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GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Nine former North Dakota football players will display their skills to NFL scouts and CFL representatives during Pro Day inside the Pollard Athletic Center on Thursday, March 27.
All-American Bo Belquist and All-MVFC performers Devin Hembry, Josh Navratil and Jaden Norby will headline the group, while Elijah Beach, Riley Gerhardt, Wyatt Pedigo, Isaiah Smith and Quincy Vaughn will also showcase their skills to professional scouts at UND's Pro Day.
Bo Belquist
Started 11 games at receiver and appeared in every game in 2024 … Ranked No. 17 nationally in receiving touchdowns (10) … No. 2 in the MVFC in receiving yards per game (77.7), No. 3 in both receiving touchdowns (10) and receptions per game (5.4), No. 4 in total receiving yards (932), No. 10 in yards per reception (14.3) and No. 12 in total all-purpose yardage (87.3) … Tied for No. 11 in the league in total touchdowns (10) and No. 19 in points scored per game (5.0) … Scored at least one touchdown in seven games and found the end-zone twice on three occasions … Recorded four games of 100+ yards receiving … Averaged 12.9 yards per kickoff return, piling up 103 yards in returns on eight attempts … Had a career-long 66-yard punt return at No. 2 North Dakota State … Cemented his place in UND history as the all-time record holder for career receptions (271) … Named an AFCA Second Team All-American and was also Associated Press honorable mention All-American … Garnered First Team All-MVFC Accolades … Served as a team captain … In UND's all-time record book, he ranks No. 3 in both career receiving yards (3,305) and career touchdown receptions (30) and is No 10 in career total touchdowns scored (30) … He also sits No. 3 in North Dakota's Division I record book for career all-purpose yards (3,520).
Devin Hembry
Started all 12 games at cornerback in 2024 ... Defended only 1.0 passes per game, making him the No. 2 pass defender in the MVFC ... Tied for No. 3 in the league in interceptions per game (0.3) and tied for the conference-lead in passes defended (12) ... His 108 interception return yards led the MVFC ... Led the team in both interceptions (3) and pass breakups (9) ... Fifth on the team in total tackles (40) and solo stops (29) .... Recorded a 92-yard pick-six in the 52-28 win over Idaho State ... Named First Team All-MVFC … Ties for No. 7 in UND's Division I history in career interceptions (5).
Josh Navratil
Started all 12 games at linebacker in 2024 ... Tied for No. 13 in the FCS and No. 1 in the MVFC in forced fumbles per game (0.3) ... Ranked No. 5 in the conference in sacks per game (0.5) ... Led the team in tackles-for-loss (10.5), sacks (6), forced fumbles (3) and quarterback hurries (8) ... Third on the team in total tackles (55) and fourth in solo stops (37) ... Had a pair of sacks in the 27-24 win over No. 4 Montana ... Named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 23 after recording five tackles (four solo), a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the 41-24 victory against San Diego ... Recorded a career-best 10 tackles at Illinois State ... Earned honorable mention All-MVFC accolades ... Served as a team captain … Ranks fourth in UND's Division I history in total career sacks (16.0).
Jaden Norby
Started nine games as a fullback or tight end and appeared in every game in 2024 ... Hauled in four catches for 19 yards … His blocking helped UND rank No. 13 in the FCS in red-zone scoring (89.6 percent), No. 20 in third down conversion percentage (45.6), No. 20 in time of possession (31:32) and No. 25 in rushing offense (186.9) ... Helped North Dakota put up over 400 yards of offense three times, highlighted by 601 yards in the 72-35 win over Murray State ... Had a 13-yard kick return at Youngstown State ... Recorded a solo stop at Iowa State ... Named Second Team All-MVFC ... Garnered Second Team MVFC All-Academic status ... Served as a team captain.
Elijah Beach
Started nine games on the defensive line and appeared in every game in 2024 ... Put down 15 total tackles and seven solo stops ... Recorded a pair of tackles-for-loss and two quarterback hurries ... Had a TFL in the 41-24 win over San Diego and during the 31-7 victory over Northern Iowa ... Tallied a season-best four tackles at Illinois State.
Riley Gerhardt
Appeared in all 12 games and saw time at both linebacker and on special teams … Accumulated 29 total tackles and had 13 solo tackles … Recorded a pair of sacks, two quarterback hurries, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble … Had a strip-sack and a fumble recovery in the 52-28 win over Idaho State … Put down a season-best five tackles at Illinois State.
Wyatt Pedigo
Started all 12 games at linebacker in 2024 ... Ranked as the No. 10 tackler in the MVFC with 7.0 tackles per game ... Led the team in both total tackles (51) and solo stops (51) ... Tied for second on the team in tackles-for-loss (6.0) and tied for third in sacks (2.0) ... Recorded four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups ... Put down a pair of sacks in the 27-24 victory over No. 4 Montana ... Had a career-high 11 tackles at Youngstown State ... Served as a team captain … Sits fifth in UND's Division I history in career solo tackles (136) and sixth in career total tackles (218).
Isaiah Smith
Started six games at running back and appeared in all 12 games in 2024 ... Recorded 103 carries for 705 yards and eight scores ... Tied for No. 10 in the MVFC in rushing touchdowns (8), tied for No. 11 in total touchdowns (10), and tied for No. 19 in points per game (5.0) ... Ranked No. 10 in the league in rushing yards (705) and No. 20 in all-purpose yards per game (74.0) ... Hauled in eight grabs for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns ... Had two 100-yard rushing games, highlighted by 142 yards rushing and two scores in the 72-35 drubbing of Murray State … Ranks third in UND's Division I history in career rushing yards (2,102) and fifth in career all-purpose yards (2,839) … Also ties for fifth in NoDak's DI history in career total touchdowns scored (22) and career rushing touchdowns (16).
Quincy Vaughn
Saw action in every game as a tight end and started three of them in 2024 …Pulled in 11 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown … Was UND's short-yardage specialist and was 11-for-11 when it came to picking up first downs in 3rd & 1 and 4th & 1 situations, including 8-for-8 on fourth down … Scored two rushing touchdowns in short yardage situations … Had a career-best four receptions for 37 yards against No. 3 South Dakota State … Ties for sixth in UND's Division I history in career rushing touchdowns (17), while also sitting seventh in career touchdowns scored (21).
The competitions slated to take place at the Pro Day are the bench press, 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps, three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and individual position drills. All athletes at Pro Day will be showing off their skills in preparation for the NFL Draft, set for April 24-26, in Green Bay, Wis.
Fans are welcome to attend Pro Day and sit in the permanent seating inside the facility, with competitions inside the Pollard Athletic Center scheduled to start around 3 p.m.
For more information on North Dakota football, follow on social media @UNDfootball or visit FightingHawks.com.
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