FARGO — Bryce Lance found himself staring at the jumbotron confused after finishing his 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine in late February at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
“Right when I finished, I thought there was going to be a time up there initially, so I didn’t see it,” Lance recalled. “I heard the crowd cheering so I knew it must be somewhat decent.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The former North Dakota State wide receiver was clocked at 4.34 seconds, which was a top-5 time among receivers and Top 10 among all participants. He learned his time from a nearby cameraman.
Lance got another crack at making his mark before NFL scouts from 28 different teams during the Bison Pro Day Thursday at Nodak Insurance Complex. The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Lance took reps catching some of the 54 balls former Bison quarterback Cole Payton was scheduled to throw.
“Like the good old times,” said Lance, who focused on route running ahead of the showcase.
After a quality showing at the Combine, Lance felt a sense of relief heading into the Pro Day with the non-football testing in the rear view.
“Now I can just focus on football rather than a few tests,” Lance said.
031926.S.FF.ProDay.11
North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance catches a pass during Pro Day for the NDSU football team on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Lance was ranked No. 2 among all receivers at the Combine, according to NFL.com. Lance finished among the top-5 receivers in the 40-yard dash, vertical (41.50 inches) and broad jump (11-foot-1).
Between the Combine and the draft, Lance described his last few weeks as a “whirlwind.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“Been on calls (with NFL teams) every day,” said Lance from Marshall, Minnesota. “Learning a lot, (they’ve been) giving me a lot of tips and things that I can improve on.”
Lance, who finished his five-year career at NDSU with 2,157 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns, will return to Los Angeles to train in the month leading up to the draft.
The Bison have had 18 former players selected in the NFL Draft since the Bison entered the Division I ranks in 2004.
“I’m going to have a lot of friends and family surrounding me,” Lance said of his draft plans. “I’m super excited for that day to come around.”
The NFL Draft is slated for Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25 in Pittsburgh.
The Bison had seven players work out as part of Thursday’s Pro Day, including Lance, Payton, cornerback Anthony Chideme-Alfaro, running back Barika Kpeenu, receiver Raja Nelson and fullback Truman Werremeyer.
031926.S.FF.ProDay.2
North Dakota State running back Barika Kpeenu runs a drill during Pro Day for the NDSU football team on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Werremeyer, a Fargo Davies graduate, looks to become the second North Dakota State fullback to join the NFL ranks in recent years. Former Bison fullback Hunter Luepke signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Got to be as versatile as you possibly can,” Werremeyer said of playing fullback in the NFL. “Got to be an ace special-teamer. I just wanted to come out here and show my athleticism, show NFL teams that I’m willing to do whatever I can do to make a roster.”
Chideme-Alfaro had the best vertical (36-½) and broad jump (10-8) among the Bison players testing Thursday. Kpeenu, a West Fargo Sheyenne graduate, was just behind in the vertical at 33-½.
Chideme-Alfaro, a Cornell transfer, spent the past few months training away from his family in Texas.
“Being able to hug them after that hard workout … it makes it easier,” Chideme-Alfaro said.
Minnesota State Moorhead had three players work out with Dragons quarterback Jack Strand, and receivers Brady Perryman and Gage Florence. Florence set the Division II career receptions record with 402 in November.
“I think we all had a good showing today,” Strand said.
After the conclusion of Payton’s throwing session, the Bison players embraced one another recognizing Thursday may be one of the last times the group gets to wear the NDSU colors on the gridiron.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s just been a blast getting to connect with those guys again,” Payton said.
031926.S.FF.ProDay.8
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Gage Florence runs to catch a pass during Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
031926.S.FF.ProDay.12
North Dakota State wide receiver RaJa Nelson sprints down the field during Pro Day for the NDSU football team on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
031926.S.FF.ProDay.7
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Brady Perryman does a vertical jump test during Pro Day on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
031926.S.FF.ProDay.10
North Dakota State wide receiver Chris Harris does bench presses during Pro Day for the NDSU football team on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Nodak Insurance Football Performance Complex in Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Andrew Haugland
By Andrew Haugland
After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com