FARGO – Ten years ago this week, North Dakota State football was getting its first real taste of NFL Draft buzz. Quarterback Carson Wentz and left tackle Joe Haeg were each in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, looking to show off for skeptical coaches and scouts about the FCS All-Americans moving up to the big leagues.
Both had great weeks, with each improving their draft stock, Wentz to the number two overall pick in the draft, while Haeg was selected in the fifth round.
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Back then, it was almost a novelty for a former Bison player to be selected for the Combine. These days, it’s almost assured an NDSU player will be going through the drills. Easton Stick, Derrek Tuszka, Christian Watson, Cordell Volson, Cody Mauch and Grey Zabel are just some of the names that have gone to Indianapolis and ended up getting drafted.
This year though is unique, not so much that there are two Bison there, but it’s the positions that are represented. Quarterback and wide receiver in the form of Cole Payton and Bryce Lance.
“The NFL has been a long dream of mine,” Payton said. “To keep putting NDSU on the map is a big deal to me and I’m super excited to go out there. I’m excited to change the narrative about my throwing ability and prove to everyone and myself that I’m a legit quarterback prospect.”
The hype train on Payton may have left the station a few weeks ago when some national draft insiders claimed that they believe Payton is the second best quarterback in this draft class, behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the presumed number one pick in the draft.
“He's going to run in the 4.5’s,” said The Athletic’s draft insider Dane Brugler. “I think the athletic testing is going to be really impressive. I am eager to see how he throws the ball, how consistent he can be. I would have a hard time taking him before, maybe the fourth round, just because there's so much missing from his development that he's just going to take time. And he's kind of in that weird spot in the middle where he needs more reps, but he's not near ready to face NFL competition.”
That’s the conundrum that will face NFL decision makers when watching Payton when he’s on the field Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound lefthander blossomed this fall for the Bison, throwing for 346 yards and four touchdowns in a game, the third-most passing yards in a game in NDSU history. His week at the Senior Bowl last month was viewed as a success, being named the game MVP after leading his team on a touchdown drive before the game ended.
“I think a lot of the questions Cole faced were heading into the season,” said NDSU quarterbacks coach Joe Beschorner. “Can this guy play quarterback? And from August to December he answered those questions. The questions now we’re getting as coaches is he’s a one-year starter, what his ceiling, what does he struggle with and strengths and weaknesses.”
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Payton said Friday when meeting with the assembled media in Indianapolis, that he already met with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. Al 32 teams came through Fargo during fall camp to get a look at the big lefty.
“My dual-threat ability, I’m a great passer, but can go through and around guys in the run game and pick up first downs and score touchdowns,” he said.
Payton will hit the field Saturday afternoon, with the change he’ll be throwing to his former roommate.
Lance has long been recognized as the top FCS prospect coming into the draft, with some projections having him be selected in the third round. Lance opted not to participate in the East-West Shrine Game in late January and instead focused on his training in Thousand Oaks, California.
“I think the questions out there for Bryce are his speed, which I think he'll answer in spades on Saturday,” said Bryce’s dad, Carlton. “I don't think that'll be a problem at all, just his athletic ability and that will translate to his route running.”
Bryce’s star has only grown brighter after two sensational years with the Bison racking up 25 receiving touchdowns. The 6-foot-3 speedster from Marshall, Minnesota has already met with several teams according to Carlton.
“I'm excited for people to see him because he's just a smooth athlete,” Carlton said. “The running and jumping stuff, I'm not concerned about that at all. That's what he does. He can do that. Of course, the 40 (yard dash) is always going to be the big question out there.”
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Carlton and his wife Angie will be in attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium to watch their son go to his job interview. It’s an experience they didn’t get to have with their older son, Trey. Trey was invited to a “virtual” combine in 2021. The actual workouts were not held because of the pandemic.
“I just want to see Bryce put his best foot forward during the combine”, Carlton said. “I think everything will come into place from there. For us, it's just the same thing, we don't make the pick, we don't choose.”