GeauxSioux Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 The Billing Gazette is running a series on the best players on offense, defense and special teams. First piece is on special teams. UND landed 3 players on the list of 10. 2013 Big Sky position rankings: Special teams 5. GREG HARDIN, KR, NORTH DAKOTA 2012: 16 KR, 31.6 avg, 98 long, 1 TD. THE BUZZ FOR 2013: Hardin is more well-known as the top wideout in the Big Sky (spoiler alert), but he also gives North Dakota a huge advantage in the kickoff return game. The speedy Hardin not only led the league in kickoff return average last year, but also was ranked No. 1 in all-purpose yardage (151.6 per game). Hardin's 98-yard kickoff return for a TD against Southern Utah last November helped ignite a UND rally that erased a 15-point deficit and led to a 33-29 victory. Hardin should again be one of the most resourceful players in the Big Sky, both on offense and special teams. 7. SHEA WALKER, ST, JR., NORTH DAKOTA 2012: 3 blocked kicks. THE BUZZ FOR 2013: North Dakota has been one of the best kick-blocking teams in the FCS over the course of the last two seasons, and Walker is the main reason. He blocked three last season -- at Sacramento State, at Eastern Washington and at Montana State. In all, Walker has swatted away five field goals in his career, making him one of the nation's active leaders. And he's only a junior. The 6-foot-1, 299-pound Walker is projected to be UND's starting center in 2013, but he's also an unheralded game-changer on special teams, one of the best in the country. 10. ZEB MILLER, K, SR., NORTH DAKOTA 2012: 12-14 FG, 50 long, 42-43 PAT, 78 pts. THE BUZZ FOR 2013: I know what you're thinking: Three North Dakota special teamers in the Top 10? But Miller might have the strongest leg of any kicker in the Big Sky, evidenced by the 54-yarder he hit two years ago to beat Northern Colorado in 2011 and the 50-yarder he nailed in a win over Portland State last season. Miller's reliability is also unquestioned. He's made 22 of 24 field goals inside 40 yards in his career (92 percent). He comes into the new year on a roll, having made his last seven field goal attempts last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nodak78 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 That is something an interior lineman SO. no less. A top FCs special teams player. For sure UND has the best ST in the BSC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UND-FB-FAN Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Well, we also know now that they will rank Greg Hardin as the No.1 WR in the BSC, rightfully so. Hopefully one of our young QBs can get him the ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green617 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 That is something an interior lineman SO. no less. A top FCs special teams player. For sure UND has the best ST in the BSC. Keep your eye on that kid. Athletic and a leader. He will miss his surrounding cast but time for the young kids to step up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geaux_sioux Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Keep your eye on that kid. Athletic and a leader. He will miss his surrounding cast but time for the young kids to step up. He's going to be an outstanding center. His athleticism will give the coaches a lot of flexibility in the run game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mg2009 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 He's going to be an outstanding center. His athleticism will give the coaches a lot of flexibility in the run game looks like we got a good one there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 2013 Big Sky position rankings: Wide receivers Photo Caption... ALL HE DOES IS CATCH TOUCHDOWNS: North Dakota wide receiver Greg Hardin has made 26 TD receptions in 30 career games, the second-most for active players in the FCS. Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/sports/college/blogs/catgrizinsider/big-sky-position-rankings-wide-receivers/article_d1c8977a-fe25-11e2-b497-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz2bJiEDgmO There's nothing quite like the relationship between a quarterback and his wide receivers. When the QB throws the ball, he expects his receivers to come down with it, obviously. But when the connection is especially clicking, a passing game can be very difficult for defenses to contain. We've seen in many times in the Big Sky Conference. This year the Big Sky features a swath of talented and decorated receivers. For several years the Big Sky was known as a passing league, and in 2012, four teams -- Idaho State, Eastern Washington, North Dakota and Southern Utah -- ranked in the Top 20 in the FCS in passing. The guys doing the throwing get most of the headlines, but the guys doing the catching deserve their share of the credit. Here, we give it to them. TOP 10 WIDE RECEIVERS FOR 2013 1. GREG HARDIN, SR., NORTH DAKOTA 2012: 65 rec, 1,145 yds, 17.6 avg, 14 TD. THE BUZZ FOR 2013: The 5-foot-11, 177-pound Hardin had one of the best seasons for a receiver in UND history last year, and remains a threat to go the distance every time he has the ball. Don't remind Griz fans. On Oct. 20 against Montana, Hardin set the Big Sky Conference record with 333 receiving yards. North Dakota is breaking in a new quarterback (Joe Mollberg?) and a new offensive coordinator, but Hardin will still be the major focal point of the passing game. He, along with Jameer Jackson and Kenny Golladay, give UND one of the top receiving trios in the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geaux_sioux Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 If I'm Jameer Jackson I would be absolutely pissed at the lack of recognition and respect thrown my way preseason. He was only a fr and tore it up. He looks way faster now and is still 235+. He's gonna kill some DBs this season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nodak78 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 If I'm Jameer Jackson I would be absolutely pissed at the lack of recognition and respect thrown my way preseason. He was only a fr and tore it up. He looks way faster now and is still 235+. He's gonna kill some DBs this season. Amen, I would like to see the Montana reporter write about Jameer (One of the top freshman receivers in all FCS last year) as he helps scores a few big TD's against the MT teams. They did mention Jameer and Kenny being one of the best in the Big Sky. I still believe the best in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdub27 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Amen, I would like to see the Montana reporter write about Jameer (One of the top freshman receivers in all FCS last year) as he helps scores a few big TD's against the MT teams. They did mention Jameer and Kenny being one of the best in the Big Sky. I still the country. @SiouxFootball @CatGrizInsider Love Hardin at #1. Question: did Jameer Jackson's name surface at all in the discussion? #greedy @CatGrizInsider @SiouxFootball It absolutely did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 2013 Big Sky position rankings: Running backs 10. JAKE MILLER, SR., NORTH DAKOTA 2012: 94 car, 543 yds, 5.8 avg, 2 TD, 15 rec, 119 yds, 7.9 avg, 1 TD. THE BUZZ FOR 2013: After nearly reaching the 1,000-yard plateau in 2011, Miller shared the load at tailback last year with teammate Mitch Sutton (partly due to injury). Miller still led the team in rushing, and averaged almost six yards per carry. But his touches were down. This year he hopes to get back to his sophomore year form, when he utilized his speed and quickness to burn opponents whenever he got the chance. Miller isn't the biggest back (at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds) but he gets the job done. Look for more yards and touchdowns this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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