Top five potential NFL prospects get surprise demo play this fall

Trey Lance, the supernova quarterback from North Dakota state who is projecting himself as a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, will have a demo game this fall.

The state of North Dakota recently signed a contract to play central Arkansas on Oct. 3 in Fargo, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports. It will be the only game the three-time defending FCS national champions play this fall. Earlier this month, The state of North Dakota has announced that it “will not be playing football in the fall of 2020”.

The reversal of a lone game this fall gives NFL scouts a chance to spy on Lance, the NDSU red-shirted second-year quarterback who is shaping up to be one of the most unique quarterbacks in the world. history of the draft. As a red-shirted rookie to the NDSU, Lance went 16-0 as a starter, threw 28 touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I’d be shocked if he wasn’t in the top 15,” an NFL-area scout who has watched Lance in theaters this summer told Yahoo Sports. “I think he’s going to be in the top five with Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence.”

The game allows the state of North Dakota to have essentially a full “spring practice” in the fall, with 20-hour training weeks. (Schools that don’t play this fall are limited to 12 hours.) Instead of the NDSU’s “spring practice” culminating in a melee against each other, the Bison will face off against Central Arkansas, a formidable foe of the FCS.

In NFL circles, the only fall date in the state of North Dakota will become one of the most scrutinized college football games of the year. NFL scouts expect Lance to strike up a conversation with Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and Justin Fields of Ohio State as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Some have projected he could jump one or both.

It is still unclear whether Scouts will be allowed to enter the game, as the deal has just been signed. That decision will likely be left to local ordinances, but the NDSU is expected to be as accommodating as the rules allow. Regardless, the game will be closely analyzed, as it is expected to be the only football game this season Lance plays before declaring himself for the NFL Draft.

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NDSU plans to play a series of games in the spring, including their full Missouri Valley conference schedule. While Lance has yet to declare his intentions, it would be surprising to NFL front office staff for a player of his caliber to play in a spring season that looks destined to clash with the draft process. (The project may be postponed until June 2, and the Combine and Senior Bowl dates could potentially be moved to accommodate the spring season.)

“You always want to see the quarterbacks pitch live, and that would be the only chance to see him pitch [in college this year]Said an NFL player personnel manager.

Boy Scouts rarely spend much time and energy on players who aren’t draft-eligible, which is why teams started digging into Lance this summer. So when an NFL scout went to a North Dakota State game last season, he was shocked to see Lance live for the first time. “I saw him throw a soccer ball and immediately started texting our guys, asking them, ‘Who is this?'”

The scouting world quickly caught up, as Lance led the Bison to a national title, winning the championship with a 44-yard touchdown. The scout who threw Lance into the top 15 said what impressed him was Lance’s ability to keep track of his progress. “There is a difference if a quarterback actually reads a defense rather than throwing on open lanes,” said the scout. “He can progress through the first, second and third readings and then kick a wheel road back out of the backfield. He looks like he’s super smart.

Two North Dakota State quarterbacks have been drafted in the past five years, as Carson Wentz became No.2 overall in 2016 and the Chargers drafted Easton Stick in the fifth round in 2019. L Former NDSU coach Chris Klieman left for Kansas State after the 2018 season, and Matt Entz continued the win by making his head coach debut with an undefeated championship run.

As a freshman starter for freshman coordinator Tyler Roehl, Lance rushed for 1,100 yards, threw for 2,786 yards, and completed 66.9 percent of his passes. He won the Walter Payton award for best offensive player in the FCS. North Dakota State finished in the FCS top 10 for offense (37.3) and total offense (469.5). Perhaps most impressive for a first-year starter, the Bison set an FCS record with just six team changes.

The move gives Entz an opportunity for player development and retention. It may also help keep some of North Dakota state’s top players – including 6-foot-6, 290-pound senior offensive tackle Dillon Radunz – from entering the NCAA transfer portal. In addition, it gives seniors who wish to leave after the semester a last chance to perform in front of an audience at the FargoDome.

NDSU’s history of winning and identifying and developing players has made them a popular target for poaching. In April, NDSU lost All-American linebacker Jabril Cox due to a transfer to LSU. The extra play provides some clarity on what fall will look like and keeps veteran players sticking around for another potential championship.

North Dakota State has won three straight FCS national titles and eight of the last nine, one of the most impressive dominance streaks in college football history. He will lead a 37-game winning streak in the Central Arkansas game.

NDSU hopes to play a series of games in the spring. (The NCAA has also announced that the fall championships, including the FBS playoffs, will move into the spring.) They will not play Oregon, however, the original opener on their schedule. The Pac-12’s initial decision to go only to the conference canceled that high-profile showcase.

Instead, central Arkansas will provide a strong foe for the FCS. The Arkansas center went 9-4 last season, upset Western Kentucky in opening week and reached the FCS playoffs. (Senior defensive back Robert Rochell, who had five interceptions last year, is also an NFL prospect.)

The central Arkansas schedule will provide him with unprecedented exposure as his game with Austin Peay on Saturday in Montgomery, Ala. Kicks off the college football season and airs on ESPN. They play UAB the following Thursday night, September 3, as one of the two games of the night.

The NDSU game promises to receive unusual exposure due to Lance’s presence. It wouldn’t be surprising for a national TV outlet to pick it up given the history of NDSU’s recent dominance and Lance’s prodigious potential.

“I think he’s a really good prospect, just looking at his throwing movement, his precision and his arm strength,” said veteran Illinois State coach Brock Spack, who has faced Lance twice the time. last season. “It is rare to see such a prospect from FCS. Most of them are day two guys blowing up their senior year. This kid has been good from the start.

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