• The annual UND Spring Game (scrimmage) will be next Saturday already–April 16th.  Game will start at 11am at Memorial Stadium.
  • Members of the UND staff will be attending the Northstar Spring Combine on April 23rd in St. Paul.  This event gives the staff a look at prospective athletes for the Class of 2017 and beyond.
  • UND added a little twist to practice on Wednesday when they went through an “overtime” session.  This allowed the offense to start at the 25 yard line and play out different scenarios, such as being down by three or seven points and needing the appropriate type of scoring play.
  • IMO, cornerback is still the major position of concern as we wind down spring ball.  Granted, soph. starter Tyus Carter is not participating but they are still mighty thin back there.  Starter Deion Harris and Jahmere Irvin Sills are the only one’s back with experience besides Carter.  Expect the staff to look for another transfer come May/June.
  • Winter signee freshman Torrey Hunt has had a solid spring.  He makes plays on the ball almost every practice and will definitely be on the field come fall.  His issue is he has never really played corner before.  Hunt was a wide receiver in high school so the natural instincts and technique are needing to be learned.  Spring ball has been invaluable for Hunt in that regard.
  • The UND offensive line has only eight players this spring but they are getting major reps.  In the one-on-one’s and three-on-three’s vs. the defensive line they are getting a ton of work but are definitely struggling at times.  With a Grant Aplin and Patric Rooney at center things haven’t always seemed click when the UND D-Line runs a game on them.  Have faith, though, it takes time with young guys and Coach Luke Knauf is outstanding at developing solid, tough-minded lineman.
  • The most improved position on the defense has to be outside linebacker.  Senior Jawon Johnson has really settled in at OLB after playing safety most of last year.  He should be a bigtime play-maker off the edge in 2016.  Johnson has been tough to handle for the UND offensive tackles this spring.
  • Freshman OLB Jade Lawrence has showed play-making ability.  He should play some this year and be on most special teams.  Kind of disappointed that freshman Keelan Poole has been hurt most of the spring.  We know UND is counting on him to contribute.
  • Would not be surprised to see UND look for a transfer punter.  They did get Jacob Meeks from Northeast Mississippi Juco but we are not sold the staff is 100% content with the position.
  • UND runs a 1-on-1 drill which pits the RB’s vs. LB’s in space.  The moves RB John Santiago puts on those LB’s are nasty.  Fully expect him to get the ball in every way possible this year.  Fellow freshman RB Brady Oliveira has been taking limited reps as of late, which is a great sign coming off his knee injury last fall.
  • Once ILB transfer Dijon Murray gets the defensive playbook down he will be a solid player for UND.   Thick body type and good quickness laterally.  Vital that he got this spring in to learn the system.
  • Freshman ILB Donnell Rodgers is coming along.  UND needs him to get comfortable and show he can play “fast”.  Like most freshman he is still a bit tentative, wondering if his read is correct.  He has the tools, no doubt.