Those times have changed.

Since the hiring of coach Mike Aldrich in February, he’s emphasized future MSU football teams will be centered around local recruits. The 2016 recruiting class was the first step in fulfilling Aldrich’s promise, as the Beavers now have 16 players on the roster from North Dakota, compared to five last season.

Senior center Logan Gunderson, a Berthold native, has been around the program long enough to see his fair share of faces come and go the last few years. The 6-foot-2, 284-pound lineman has been a success story for the Beavers, opting to stay close to home and start 32 games over three years. He’s poured blood, sweat and tears — not to mention labor, as he helped put flooring into MSU’s weight room his freshman year — into the program for multiple seasons.

Unfortunately for MSU, Gunderson has been the local recruit that has been the exception, not the rule. Like his coaching staff, Gunderson is optimistic that will change soon.

Garrick Hodge/MDN MSU linebacker Matt Marler (36) drops back to cover a zone during a drill in a college football practice.

“It’s a different feeling now that I’m the old guy on the team, kind of the big grandpa if you will,” Gunderson said. “But seeing all these young guys coming in is exciting. Just moving forward, it’s great to know there’s a bunch of guys from the area on the team. I think this is a big step for the program heading in the right direction.”

By now, area football fans have put MSU on their radar to keep tabs on former North Dakota prep stars as they take their shot at the next level. These names include Des-Lacs Burlington’s Evan Knutson, Minot’s Manuel Bradford, Alex Yanosko, Ben Bolinske, Matt Marler and Dillon Bercier, Bishop Ryan’s Jordan Will, Konner Beeter, Jaxon Lundeen and Cole Dauphinais, Bismarck’s Lucas Butts, Preston Mayer and Jordan Sanford, Legacy’s Derek Wax and Turtle Mountain’s Nathan Rauhauser.

Some of these names will see the field sooner than others. A select few, such as University of North Dakota transfer Marler, will compete for playing time immediately.

“The decision to come to Minot State for me was pretty simple,” Marler, a redshirt freshman, said. “I just felt like I wasn’t at home at UND, so I thought making the decision to come back home would be better for me. All I know is I’m putting in the same amount of work here that I did at UND. There’s no difference in work ethic between Division I and Division II, it’s all the same ball game.”

The Minot High graduate is competing for an inside linebacker position and whether he’ll start or be a backup is yet to be determined.

Garrick Hodge/MDN MSU running back Lucas Butts (24) runs in open space during a college football practice.

“My personal goal is to become a starter,” Marler said. “I think that’s everyone’s goal, but I don’t want to just be one starter out there, I really want to make a difference on defense.

“The public perception is that Minot State has a losing reputation and I really hope we can change that. I really buy into what coach Aldrich is selling and I think it will end up working out.”

Other players could see playing time, but in small doses because they need a little more seasoning. Bismarck running back Butts falls into this category. The true freshman came into camp with a strong frame at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, but had trouble picking up the offense in the first few practices.

“I’m a pretty big running back and I like to run downhill and lower my shoulder more often than not,” Butts said. “I like contact and running guys over rather than juking or cutting around guys. Right now everyone is competing for a spot and everyone is getting pushed to their highest level.”

Meanwhile, Will, a freshman defensive end, didn’t expect to play this season, but might be thrust into action due to injuries.

Garrick Hodge/MDN MSU defensive end Jordan Will (52) has a conversation with a teammate during a college football practice Wednesday in Minot.

“Right now, I was number three on the depth chart but our number one got hurt,” Will said. “If the injury is serious, I might end up getting some playing time. But if he comes back and is healthy, I’ll likely redshirt.

“I just assumed coming in I’d redshirt and I was at peace with that because you’re trading your worst year for your best year as a fifth-year senior. It would be good to not waste my year when I can get a lot better in the future, but at the same time, everyone wants to play. Either way, I’ll be happy.”

Some players will have to wait their turn to see the field, such as redshirt freshman quarterback and UND transfer Bolinske, who is likely to open the season third on the depth chart behind Zac Cunha and Andy Jones.

“They’re the older guys and have been here all spring,” Bolinske said. “Whenever I have a question, I can always count on those guys to answer it. All you can control is going out there and doing your best, so that’s what I plan on doing in practice.”

It’s likely Dauphinais, Beeter, Lundeen, Bradford and several others will redshirt in the 2017 season barring injuries.

MSU opens the season at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31 against Concordia University, St. Paul on the road.

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.