Head Coach Bubba Schweigert released the 2016 UND Football roster on Friday, just ahead of the annual Big Sky Media Day, which is happening today and tomorrow.
The following link will direct you to the ongoing interviews that will be happening today and tomorrow with coaches and players.
July 18 – 10:09am – QB Keaton Studsrud interview
July 19 – 10:00am – HC Bubba Schweigert interview
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Roster/Depth Chart Thoughts
- All true freshmen signees in the Class of 2016 appear to be on the roster.
- UND officially announced the addition of OL Michael Coe from Western New Mexico (D2). Coe, a senior, played his first three years for UWNM, with two of those being for current UND OL Coach Luke Knauf. We are project Coe to actually move down inside and play center for UND. The Hawks are very green at the interior offensive line positions and his addition should be a big boost to that group.
- OL Adam Stiner has moved down to the right guard position. We have heard positive reviews about Stiner’s growth as a player and this should help accelerate that as playing guard is simpler than tackle.
- The long awaited return of OT Elijah Grady is official. The 2015 starting right tackle had left the team after semester break to head home for family reasons but stayed in touch with the program all spring and will be reporting back to GF for fall camp. Grady is a difference maker for UND and having him back will be big. Although, having missed winter and summer workouts will more than likely hinder him come fall camp, meaning it will take him a while to get back up to speed.
- Senior Dylan Bakker is listed as the starter at strongside ILB over last year’s starter senior Taj Rich. Rich is coming off a knee injury but the coaches must not feel is he is ready to go yet for whatever reason.
- RB John Santiago is listed as the #1 kick and punt returner. Don’t look for that to last very long. We could see them using him situationally when they need a big return, etc. However, he is far to valuable to be taking full speed shots from coverage teams and risking injury.
- Former LB turned RB Kyle Norberg is now listed as a fullback on the depth chart. The 6’1″-240 Norberg is a battering ram back there and should be a nice addition to the FB/TE group that has become so vital to UND’s run-first offense.
- Punter Austin Dussold, a junior transfer from Missouri S&T (D2) has been officially added to the roster. With the loss of Mitch Meindel UND is in desperate need of a quality punter. Meindel made a huge difference last year, averaging nearly 45 yards/punt and consistently pinning teams deep in their own end. The evolution of Dussold will be VITAL to UND’s success this season. Never underestimate the importance of a good punter.
- UND officially signed WR Demun Mercer. Mercer, 6’2″-195, played his first two years for FBS Texas State. Last season he caught 19 balls for 235 yards and 2 TD’s. Mercer will add much needed size and depth to a depleted WR corps that lost start Josh Seibel in the spring to knee injury. Seibel was also the team’s punt returner.
