Bison May Have Unearthed a Transfer Portal Sleeper
FARGO — North Dakota State may have uncovered an intriguing addition through the transfer portal in running back Nyeoti Punni, a Holy Cross transfer who has quickly caught the attention of the Bison during the first two weeks of preseason practice.
At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Punni has the size of a linebacker but the speed of a much smaller running back. His background as a track sprinter at Holy Cross has helped make him one of the fastest players on NDSU’s roster.
After just two weeks of practice, Punni has emerged as one of the team’s most fascinating newcomers and could potentially become one of the better transfer additions anywhere in college football.
“He looks the part,” NDSU running backs coach Sam Ojuri said. “He definitely runs the part when he wants to, so I think he’s going to help us out this year.”
During Monday’s 11-on-11 drills, Punni lined up behind the No. 1 offense alongside junior DJ Scott and redshirt freshman Myles Mitchell. While both backs have been competing for opportunities, Punni displayed a level of explosiveness that stood out.
His physical build is also impressive, particularly considering how recently he made the transition from track to football.
Punni played at the FCS level in the Patriot League but did not see meaningful action until his junior season in 2024, when he appeared in five games and carried the ball just once. His primary focus at Holy Cross had initially been track and field.
In high school, Punni finished second at the New Hampshire state championships in both the 100- and 200-meter races. He began shifting his attention toward football during his sophomore year of college.
“The transition was hard at first,” Punni said, explaining that he had to prepare both physically and mentally for football. He credited his family and coaches for supporting him and believing in his potential.
That work eventually paid off. In 2025, Punni rushed for 415 yards on 70 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. His best performance came against Bucknell, when he ran for 131 yards on 15 carries.
His physical transformation has been just as notable. Punni weighed about 185 pounds when he stopped competing in track. He reached 205 pounds during his first football season and eventually climbed to 218 as a senior. Now at 230, he is the largest running back on the Bison roster.
Punni credited the strength staff at Holy Cross with helping him develop physically, while recognizing that another jump in size was necessary after arriving at NDSU.
“I knew I had to put more weight on, more muscle on to try and match the physicality,” he said.
Since arriving in Fargo this summer, Punni has been working to master the Bison offense while adjusting to a new level of competition. His academic background at Holy Cross has also helped him handle the mental demands of learning a new playbook.
He said his time at Holy Cross prepared him both academically and athletically, while fall camp has provided an opportunity to compete for a role and prove he can contribute.
Punni was also an accomplished high school football player in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He accumulated more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and scored 35 touchdowns over two seasons. However, his college opportunities were limited, with a Division III offer and several walk-on possibilities leading him to initially pursue track.
His opportunity at NDSU came after freshman running back Braylon Toliver suffered a torn ACL during spring practice.
For Punni, the decision to join the Bison felt natural. He was drawn to the program’s culture and the strong sense of community surrounding the team.
The move also gives him the opportunity to finish his college career at the FBS level. Punni followed the news when the Mountain West announced NDSU would join the conference and was familiar with the Bison’s dominance at the FCS level.
Now, he has the chance to be part of a historic transition as North Dakota State begins its first FBS season.
“I was interested to see how they’ll do in the FBS, and now I’m able to be part of this first FBS season,” Punni
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