North Dakota State’s early signing class: 24 players, 11 states

(Stats Perform) – A North Dakota State player named Lance won the Payton Award – the FCS’ version of the Heisman Trophy – in 2019.

In future Bison games, Payton may be throwing passes to Lance.

High school seniors Cole Payton, a quarterback, and Bryce Lance, the wide receiver younger brother of Stats Perform Walter Payton Award recipient Trey Lance, were among the 24 additions to the three-time defending FCS champion on Wednesday – the first of the three-day early signing period.

Coach Matt Entz’s recruits represented 11 states, led by six players from North Dakota and five from Minnesota. The Bison are riding an FCS-record 38-game winning streak and have captured nine straight Missouri Valley Football Conference titles and a record eight of the last nine national titles.

The regular signing period begins on Feb. 3.

Trey Lance, who also won the 2019 Jerry Rice Award as the national freshman of the year, won’t be back, having declaring for the NFL Draft in October.

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NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2021 EARLY SIGNEES

Cam Devine, RB, 6-2, 205, Brookfield, Wis. (Brookfield Central)

Finn Diggins, TE, 6-4, 215, Perham, Minn. (Perham)

Jaxon Duttenhefer, DT, 6-2, 275, Mandan, N.D. (Mandan)

Mike Florentine, LS, 6-1, 225, Frankfort, Ill. (Lincoln-Way East)

Eli Green, WR, 5-11, 185, Lakeville, Minn. (Farmington)

Sam Henry, OL, 6-6, 255, Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)

Nasir Howell, CB, 6-1, 175, Acworth, Ga. (North Cobb)

Kody Huisman, DT, 6-3, 263, Pella, Iowa (Pella)

Ryan Jones, S, 6-3, 195, Frisco, Texas (Reedy)

Reggie King, S, 6-3, 175, Grandview, Mo. (Grandview)

Logan Kopp, LB, 6-1, 195, St. Louis (Lindbergh)

Barika Kpeenu, RB, 5-10, 185, Fargo, N.D. (West Fargo Sheyenne)

Bryce Lance, WR, 6-2, 165, Marshall, Minn. (Marshall)

Kole Menz, DE, 6-3, 200, Horace, N.D. (West Fargo Sheyenne)

Alex Oechsner, CB, 5-10, 175, Muskego, Wis. (Catholic Memorial)

Britton Pascoe, CB, 5-11, 175, Apollo Beach, Fla. (Bloomingdale)

Cole Payton, QB, 6-2, 218, Omaha, Neb. (Westside)

Braden Rucker, OL, 6-3, 230, Eureka, Kan. (Eureka)

Blake Sadr, OL, 6-4, 265, Council Bluffs, Iowa (Treynor)

Enock Sibomana, S, 5-10, 185, Fargo, N.D. (Fargo South)

Jack Steckler, TE, 6-5, 208, Bismarck, N.D. (Bismarck)

Kayden Warren, DT, 6-4, 250, Rice Lake, Wis. (Rice Lake)

Brayden Weber, LB, 6-1, 226, Becker, Minn. (Becker)

Truman Werremeyer, FB, 6-1, 226, Fargo, N.D. (Fargo Davies)