FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[faunch]

Looking ahead to the fall, how does anyone see St John's looking? Looks like we have two open dates yet to be filled with non-conference opponents. Obviously the toughest test of the conference slate will be traveling to Arden Hills to face Bethel in the third conference tilt of the season. How different will our squad (& theirs) look? We have a transfer QB from USD that will competing to fill some big shoes. Can we build on this season or do we take a step back?

I think they will only play one non con due to playing full MIAC again next year? Not sure.

Johnnies should be solid again, probably not quite as good as this year. The more research on the USD QB, he might not even play much. Only started a couple high school games and went to USD as a walk on because his father was an all American there. Probably wouldn't beat out Dittbenner. My sources are telling me that a couple more transfers are yet to be announced, potentially another high profile QB...

Do your "sources" have any info about any pass rushers, linebackers or shut down corners that might be in the portal mix?

[gobigred425]

Looking ahead to the fall, how does anyone see St John's looking? Looks like we have two open dates yet to be filled with non-conference opponents. Obviously the toughest test of the conference slate will be traveling to Arden Hills to face Bethel in the third conference tilt of the season. How different will our squad (& theirs) look? We have a transfer QB from USD that will competing to fill some big shoes. Can we build on this season or do we take a step back?

I think they will only play one non con due to playing full MIAC again next year? Not sure.

Johnnies should be solid again, probably not quite as good as this year. The more research on the USD QB, he might not even play much. Only started a couple high school games and went to USD as a walk on because his father was an all American there. Probably wouldn't beat out Dittbenner. My sources are telling me that a couple more transfers are yet to be announced, potentially another high profile QB...

Do your "sources" have any info about any pass rushers, linebackers or shut down corners that might be in the portal mix?

I cannot reveal too much and risk burning bridges for future Woj bombs. I do believe there may be a big transfer DB coming soon...

I did read an article where Gary was previewing next year. Sounds like they are making some position changes going into next year. St. Fleur (#33) moving to OLB, Charlie King - the part time TE with big drop in Susquehanna game is moving to DE. Supposedly has tools to be an elite pass rusher. Frank and Gallagher also back. Time will tell. Filling linebackers will be tough.

[faunch]

Looking ahead to the fall, how does anyone see St John's looking? Looks like we have two open dates yet to be filled with non-conference opponents. Obviously the toughest test of the conference slate will be traveling to Arden Hills to face Bethel in the third conference tilt of the season. How different will our squad (& theirs) look? We have a transfer QB from USD that will competing to fill some big shoes. Can we build on this season or do we take a step back?

I think they will only play one non con due to playing full MIAC again next year? Not sure.

Johnnies should be solid again, probably not quite as good as this year. The more research on the USD QB, he might not even play much. Only started a couple high school games and went to USD as a walk on because his father was an all American there. Probably wouldn't beat out Dittbenner. My sources are telling me that a couple more transfers are yet to be announced, potentially another high profile QB...

Do your "sources" have any info about any pass rushers, linebackers or shut down corners that might be in the portal mix?

I cannot reveal too much and risk burning bridges for future Woj bombs. I do believe there may be a big transfer DB coming soon...

I did read an article where Gary was previewing next year. Sounds like they are making some position changes going into next year. St. Fleur (#33) moving to OLB, Charlie King - the part time TE with big drop in Susquehanna game is moving to DE. Supposedly has tools to be an elite pass rusher. Frank and Gallagher also back. Time will tell. Filling linebackers will be tough.

I was surprised that King didn't get more time at DE. It was obvious the coaches were hoping he could be a replacement for what's his name...I can't think of it right now...I'm old and tired.
At 6"6" 260 he could be a nightmare for quarterbacks.

[MIAC23]

As a fan: Awesome
As a high school QB: Why on earth would I go to SJU?

Assuming one of these transfers pans out, I wonder if we'll see Dittbenner at a new position in the fall.  He's struck me as a great athlete, so I'd like to see him on the field.

It is notable that SJU seems to be the D1 QB transfer destination for those talented players who don't quite get a the shot at starting D1. They come to SJU and are in pass heaven, tossing the ball until their arm falls off.

I suspect you're right about high school QB's.

—

With Trey specifically, I'm surprised another FCS program didn't swallow him up. There are a lot of them in need of QB talent that competes for UND starts.  Maybe as a local-ish boy, the lure of the not-quite-Northwoods was too strong.

I would guess he didn't have many offers. He failed to win the job twice at a mid level FCS. I was thinking he may go low level NSIC, but probably jumped at the chance to go to SJU.

[OzJohnnie]

I would guess he didn't have many offers. He failed to win the job twice at a mid level FCS. I was thinking he may go low level NSIC, but probably jumped at the chance to go to SJU.

