Northern State head football coach Mike Schmidt should have a good feel for his team come April 20.
That’s when the Wolves will travel to Harrisburg for a rare spring game against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe Minnesota State, Mankato.
On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 season being canceled, the NCAA now allows schools to play one another during spring camp.
Schmidt said he wanted to take on a good opponent that would “allow our team to get better and get a good measuring stick to where we are.
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“This game really heightens the urgency from our guys and, at the same time, gives us a really strong evaluation of our team,” he said. “We’re always evaluating just how good are we, and now we have a chance to see that against an opponent early this year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get a midyear evaluation of your team. It’s an awesome deal.”
The game begins at 2 p.m. at Harrisburg High School. Attendance is free.
Competing against teammates in practice doesn’t allow for a great objective viewpoint as to how good personnel is. Playing a playoff-caliber team like the Mavericks changes that perspective, Schmidt said.
“Other than just your own eyes, a feeling you may have, we just haven’t had the chance to see where we are at at this stage against a quality opponent. (It) really makes it feel as if we’re in-season right now,” he said. “This is going to allow us to gauge where we’re at and what do we actually need. Do we have enough at certain spots and do we need a few more should some guys decide to leave after the spring?”
Skill positions major focus for Wolves
One position Schmidt knows Northern needs to focus on is wide receiver. The Wolves lose two cornerstones in DeWaylon Ingram and Dakota Larson. Ingram leaves as the school’s single-season record holder with 1,220 yards receiving. He also ranks third all-time in career receiving yards (2,381) and second in career receiving touchdowns with 25. Larson holds the records for career receiving yards with 3,660 and touchdown receptions with 33.
“We’re very young, very inexperienced at the receiver position, no doubt,” Schmidt said. “There’s a lot of talent there, and we have some huge aspirations, but there’s a lot of growth needed there as well.”
Quarterback is another position at which the Wolves need growth, Schmidt said. Projected starter Colton Hackel is still recovering from injury and hasn’t thrown the ball yet. In the scrimmage against Minnesota State, senior Anthony Vespo will take a majority of the snaps, Schmidt said. The game could help decide who starts this fall, he said.
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“We’ve really liked how Anthony has looked so far. He’s been a great leader and has done a great job delivering the football so far,” Schmidt said. “Really, though, he just needs more work. He hasn’t played in a while and only played a couple games for us last year. We have a lot of faith in him and a lot of belief in him, but he still has to play and get better. This is a huge spring for him and a great opportunity April 20 to show us what he can do.”
Vespo also finished last season on the sidelines after being injured.
The Wolves called on graduate senior wide receiver Jacob Van Landingham to play quarterback late in the season.
Linebacker depth key for Northern State defense
Defensively, Schmidt believes the strength so far this spring has been the linebacking corps.
“We do lose Trey King, who was just a great player, great person and teammate and brought a lot of leadership to that group, but we have a lot of depth at linebacker. We’re kind of centering around that group right now. They’re young, they’re hungry, smart and fast and really, really good,” Schmidt said.
On the defensive line, he feels two players have begun to establish a presence that will help with the Wolves edge rush.
“Max Van Landingham has been here, knows the system and how to play in it and Matt Baker, a transfer from Murray State, who has been as advertised in spring,” Schmidt said. “Keep him healthy and as he learns our system, he’s going to be a very good player for us.”
Wolves finalizing search for new offensive coordinator
Northern’s coaching staff lost a key component when offensive coordinator Ryan Schlichte left for the same position at, ironically, Minnesota State Mankato. The search to replace Schlichte is ongoing, and Schmidt said he is finalizing a list of candidates.
Schlichte is a Mankato, Minn., native and played in college for the Mavericks. He was a three-year starting quarterback.
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“The position has been posted and we’re moving along,” Schmidt said. “We’ve had some quality applicants and feel confident we’ll have somebody here before the spring game just to get a chance to see what we have in person and to begin to figure out what the next step is with our offense.”
Northern opens its 2024 season Thursday, Aug. 29 in Vermillion against the University of South Dakota of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.