North Dakota State’s First FBS Recruit Reacts After Commitment
The first recruit to join North Dakota State Bison football in its upcoming FBS era made his decision official this week and shared his thoughts on the program’s big transition.
Defensive back Robenson Duclona described the team’s move from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a “power move.” Speaking with Dom Izzo of The Fargo Forum, he said the shift should bring the Bison the national attention he believes they deserve.
Duclona, who plays at Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Florida, previously held offers from Liberty Flames football, FIU Panthers football, and Toledo Rockets football before announcing his commitment on X.
He said conversations with head coach Tim Polasek, defensive coordinator Grant Olson, and wide receivers coach Steve Crutchley convinced him that NDSU is the right place to develop his game. Duclona plans to enroll early in December as he prepares for the 2027 season.
The Bison had already secured one commitment in that recruiting class from running back Austyn Wittek of New Richmond, Wisconsin, who pledged on January 25 before the program’s FBS move was officially announced. Wittek also received an offer from North Dakota Fighting Hawks football.
Duclona, listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, recorded 57 tackles, one sack, one interception, and a forced fumble across 12 games last season. Bishop Verot Vikings football finished the 2025 campaign with a 5–7 record.
Florida Connection Continues for the Bison
Recruiting talent from Florida has long been productive for North Dakota State, and Duclona could become the next player from the state to thrive in Fargo, North Dakota.
Izzo noted that Fort Myers represents a somewhat new recruiting area for the Bison, as many of their previous Florida players have come from the Tampa region. That group includes Christian Watson, now a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, who starred at NDSU from 2017 to 2021, and defensive back Josh Hayes, currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Duclona said the success of past players from Florida helped reassure him about heading north to continue his career.
Other former Florida standouts who played for the Bison include running backs Bruce Anderson and Jalen Bussey, along with defensive back Tre Dempsey.
A Recruiting Class Entering a New Era
Many players in North Dakota State’s 2026 recruiting class likely didn’t anticipate they would be joining a soon-to-be FBS program when they committed. What was once uncertain has now become reality, meaning the group will prepare for FBS competition rather than continuing the program’s dominant FCS run that produced 10 national titles in 15 years.
The Bison signed 29 players in the class, with four arriving early to participate in spring practices. Those early enrollees include running back Braylon Toliver from Erie, Colorado, tight end Caden Ward from Lincoln, Nebraska, offensive lineman Earl Brown from Pillager, Minnesota, and offensive lineman Tucker Thienenman from Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
The class also includes quarterbacks Hank Nelson of Meridian, Idaho, and Q Barnslater from Burnsville, Minnesota, who is currently listed as a cornerback in the Bison’s class.
In addition, NDSU brought in nine players through the transfer portal who are already participating in spring practice. Among them are three transfers from Power Four programs: offensive lineman Kene Anene from Kansas Jayhawks football, defensive end Truman Griffith from Kansas State Wildcats football, and punter Caleb McGrath from Minnesota Golden Gophers football.
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