AJS

Usually about a week before they can start committing.

Did a bit of a deep dive into the current offers. There are a lot of current offers, varying in competing offers. A pretty even mix between a lot, a few and none. Below is my wish list. The grade is based on competing offers and corelates to my excitement level. As always, a disclaimer of just because the player has a lot of competing offers does not mean they'll pan out at the collegiate level and vice versa. *This is not all of the offers* *Likely I missed a few exciting ones as well* A Devine (OLB) - MN Wagner (OL) - MN Rehberg (DE) - NE McGregor (OL) - IA Kramlich (DB) - ND Bindel (OL) - MO Collins (ATH) - MO B+ Ackerman (DE) - NE McCarty (OL) - MN B Kies (LB) - IA Bates (WR) - IL Arnold (DB) - KS Grace (LB) - MO Broderick (ATH) - ND

Seems pretty straight forward. Competing offers is what people look at when a player commits and that correlates with the hype that player receives. The more / “better” offers the more hype. Most importantly, other programs are validating that player. Far from a guarantee and walk-ons and UND being the only FCS offers can end up more impactful. If UND ever wants to take that next step, they will have to up their recruiting. Winning recruiting battles. Not sure how that’s controversial.

Let's keep the positive vibes going here. Who's next?! Devine or Wagner too much to ask?

Offers from UNI, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, Western Michigan This is FUN!

Hromadka is a take notice type of recruit. It's a big deal. Contrary to what some might think, they usually have one or two ever class. Everyone will interpret it differently, but imo, they've never really strung something together that felt different. Would be fun if this was the start of something. Some intangibles I like about the Hromadka commit is his hometown (Maple Grove), that it's the 2nd MG commit this class. There are two absolutely intriguing MG 2025's that are uncommitted in Michael Wagner (3 star / has UND offer) and Jacob Wrbanek (big PWO offers / no UND offer yet). Excited to see what happens next with this class!

Absolutely. I think ultimately what @sioux24/7 is saying is turn these commitments into a big deal. Play it up. It's fun for the fans, fun for the player committing. All these players are on social media. A lot of eyeballs. Let's just give into the fact that NDSU knows what they are doing. Let's get into the weeds a bit. Bubba can use a very simple, very generic post (see Sather's Hawk gif). Same post for every commitment. Let the assistants with more of a personality, where it fits get a bit livelier (emojis that hint at the player, ect). I'm shocked this isn't something 100% of the fanbase would want to see. It feels like this program has no pulse.

Safety. Had a UNI offer.

Thielges! Credit to Bubba and co.

I'm talking competing FCS offers. UND offers three additional revenue streams outside of the scholarship. NDSU is the only other FCS that offers all three as well. Within the next year, facilities will be top notch. Campus is beautiful. There are no excuses anymore. My believe is it's all moot as long as Bubba is the face of the program.

If this team ever is going to take the next step, it has to start with having a decent % of their commits with actual competing D-1 offers. As long as Bubba is the face of the program, regardless of facility upgrades, continued improvements to the campus, I don't see it happening. Fully understand in the importance factor for the program, this isn't high on the list, but can these coaches please try to build some excitement with commits. Other programs the coaching staffs are posting about commits before the player actually announces. From the outside, seems to build a lot of excitement over each commit. Fruechte did this a bit with the O-Line Portal commits, but nothing since.

It’s sometime in July. Most likely coinciding for when Freshman first get on campus for Summer.

Grand Fork’s own JB Walters to SDSU.

My guess is it has to do with a lot of prospects touring today before Camp tomorrow. Hope is it's a big commitment, but timing wise, I'm going with my original thought.

Final 2024 NHL Draft Rankings: Ryan Kennedy's Top 120 - The Hockey News 19 - Boisvert 45 - Emery 107 - Swanson 113 - Zellers

Might be a dumb question on my part, but interested how this type of thing works with the yearly athletic budget. Using this as an example, is the $ equivalent of 63 Football scholarships added to the budget each year and if you have 2 as part of the endowment, you have 40K to spend elsewhere? Easier put, the athletic budget won't be 40K less, because the $ is already spoken for, correct?

Haven’t seen a mock draft recently where both Boisvert & Emery aren’t first round picks.

Love the St. Thomas addition. I do hope these leads to the Summit League absorbing the NCHC as well as a Summit League Football conference. That would be a big deal on multiple fronts.

Good problem, but fairly frustrating though. Hopefully some don't transfer elsewhere. https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/with-dorm-applications-up-some-und-students-waiting-to-find-out-if-theyll-have-fall-housing

They seemed to have done really well in the Portal (both additions / not losing many), but you're right on, they seemed to have been hit pretty hard defensively to graduation. Over 50% of their tackles, two All-Americans. Agree, their offensive weapons are scary.

Here's what I got. There were a few teams that really were hit hard by graduation / portal (ISU-B, Youngstown, UNI). Some that weren't. 4 - Win or season over - Idaho St at home, San Diego at home, Murray St. at home, at ISU-B 4 - Tossup games - UNI at home, at Youngstown, USD at home, at Illinois State 1 - Not Likely - Montana at Home 3 - No past indicators of Victory games - Iowa St on the Road, NDSU on the Road, Jacks at Home

I’m not saying they are, but one reason I would accept is the FCS outside of a few teams isn’t great. Look at a team like USD that’s preseason Top 5. They return a lot from a mediocre offense & lost some studs on defense. If that’s a Top 5-7 team, then even with the questions UND has no reason they couldn’t end up Top 15. I’m not optimistic the defense gets fixed, but UND was a playoff team with an awful defense last year.

The hope I have defensively, and you'd think I'd know better by now than to use this phrase, but there's certain aspects where I genuinely believe "It couldn't be worse" than last year. (1) Pass rush / disruption from D-Line (2) OLB play (3) 3rd and Long (4) Getting to the QB