MSUM Dragons Football 2026 - Life After Strand

[IceBoxDragon]

Less than 100 days away from the season opener for the Minnesota State Dragons football team and the big, obvious question at this point is who the signal caller will be. That was covered by the Fargo-Moorhead Forum in spring, with the story Dragons experience unique quarterback dynamic during annual football spring game.

Right now, it's hard to tell who will be taking over the lead role, as the QB room is inexperienced with no upperclassmen. Here's the list of signal callers available:

• RS SO Michael Rostberg. Transferred from D1 St. Thomas. Played in 7 games throwing for 234 yards and 2 TDs, while also tossing 5 INTs in 2024. Sat out in 2025 because of injury. Played high school in North Dakota at Fargo Shanley
• RS SO Timmy Guler. Backup in 2025. Had 112 passing yards with two TDs, plus 42 rushing yards. Played at Pelican Rapids High School with 3,914 yards and 38 TDs passing, plus 2,279 yards and 33 TDs rushing.
• RS FR Drew Huebner. Played high school ball in Morris, Minnesota. Passed for 5,186 yards and 55 TDs, plus rushed for 1,060 yards and 24 TDs
• FR Payton Wallen. Played high school ball in Texas in Royse City. Threw for 2,200 yards and 18 TDs, along with 1,050 yards rushing.
• RS FR Madden Riggs. Played high school at Elkhorn in Nebraska. Had 2,672 passing yards with 31 TDs
• RS FR Joey Kallay. Played high school in Franklin, Wisconsin. Threw for 6,130 yards and 66 TDs.

Guler is the only one who's had some game time at MSUM and knows the playbook so I imagine he'll get a good shot, but we'll see. Here's how the rest of the roster is shaping up from the spring game.

2026 Seniors -

• RB Owen Wiersma, 436 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 64 receiving yards, 1 TD
• WR Brody Headley, 5 receiving yards
• OL Nick Haugrud
• DL Denver Piechowski, 13 solo tackles, 5 TFL, 5 Sacks, 1 PD, 2 FF, 1 FR
• DB Gavin Jarchow, 90 solo tackles, 4 TFL, 1 INT, 10 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
• DB Kennan Stowers, 50 solo tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 5 PD
• DB Evan Miles, 21 solo tackles, 1 INT, 6 PD
• DB Adam Kallenbach, 68 solo tackles, 9 TFL, 6 INT, 19 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR (RS)

2026 Juniors -

• RB Tyson Brandt, 629 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 178 receiving yards, 3 TDs
• WR Kelly Johnson, 280 yards, 1 TD
• OL Dallen Ernst
• OL Manny Wilson
• OL Jacob Dorner
• OL Kyle Nemzek
• OL Grant Erickson
• DL Zach Dahl, 28 solo tackles, 6 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 FR
• LB Derek Tibbetts, 4 solo tackles, 1 FR
• LB Henry Smith, 5 solo tackles
• DB Ryan Routhieaux, 4 solo tackles
• DB Micah Runion, 19 solo tackles, 1 TFL
• K Max Watson, 22 FG Attempts, 16 FG Made, 81 PAT, 118 Kickoffs, 25 TBs

2026 Sophomores

• RB Kevon Johnson, 52 rushing yards
• RB Isaiah Favors, 46 rushing yards (RS)
• RB Keegan Deyoung, 8 rushing yards
• WR Kalen Lucas, 211 receiving yards, 1 TD
• WR Denzel Sutton, 52 receiving yards (RS)
• TE Gavin Lill, 77 receiving yards, 2 TDs (RS)
• OL Luke Rogen
• DL Dean Lempka, 6 solo tackles, 4 TFL, 4 Sacks, 1 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
• DL Brody Friend, 2 solo tackles (RS)
• DL Will Martin, 6 solo tackles, 2 TFL (RS)
• DL Malik Traore, 1 solo tackle (RS)
• DL Hunter Corbin, 1 solo tackle, 1 FR (RS)
• DB Jacion Owens, 1 solo tackle
• DB Preston Johnson, 6 solo tackles
• P Tristan Ulmer, 29 Attempts, 1,143 yards, 39.4 AVG

Here’s the schedule for the team, starting in late August.

• Northern Michigan, Aug. 27, Home
• Concordia-St. Paul, Sept. 3, Home
• Sioux Falls, Sept. 12, Away
• Augustana, Sept. 19, Away
• Minnesota-Duluth, Sept. 26, Home
• Minot State, Oct. 3, Away
• Mary, Oct. 10, Home, Homecoming, Rivalry
• Northern State, Oct. 24, Home
• Bemidji State, Oct. 31, Away, Rivalry
• Jamestown, Nov. 7, Away
• Minnesota State Mankato, Nov. 14, Home

Steve Laqua will enter the season with a 73-82 (70-80) record.