Portal Movement in the NSIC

[Stanger86]

Then I ask again, why recruit those players if there is enough local talent that presumably wouldn’t transfer?

We’ve now come full circle to remote (ND) schools and not having enough local players to have a predominantly local rosters.

Each coach makes their own personal choice. They all have their comfort areas. It isn't necessarily a direct correlation to the talent level there.

Minot State dropped from 17 North Dakota players to 5 from 2022 to 2023. Do you think the talent level suddenly changed? No. They hired a coach with zero regional ties and as such the program is not placing as much focus close to home.

[NSU4LIFE]

Been awhile since I spent that much time digging up information, but last time I looked Northern had about 25-35% of their roster from South Dakota, but most of the players graduating and sticking around are from out of state.

On a side note, our best, maybe 2nd best, defensive player that was all-conference is a South Dakota town of around 400 people and two of the better TEs in the NFL are from two small towns in SD that have a combined total of 1,700 people and one stop light. You just never know where the hard worker with talent is going to come from.

[TJE_]

Been awhile since I spent that much time digging up information, but last time I looked Northern had about 25-35% of their roster from South Dakota, but most of the players graduating and sticking around are from out of state.

On a side note, our best, maybe 2nd best, defensive player that was all-conference is a South Dakota town of around 400 people and two of the better TEs in the NFL are from two small towns in SD that have a combined total of 1,700 people and one stop light. You just never know where the hard worker with talent is going to come from.

And a certain FBS coach is from small town SD ✌️

[NSU4LIFE]

And a certain FBS coach is from small town SD ✌️

Depending on how folks determine "small town" you actually have two ranked FBS teams being led by coaches from small towns of NE South Dakota, one of course playing for a title.

Not too shabby

[FB Player Coach & Fan]

Then I ask again, why recruit those players if there is enough local talent that presumably wouldn’t transfer?

We’ve now come full circle to remote (ND) schools and not having enough local players to have a predominantly local rosters.

correct. All states including ND and SD can claim a handful/dozen or more success stories or standouts. The question I tried to raise wasn’t that there wasn’t any talent in Minot/ND/SD; rather the pool of that talent is very shallow: which forces recruiting out of state talent considering Successful FCS programs in each state that take up most of the talent.

can D2 programs ( middle or lower tier programs) fill a roster of 100+ with 50 to 60 % local talent? I say doubtful. Yes you recruit as much local talent as possible—-and you augment from surrounding states or states that have easy access to remote areas to fill out the roster with as much talent as possible.

[vikingfaithful]

correct. All states including ND and SD can claim a handful/dozen or more success stories or standouts. The question I tried to raise wasn’t that there wasn’t any talent in Minot/ND/SD; rather the pool of that talent is very shallow: which forces recruiting out of state talent considering Successful FCS programs in each state that take up most of the talent.

can D2 programs ( middle or lower tier programs) fill a roster of 100+ with 50 to 60 % local talent? I say doubtful. Yes you recruit as much local talent as possible—-and you augment from surrounding states or states that have easy access to remote areas to fill out the roster with as much talent as possible.

Augustana claims 31 SD natives on their roster and a high percentage are starters and contributors. SD numbers of HS football players may be small, but doesn't have to be ashamed of the quality. With 5 D2 schools to recruit them it's a scramble. Look at MN D2 rosters most have more out of state players than in-state. BSU is the exception.

[FB Player Coach & Fan]

Augustana claims 31 SD natives on their roster and a high percentage are starters and contributors. SD numbers of HS football players may be small, but doesn't have to be ashamed of the quality. With 5 D2 schools to recruit them it's a scramble. Look at MN D2 rosters most have more out of state players than in-state. BSU is the exception.

I think 31 is a very good number——anything above 25 is a solid in state recruiting number. No one that plays college football should be ashamed. It’s just impossible to build a competitive football roster of 100+ athletes without recruiting neighboring states and those mentioned deeper talent pool states and communities— and to recruit those kids out of those deeper talent pool states—they are use to a certain level of amenities (they my flop, they maybe great, they may transfer) and to have the best opportunity to get them to your campus—-you better be in the playoffs or have great facilities or have some advanced community amenities.

[Brandon]

can D2 programs ( middle or lower tier programs) fill a roster of 100+ with 50 to 60 % local talent? I say doubtful. Yes you recruit as much local talent as possible—-and you augment from surrounding states or states that have easy access to remote areas to fill out the roster with as much talent as possible.

