moved on along with defensive line coach Nelson Barnes. Fortunately the Bison have former defensive coordinator Casey Bradley, who has two years of Jimmy Burrow’s system under his belt, as their new coordinator. The Bison regained the services of defensive line coach Todd Wash who was a great Bison player as well as a former coach. Texan Willie Mack Garza was hired as the defensive backs coach.     The defensive line returns a pretty talented starting foursome, but it lacks experienced depth. A starting unit of senior Isaac Lavant (5-11, 248), senior Alvin Robinson (6-0, 238 hon. mention all-GWFC), senior Rodney Thompson (6-2, 309) and junior Justin Frick (6-3, 283) is a pretty salty bunch. The roster includes eight other defensive linemen. They are defensive ends, redshirt freshman Joe Lardinois (6-4, 212), junior Brian Dahl (6-2, 211), junior Alex Kingsley (6-0, 212) and junior college transfer DE Micheal Lofton (6-0, 220, national champion Pearl River). Interior linemen on the roster include junior college transfer DT Emanuel Jackson (6-1, 288, Hibbing), sophomore NG Matt Skoy (6-0, 251), senior NG Adam Palczewski (6-1, 251) and redshirt freshman DT Dan Dardis (6-2, 250). Graduation losses were heavy and included end Travis Ware and tackles Isaac Snell and Dwight Summerville. Lardinois is a prize recruit, Skoy played in 7 games as a true freshmen and redshirted last year. The tools are there to be as good as last year, time will tell.     The linebacker group lost a couple of very talented young men to graduation in Brian Erenberg and Jayd Kittelson, but return a couple of good ones in sophomore Joe Mays (5-10, 244) and senior Kole Zimmerman (5-11, 222). A couple of talented redshirt freshmen enter the mix next season, namely Mike Maresh (6-0, 233) and Nick Compton (5-11, 225). Veteran backups include outside linebackers sophomore Tommy Ray (5-10, 214), junior Brett Itterman (6-2, 219) and senior Jake Johnson (6-1, 209). Prize runningback recruit Mike Brower (6-0, 191) has moved over to defense at outside linebacker. The linebacking would have to be considered a little thin at least initially. Once a little experience is gained that concern should evaporate.     The cornerback group lost a four year starter in Matt Gorman. If you remember he held Northern Colorado’s highly touted Vincent Jackson to two catches for 5 yards. Jackson is expected to go fairly high in the NFL draft, while Matt was pretty much crapped on when it came to post-season recognition. It does return one starter in senior Bobby Babich (5-10, 177). There are several candidates for the other starter. They include 2004 top backups junior Ryan Olson (5-11, 182) and senior Scott Walter (5-9, 172). Recent news of a JC transfer, Jimmie Johnson, who does a 4.31 40, signing with the Bison is unconfirmed at this time. Others in the mix include sophomores Symeon Cabell (6-0, 177) and David Earl (5-11, 179). There is an intriguing redshirt freshman in Florida high school sprinter Brian Rabb (5-8, 182, 100m in 10.8 sec). Speed is good. A wild card in the cornerback mix may well be true freshman Courtney Mitchell (5-9,180). Keep an eye on him.     The free safety and strong safety positions are probably the strongest of the defensive positions. At free safety, junior Tony Bizal (6-21/2, 198) seemed to be the heir apparent to the graduated Jared Essler. Other candidates include redshirt freshman Nick Schommer (5-11, 179), redshirt freshman Sam Boraas (5-11, 191) and senior Brett Johnson (5-11, 185). However, that being said, highly touted junior Barry Quickstad (6-2,205, 4.37 40), a junior college transfer may make all of that a moot point. It appears to me that the addition of Quickstad possibly gives the Bison the best pair of safeties in DI-AA.     At strong safety, the Bison return first team all-GWFC and future All-American candidate junior Craig Dahl (6-1, 207). He is ably backed up by seniors John Bradley (5-11, 188) and Cody Kittelson (5-11, 181).     Special teams are well stocked with veterans. The top kickoff and punt returner will be the previously mentioned Shamen Washington. The punter was also mentioned earlier. He is Mike Dragosavich. Two kickers are on the roster, senior Cory Vartanian and sophomore Kyle Wilcox. Last season’s longsnapper, senior to be Allan Woodstrom, is not currently on the roster. That doesn’t mean he won’t be playing this fall.     Bison Insider is excited about the 2005 season with new opponents Southern Illinois and Montana State. It can’t start soon enough.