AP Photo North Dakota St offensive lineman Cordell Volson speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on March 3.

Cordell Volson has stayed near and dear to North Dakota, up until a lifelong goal came to fruition this past weekend. Before signing to play collegiately with the North Dakota State Bison, Volson had a successful high school career at Drake-Anamoose.

At Drake, Volson was a multi-sport athlete playing football and basketball. It was on the gridiron, however, where he stood out the most as an offensive lineman.

When it came time to take the next step in his football career, Cordell Volson had three NCAA Division I offers from the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, and the University of Wyoming.

During his recruitment, he met with the coaching staff at each school. Volson’s goal for his next home was to find a landing spot where he could develop his game and give himself the best chance to play in the NFL.

Ultimately, Volson decided to sign with the NDSU Bison, a decision that benefitted his career tremendously. “NDSU was the place I felt like I could reach my goals. If you are a North Dakota kid, you want to be a Bison,” Volson told The Minot Daily News.

Being from Balfour, Volson knew what the NDSU football program was about, and how the coaching staff was going to require hard work and dedication from him. “I knew coming into NDSU that there was a high standard and expectations. Coaches were going to demand my best each day. That’s what makes it so special.”

It took Volson some time to be inserted into the mix on the offensive line. Once he did, Volson did not look back and put together a very decorated college career. During the 2018 season, he saw time in every game and was part of an extra point and field goal unit that did not allow a blocked attempt.

2018 was a special year for Volson and the Bison. It was his last opportunity to play with his brother, Tanner Volson, who was also a member of the offensive line. The two of them were part of a Bison team that went undefeated on their way to a National Championship.

“Playing with my brother was one of the coolest experiences of my life. After the 2018 season, we won the National Championship and it was a special moment during his last year. It was the last time being on the field with my brother and we did it right by finishing with an undefeated season.”

The success would continue to follow Cordell Volson throughout his time in Fargo. In 2019, he was named to the first team All-Missouri Valley Conference and started in all 16 games. During that season, the Bison rushed for a school-record 4,601 yards.

It didn’t take long for Volson to become a key, reliable member of the Bison offensive line. In 2020 and 2021, he started in every game for the Bison. Over his final three seasons, he made 41 consecutive starts and appeared in a school-record 65 games throughout his entire Bison career.

Over his final three seasons, Volson was named to three consecutive first team All-Missouri Valley Conference teams and two consecutive first team AP All-America teams. Volson came to NDSU wanting to develop and to get a shot at the NFL, and he put himself in a great position to accomplish that goal.

When reflecting on his college career, Volson was thrilled with it all. “I couldn’t have been more excited to win four National Championships, meet my best friends, and have a great college experience. My decision to be a Bison was the best decision I ever made.”

The next step for Volson was to spend time training in Minneapolis for the upcoming NFL draft. In addition, he participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl, a showcase of NFL draft prospects that took place in Las Vegas. This gave Volson an opportunity to impress NFL scouts before the combine began in Indianapolis.

Then it came time for the NFL combine. For Volson, this was an opportunity to not only separate himself from his peers on the field, but also an opportunity to separate himself as a person off the field. “Throughout the combine process, I connected with teams on what kind of person I am. All of that stuff helped project me in the right direction,” he said.

In addition to participating in football drills, the combine also presents players like Volson a chance to meet and interview with teams. Throughout this process, Volson believes it was his football IQ, intelligence, work ethic, and the way he goes about his business that helped improve his draft stock.

On the weekend of April 30, all of Volson’s hard work would finally pay off. With pick 136 overall, the Cincinnati Bengals came calling, turning Volson’s dream into a reality. The team used their fourth-round selection on Volson, hoping to have him be an anchor in the offensive line that will protect the up-and-coming NFL star in Joe Burrow.

With his experience at the combine, Volson felt like there was a chance that the Bengals could be an option. But still, Volson was surprised to see them make the selection.

He met with the Bengals informally at the combine, worked out for their assistant offensive line coach in Derek Frazier, and had a zoom meeting with Frank Pollack, the head offensive line coach.

“My agents had a list of teams put together and they listed them in tiers based on what the teams thought about me. The Bengals were a tier one team,” Volson told The Minot Daily News.

When the time came for Volson’s football career to take the next step, it was a moment he will never forget. “I saw the phone ring and it was a Cincinnati number. The Bengals head coach (Zac Taylor) said they were going to make me a Bengal.”

Volson put forth a lot of hard work and effort into his football career, and this was a time where he got to sit back and see it all come together. “I couldn’t have been more excited to have a childhood dream come true of being drafted to the NFL. All of the work and sacrifices that you put in throughout your life have now come to surface.”

In regard to what type of player the Bengals are getting, Volson says, “They are going to get a guy that loves to play football. A guy that will be physical and work extremely hard. I pride myself on being the hardest worker in the room.”

Cordell Volson will begin his quest to make his mark on the Bengals beginning with rookie minicamp that is set to start in the next few weeks. This will be the first opportunity for Volson to showcase his work ethic and physicality in the next step of his football journey.