I consider Iowa and Wisconsin as well as the Dakotas to be "local" for teams in Minnesota.

When I mentioned the core of a team being local, that's what I mean.

[vikingfaithful]

I consider Iowa and Wisconsin as well as the Dakotas to be "local" for teams in Minnesota.

When I mentioned the core of a team being local, that's what I mean.

That's a strange statement all states surrounding Minnesota to be local for them.

[SW_Mustang]

That's a strange statement all states surrounding Minnesota to be local for them.

"Regional" is probably a better term for it. I wouldn't really consider Minot to be "local" to Winona, but regional - perhaps.

And considering WI has 0 D2 FB schools and IA has 1, I think it's a valid assessment.

[Stanger86]

I consider Iowa and Wisconsin as well as the Dakotas to be "local" for teams in Minnesota.

When I mentioned the core of a team being local, that's what I mean.

It matters where you are within a state too. For Winona and probably Mankato, northern Illinois is close enough for local/regional recruiting. For SMSU, Omaha is a short 4 hour drive.

I remember Gophers coach PJ Fleck talked after his hire about his recruiting home base being within an 8-10 hour drive. That probably gets tightened up for schools at the D2 level, but five hours should be a pretty reasonable area to find 50-75% of your recruits.

[FB Player Coach & Fan]

I consider Iowa and Wisconsin as well as the Dakotas to be "local" for teams in Minnesota.

When I mentioned the core of a team being local, that's what I mean.

That’s not geographical realistic. That really over extends the footprint. For most boosters and alumni “ local” means in state. Certainly not neighboring states. Most coaches my extended to a nearby state—- Moorhead may extend to ND or SD—- Angie & SF may extend to Minnesota and northern Iowa. Its fan like to try to extend to regional rather than local.

[Tundra_Man]

When I think of a "local" student, I think of someone who could feasibly drive home over a weekend if they wanted/needed to. Somewhere in the < 6 hour drive-time range where one could leave school on a Friday afternoon, and drive back on a Sunday afternoon. That would max the range out at about 400 miles.

For USF students, that would mean most of South Dakota, a lot of Nebraska, most of Iowa, most of Minnesota, the southeastern portion of North Dakota, and even into the edges of Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas.

And of course, there are degrees of locality. Someone going to school 10 miles from home is more local than someone 350 miles from home. The 10 mile student could easily go home every weekend where it would be burdensome for the 350 mile student to do so with the same frequency.

[Purple Mav Man]

When I think of a "local" student, I think of someone who could feasibly drive home over a weekend if they wanted/needed to. Somewhere in the < 6 hour drive-time range where one could leave school on a Friday afternoon, and drive back on a Sunday afternoon. That would max the range out at about 400 miles.

For USF students, that would mean most of South Dakota, a lot of Nebraska, most of Iowa, most of Minnesota, the southeastern portion of North Dakota, and even into the edges of Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas.

And of course, there are degrees of locality. Someone going to school 10 miles from home is more local than someone 350 miles from home. The 10 mile student could easily go home every weekend where it would be burdensome for the 350 mile student to do so with the same frequency.

I completely understand your point here. But it’s always baffled me…if the student’s desire is to go home every weekend (and some certainly do) why choose a school more than a couple hours away? Since we’re talking non-athlete students.

If your football players are going home every weekend, you’ve got some issues! Ha :)

[Matt Witwicki]

When I think of a "local" student, I think of someone who could feasibly drive home over a weekend if they wanted/needed to. Somewhere in the < 6 hour drive-time range where one could leave school on a Friday afternoon, and drive back on a Sunday afternoon. That would max the range out at about 400 miles.

For USF students, that would mean most of South Dakota, a lot of Nebraska, most of Iowa, most of Minnesota, the southeastern portion of North Dakota, and even into the edges of Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas.

And of course, there are degrees of locality. Someone going to school 10 miles from home is more local than someone 350 miles from home. The 10 mile student could easily go home every weekend where it would be burdensome for the 350 mile student to do so with the same frequency.

Local/regional combo = guys from the state or within an easy drive. Agreed.

I think there's a distinction between that recruit in the NSIC and then guys who have to typically fly-in from CA, NV, AZ, TX, FL, and such.