Kari Gibb/MDN The Minot State University football team continues practice with the first day in shoulder pads and the offensive line works on stance, steps and initial contact drills.

The countdown continues for the start of the 2024-2025 Minot State University (MSU) football season. On day three of camp the shoulder pads went on. Previous drills were conducted in helmets, shorts and jerseys.

“We have 112 student-athletes and staff participating,” said MSU head football coach Ian Shields. “[It’s] too early to tell on impact newcomers just yet. Let’s wait until we can get into full pads and see who presents.”

As the fall camp progresses at MSU, and the team has new players beginning to showcase talents, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) coaches polls also were announced. As part of the coaches’ polls, returning players were honored. MSU running back Evan Lovett and linebacker Carson Cayko were announced as two of the league’s best, named the offensive and defensive players to watch on the team.

Lovett, a senior from Tucson, Ariz., is in his fourth season with the Beavers and was named the team’s Offensive Player to Watch. In his previous three seasons, Lovett rushed for 491 yards and four touchdowns in 20 games for the Beavers and caught 14 passes for 153 yards.

Cayko, a senior from Fairview, Mont., is in his sixth season with the Beavers and was named the team’s Defensive Player to Watch. A two-time All-NSIC performer, Cayko is No. 5 in total tackles at Minot State with 155 (114 solo, 82 assisted) and No. 5 in solo tackles with 114, needing 31 more solo tackles to match former teammate Knylen Miller-Levi (155).

Minnesota State University Moorhead’s junior quarterback Jack Strand was named the conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and Bemidji State’s junior defensive end Marcus Hansen was named the conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

MSU received 31 points on the coaches poll while the top point gathering team was Minnesota Duluth with 134 points as the preseason number one.

The NSIC also has a new tweak for this season. Instant Replay will be used this season.

New for the MSU team are some staff members for the football team.

“Jake Rothschiller is the defensive coordinator (DC), Rod Plummer is the linebackers (LB) coach, Cam Wierson is working with the safeties, Skyler Cavanaugh coaches the wide receivers and tightends and Semaj Mitchell works with the defensive backs,” said Shields. “Rothschiller & Cavanaugh were with us in the Spring.”

Day 21 and counting for Valley City State.