Verbal to NDSU surprises JC coach

Dennis Pilcher has been at Iowa Central Community College for 31 years, so you figure he knows a thing or two about JC prospects. He says NDSU commit Kurt Alexander has his best days in front of him.

The 6-foot-2 guard originally from Toronto, gave the Bison a verbal commitment on Tuesday, a decision that surprised Pilcher, who said the University of Illinois called on Monday. Alexander was getting a strong look from the University of Iowa staff until head coach Todd Lickliter was dismissed on Monday.

“Iowa was after him,” said Pilcher, in his 31st year at Iowa Central. “I think North Dakota State got a steal there.”

Alexander averaged 19.0 points in 31 games. He was 185 of 349 from the field for 53 percent including 25 of 64 (39 percent) from 3-point range. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds, second on the team, and a team-leading 1.4 steals and 2.7 assists.
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Posted by: Jeff Kolpack on 3/16/2010 at 4:17 PM | Comments (21) | Permalink

Tags: ndsu basketball

Can't go wrong with size and speed

NDSU liked what they saw in Josh Gatlin, so they went back to the North Dakota State College of Science well with another cornerback in Arieal Boyd. He’s got the size at 6-2 and 190 pounds and he has the speed, said Wildcats head coach Chuck Parsons.
We don’t know how he’ll fit into the Bison system right away this fall but you can’t go wrong with those two attributes, especially when it comes to special teams. Even if it takes him a bit to adapt to the Tampa 2, the fact you have a 6-2, 190-pound guy on the kick teams is a nice option. Last fall, he stripped a punt returner of the ball, picked up the fumble and scored.
It appears transcript issues hurt Boyd’s recruiting interest and that’s where NDSU came into play. Parsons said the fact NDSU and NDSCS are in the same higher education system makes transferring credits easier. He said Northern Iowa and Texas-El Paso showed recruiting interest, but nobody offered.
Boyd, originally from LaPorte, Texas, had three interceptions last year and returned one 45 yards for a touchdown.
“With him and Josh there, I know they are good corners and those two together make for a wicked combination on anybody’s team,” Parsons said.
 

Posted by: Jeff Kolpack on 3/13/2010 at 10:48 AM | Comments (9) | Permalink

Tags: bison football

Looking for stability

I asked the questions about hiring assistants that are not from the high-major FBS schools and if that will help the turnover that annually happens under Craig Bohl and his answers were pretty predictable.

He looks for guys with passion, desire to succeed and who have a knowledge of NDSU so the program can move into spring football without much interuption. Those were Bohl's words.

Here are mine: But, seriously, it has to help.

You don't see other programs in the Missouri Valley lose one to three assistants every year, do you? The problem with hiring guys who have been in great places is they have networked enough to get back to great places.

On Thursday, Bohl introduced Brian Ward from McPherson College (Kan.) as the d-backs coach, Kenni Burns from Southern Illinois as the receivers coach and Nick Goeser from Minnesota-Duluth as the d-line coach. I don't think Tennessee is going to call Goeser next year for their d-line opening. Players have a close relationship with their position coaches and to see guys coming and going can't be good for continuity.

The key for these new assistants is their ability to recruit. I don't know, or frankly don't care to know, how good of coaches they are. But can they get the horses? Will Brian Ward be able to go into Eden Prairie High and beat UNI on a linebacker? Great players make great coaches, as they say.

Posted by: Jeff Kolpack on 3/11/2010 at 5:54 PM | Comments (10) | Permalink

Tags: bison football

Kicker says it's a done deal

New Bison recruit Adam Keller took officials visits to Pittsburgh and Temple, but was not interested in their walk-on offers and that was something that ultimately led him to verbally committing to NDSU. He said today that he will sign a letter of intent as soon as it arrives in the mail to his Dover, Pa., home.

Keller, who visited NDSU last weekend, also had scholarship offers from Illinois State and Jacksonville University (Fla.). He was 5 of 5 his senior year in high school with a long of 43 yards and as a junior kicked a 51-yarder to win a game.

Here is his video from Kohl's Professional Camps for kickers.

Story in Thursday's Forum focuses on the Kohl's camp and how it led to NDSU. He said the chance to compete for a starting berth right away as a freshman was a big factor in his decision. And it doesn't hurt NDSU has a dome.

"That's awesome for a kicker," he said. "Indoors .. that's perfect."

Posted by: Jeff Kolpack on 3/10/2010 at 1:58 PM | Comments (8) | Permalink

Tags: bison football

Pro Day

Here are some times, lifts and jumps I was able to steal at NDSU's Pro Day today:

220 pound bench reps: Keith Buckman (24), Lorenzo Riley (18), Shamen Washington (13), Fred Bussey (17), Nate Agbetola (12).

Vertical jump: Buckman (28 inches), Riley (29 1/2), Shamen (35), Bussey (31 1/2), Agbetola (35).

Broad jump: Riley (9 feet, 5 inches), Shamen (9-10), Bussey (9-1), Pat Paschall (9-10).

40-yard dash (unofficial): Riley (4.88 seconds), Shamen (4.45), Bussey (4.6), Paschall (4.47 and 4.50).

Only two teams, Vikings and Jets, represented today, down from past years. Jets are always here. The only player that I saw get further attention was Buckman, who was told by the Jets to stay after the drills were done so they could talk to him.

Story in tomorrow's Forum centers on Paschall and his need to lower his 40 time from last month's NFL Combine.

Shamen looked faster to me than he did last fall, but I have to wonder if his 40 time wasn't in the sub-4.4 range when he was running away from kickoff coverage defenders in his pre-knee injury prime. He is strong, though, as evidenced by his bench press for a 150-pound guy.

Posted by: Jeff Kolpack on 3/09/2010 at 4:23 PM | Permalink

Tags: bison football