The FCS is funny, IMO.  At the top end, you have teams that can play very respectably in FBS.  At the bottom, you have D3 rejects.  In the Massey ratings, UND is ranked 20th out of the 129 FCS schools.  They are no slouches, but FCS does drop off quickly outside the top 10.

(In case anyone was wondering, Massey ranks the D3 team at 112 of 129).

(In case anyone was wondering even further, Massey ranks SJU at 294 out of all 665 football-playing NCAA schools.   The D3 team playing in FCS is ranked at 310.  For reference, NCC is at 177 and MUC is at 257, the two D3 schools Massey ranks above SJU.)

[Retired Old Rat]

As a fan: Awesome
As a high school QB: Why on earth would I go to SJU?

My thought exactly when I heard about the USD kid.  Skip the year sitting on the bench at SJU and go straight to Bethel, GAC, Concordia, etc.

[Boys of Fall]

For better or worse, the game of college football is changing.  SJU has not done too bad with Erdmann and Syverson, both transfers.

On a related note of the game changing, does anyone know anything further on the non-NCAA JUCO eligibility rule changing?  Is Mendez going to be back next year?

[DuffMan]

Yesterday, Marselio Tweeted:

Due to the new JUCO rule, my eligibility for 2024-25 is currently only for D1 schools, as D3 hasn't passed it yet. I'm open to exploring D1 opportunities, so if you're interested in my film, feel free to reach out!

[faunch]

Yesterday, Marselio Tweeted:

Due to the new JUCO rule, my eligibility for 2024-25 is currently only for D1 schools, as D3 hasn't passed it yet. I'm open to exploring D1 opportunities, so if you're interested in my film, feel free to reach out!

[/quotwonr

Yesterday, Marselio Tweeted:

Due to the new JUCO rule, my eligibility for 2024-25 is currently only for D1 schools, as D3 hasn't passed it yet. I'm open to exploring D1 opportunities, so if you're interested in my film, feel free to reach out!

Won't D2 and D3 be forced to permit this?

[faunch]

As a fan: Awesome
As a high school QB: Why on earth would I go to SJU?

Assuming one of these transfers pans out, I wonder if we'll see Dittbenner at a new position in the fall.  He's struck me as a great athlete, so I'd like to see him on the field.

It is notable that SJU seems to be the D1 QB transfer destination for those talented players who don't quite get a the shot at starting D1. They come to SJU and are in pass heaven, tossing the ball until their arm falls off.

I suspect you're right about high school QB's.

—

With Trey specifically, I'm surprised another FCS program didn't swallow him up. There are a lot of them in need of QB talent that competes for UND starts.  Maybe as a local-ish boy, the lure of the not-quite-Northwoods was too strong.

I would guess he didn't have many offers. He failed to win the job twice at a mid level FCS. I was thinking he may go low level NSIC, but probably jumped at the chance to go to SJU.

And which D2 schools in the region would be of interest to a kid. Bemidji St has had a couple decent years...as has Mankato St and Augustana....maybe UMD?
Good thing about SJU it's just off I-94 and campus is reasonable drive from Moorhead.

[faunch]

For better or worse, the game of college football is changing.  SJU has not done too bad with Erdmann and Syverson, both transfers.

On a related note of the game changing, does anyone know anything further on the non-NCAA JUCO eligibility rule changing?  Is Mendez going to be back next year?

The strategy of pulling in a high level transfer could come back to bite the Johnnies someday.

[Redtooth]

For better or worse, the game of college football is changing.  SJU has not done too bad with Erdmann and Syverson, both transfers.

On a related note of the game changing, does anyone know anything further on the non-NCAA JUCO eligibility rule changing?  Is Mendez going to be back next year?

The strategy of pulling in a high level transfer could come back to bite the Johnnies someday.

Both QBs mentioned were heavily recruited by SJU prior to their going to larger FBS schools and transferred to SJU with sufficient eligibility remaining to allow for complete integration into the culture and program that is SJU Football.  I don't consider either of them to be from outside the family of SJU and both will forever be remembered as "all-time" greats......I believe the same for Feeney who is inbound.

The days of multiple QBs being recruited into the same class and being willing to sit/compete/backup like Seiler, Pletcher, Kemper, Ramler, Linneman, Stanger, Denne, Keating are long gone in all levels of college football.

[AO]

And yet, the Johnnies will continue to recruit 50 guys who could play at other D3s and will hardly sniff the field in Collegeville. It's a good problem to have.

[DuffMan]

50 guys who would rather be a part of SJU football than get their asses whooped by SJU football. 

[faunch]

Interesting development at Mount Union:

https://x.com/d3football/status/1877526012373676276?s=46&t=g-or2FfQwhfEf-aUIDwBoA