FARGO — Cole Payton showed off a variety of deep passes, but it was a bootleg pass over the middle that drew one of the first louder applauses from the sideline at NDSU’s Pro Day on Thursday.
In a series of workouts inside the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex on campus, the former Bison quarterback logged a 54-throw script in front of scouts from 28 NFL teams. Payton had just a few misfires — one overthrowing Chris Harris on a deep sideline route — but the NDSU single-season record-holder for pass efficiency came away pleased.
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“It was awesome, having guys like Bryce Lance, Chris Harris and all these guys come back and run routes, they make my job easy,” Payton said.
Payton did much of his drill work during his impressive NFL Combine in late February, so the bulk of his work Thursday was the passing script. At the combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds, recorded a 40-inch vertical and leaped 10 feet, 10 inches in the broad jump, both elite measurements.
Bison head coach Tim Polasek said Payton needed to have a solid day on Thursday. He referenced former QB Easton Stick producing a body of work over four seasons for NFL scouts while Payton became the full-time starter in his senior season.
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North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton throws a pass during Pro Day for the NDSU football team on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
“I think anytime you’re a one-year starter or even a two-year starter, like Carson (Wentz), the pressure’s on,” Polasek said. “You talk about putting it in perspective, you have to perform. There’s a lot of pressure with that.”
Minnesota State Moorhead QB Jack Strand, along with his receivers Brady Perryman and Gage Florence, also showed off their talents Thursday. MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said they’re the first Dragons to take part in a Pro Day since receiver Damon Gibson in 2018, who had a short tenure with Green Bay.
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Minnesota State University Moorhead quarterback Jack Strand winds up to throw a pass to a teammate during Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Strand, who led the NSIC in passing with 3,546 yards and threw a school-record 42 touchdown passes last fall, showed a strong arm as well. His off-target balls were typically high or long.
“I had a few misses unfortunately, a couple that I want back, but for the most part, I thought it was pretty solid,” Strand said.
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His 50-throw script was drawn up in phone calls with Perryman (in Indiana) and Florence (in Sioux Falls) while he was in New Jersey. The trio utilized the Rustad Recreation Center in West Fargo and were able to get into the Bison’s indoor facility in recent days.
Primarily a shotgun QB in college, Strand wanted to display his footwork as a drop-back passer.
“I wanted to get out here and get a couple long ones in, but the main thing was trying to get more under-center stuff than shotgun stuff in my script,” he said.
Laqua marveled at one of Strand’s deep shots. One mammoth throw nearly grazed the roof of the facility as it headed toward Florence sprinting downfield.
“I think the one was 73 or 74 yards, I think that’s a pretty good chuck on the ball.”
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Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Gage Florence does a jump test during Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Florence, the all-time Division II receptions leader, and Perryman, the school's all-time TD receptions leader, showed well. Florence set a personal best in the 225-pound bench press with 13 reps while Perryman had nine.
"I was very happy with that," Florence said. "With the adrenaline going, it probably gave me a boost there.”
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Perryman said the day went by fast after the trio spent weeks planning for this day.
“It definitely feels like the weight of my world is off my shoulders," Perryman said. "A little nervous at the beginning but once you get here, you’re just playing football and you’ve been playing that your whole life.”
Strand measured 6 feet, 3.7 inches, with Payton at 6-2.3 without shoes. At 35 inches, Strand posted the second-highest vertical jump of the day, just behind NDSU cornerback Anthony Chideme-Alfaro’s 36½-inch leap.
Strand said he’s been jumping 35s of late but his broad jump of 10 feet, 1 inch came at the right time.
“The broad I was really happy with that because I haven’t been able to get anywhere close to 10, and then being able to get over 10 was definitely good for me,” he said.
He weighed in at 243 pounds but while he’s heavier, Strand said he also feels leaner by eating a cleaner diet.
“I thought for the most part he did what he needed to do,” Laqua said. “He made some really good throws and I think that’s what a lot of people wanted to see live.”
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