1 week Ago By Dom Izzo
FARGO – After a weekend where North Dakota State football had multiple NFL Draft picks for the fourth time in the last five years, the Bison remained red hot in adding players to the current and future rosters. NDSU added some needed depth in its running back room as Kennesaw State transfer DJ Scott announced Sunday, April 27 that he will transfer to the Bison. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore from Oviedo, Fla.
will have three years of eligibility remaining. Scott was in Fargo over the weekend taking an official visit. ADVERTISEMENT “I got connected with NDSU from Coach (Sam) Ojuri,” Scott said.
“He recruited me out of high school and he happened to get the running back coaching job at NDSU and we already had a connection.” Scott played in 13 career games for the Owls, finishing with 62 rushing yards and a touchdown. Kennesaw State finished with a 2-10 record in 2024, its first season as an FBS school, playing in Conference USA.
KSU was an FCS school from 2015-2023 before moving up to FBS. Scott was in attendance for the Green and Gold Showcase and came away impressed with what he wants to be his future home. “I like to see how the coaches and players bonded together,” Scott said.
“I really liked how the players and coaches made it seemed like a family. It made me want to be there and be part of something great.” COMMITTED!! @NDSUfootball pic.
twitter.com/11etR8wbgr Scott had an outstanding high school career, racking up over 2,800 rushing yards at Oviedo High School. Oviedo is located about twenty minutes north of Orlando, and about 30 minutes from Timber Creek High School.
Timber Creek is the alma mater of former Bison standout linebacker Chris Board. Oviedo plays in Class 6A in Florida, which is the second biggest in the state. Scott had numerous Division I offers coming out of high school, ranging from South Dakota, Illinois State, Cincinnati, Wofford, Marshall, Charleston Southern and Kennesaw State.
He signed with the Owls in February of 2023. NDSU had been searching for a running back after Marty Brown’s portal departure two weeks ago. With Scott’s addition, he essentially replaces Brown’s spot in terms of eligibility.
Each will have three years remaining. Scott will join a backfield that consists of seniors Barika Kpeenu and Owen Johnson, sophomores Brady Wavrunek and Barry Kpeenu and freshman Myles Mitchell. The Bison have another running back coming this summer in freshman Charles Ross out of Kansas City.
“I would describe my running style as physical, decisive, and downhill,” Scott said. “I like to get north and south quickly and finish runs strong. I also take pride in my vision and ability to find the right lanes.
” ADVERTISEMENT Scott will arrive on campus in June and will begin summer workouts with the Bison then. He’s the first portal addition to the roster this spring. NDSU added five players in February, but two have already departed the team, cornerback Jalon Peoples and defensive tackle Mason Wilson.
“I see myself fitting in well with the Bison backs because they play a tough, physical brand of football that matches my mindset,” Scott added. “I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute however I can and keep that tradition going.” BISON ADD TWO 2026 COMMITS Head coach Tim Polasek made a point after the Green and Gold Showcase about his desire to recruit the high school ranks “even harder” after the portal departures NDSU suffered over the past two weeks.
That work has seemingly paid off, with the Bison adding two more commitments to the Class of 2026. Apple Valley (MN) cornerback and wide receiver Q Barnslater and Mount Horeb, Wis. linebacker Jack Wilson are the two most recent additions.
Barnslater is 6-foot-1, 165-pounds, who plays both wide receiver and defensive back at Apple Valley. He’s expected to play cornerback at the next level. Barnslater had another offer from Northern Iowa.
He was officially offered by NDSU on Feb. 20. He did a little bit of everything last season for the Eagles, finishing with 41 receptions for 414 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 11 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception on defense.
“Too Small” let’s do it. #herd 🤘🦬 @CoachTimNDSU @CoachGrantOlson @CoachWillJ1 @TheRealMarcWill @NDSUfootball @applevalleyFB @Veesonie4 @Raywatson21 pic.twitter.
com/fXKGhSkNnd Barnslater is a former teammate of current Bison defensive back Will Washington, who graduated from Apple Valley in 2024. Washington played in six games last year for the Bison in a backup role. Barnslater becomes the third commit out of the state of Minnesota for the 2026 class, joining Pillager’s Earl Brown and Holy Angels defensive end Daniel Devine.
ADVERTISEMENT Wilson is the second Mount Horeb player to come to NDSU in the last three months. Wide receiver Chris Kiel signed with the Bison in February and will be part of the incoming freshman class. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker officially announced his commitment on Friday, April 25.
“I play middle linebacker and I'm definitely a more physical downhill linebacker,” Wilson said. “I like to get my nose in things and make plays. I think I have a good football IQ.
I think I'm pretty smart on the field, and just fly to the ball. You're never going to have to question my effort.” To wrap our show this morning, we had on @wilson_jack2 to tell us why he chose to commit to @NDSUfootball pic.
twitter.com/53UEaZp4hQ Wilson was highly sought after with six Division I offers, including Toledo out of the Mid-American Conference. Illinois State, Eastern Michigan, Cornell and MSU Mankato were the other offers Wilson had.
NDSU came into the picture recently with an offer, extending one on April 17. “As soon as I got there I was met with some great coaches and had a fantastic visit,” Wilson said. “It felt right to me, I loved the location and facilities, just was the place for me.
Chris (Kiel) helped me in the recruiting process and he’s been through it all and gave me some tips.” Wilson had a great junior year for Mount Horeb, which plays in the third biggest class in Wisconsin. They posted an 11-1 record, falling in the state quarterfinals.
Wilson registered 74 tackles, 15.5 for loss to go along with 3.5 sacks.
He becomes the third Wisconsin native for the 2026 class, along with Pewaukee’s Tucker Thieneman and Boyceville’s Zach Hellendrung. “Originally I was planning to commit before my senior year, probably sometime in July,” Wilson added. “The coaches didn’t pressure me to commit at all, it felt like the right spot for me and a place I wanted to play for the next four to five years.
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