The next series in our offseason coverage focuses on the top opponents that North Dakota State will be facing in 2019.
Pierre Strong, Junior emerged as a force in the Missouri Valley Football Conference late in the season and then proceeded to rack up five 100 yard rushing games capped off by being named the league’s freshman of the year. Strong finished with 1,116 yards and 11 touchdowns and provided the Jacks with a capable ground game that has lacked since Zach Zenner left in 2014.
Strong didn’t touch the ball in the first game against the Bison in late September, but in the FCS Semifinal game Strong was a beast. He ran for 135 yards and a 30 yard touchdown and even though the Jackrabbits got blown out that night, he left a lasting impression. He’s going to be a load to try and bring down over the next three seasons in the Missouri Valley.
Strong will get a chance to test himself against a Big 10 defense right out of the chute against Minnesota, but then he may he rack up the yardage totals against Long Island, Drake and Southern Utah. He’s not an unknown commodity in the Missouri Valley anymore, but his ability to shake a tackle is impressive. Watch for him as one of the top players on the Bison schedule in 2019.
