Offensive tackle Paul Backowski will transfer from the University of Colorado to North Dakota State University.
Backowski, a 6-foot-6 295-pound sophomore from Foley, Minnesota (Foley H.S.), is eligible to play immediately moving from a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) program to a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team.
Backowski played in all 12 games for the Buffs in 2006 including one starting assignment against Kansas.
A standout on both sides of the football for Foley, Backowski was a first team all-state selection by the Associated Press and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He was named the Most Valuable Lineman for the Rum River Conference and was a first team all-conference performer. Foley won conference football titles with a 7-2 record his senior year and 9-2 record as a sophomore.
Backowski was a three-time letterwinner in basketball, averaging 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game as a senior. He was also a three-year letterwinner in track & field and placed sixth at the state meet in the shot put (55-1) as a junior.
North Dakota State completed the 2006 season with a 10-1 record under the direction of Craig Bohl, including an 8-0 record against FCS schools and a 29-24 win over Mid-American Conference member Ball State. The Bison went 4-0 to win the Great West Football Conference championship -- the program's first league title since 1994 when NDSU was a member of the Division II North Central Conference.
NDSU was ranked No. 5 in The Sports Network and CSN Coaches final Top 25 polls. The Bison lost 10-9 to bowl-participant Minnesota of the Big Ten at the Metrodome.
The Bison open the 2007 season against Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m., Sept. 8, at the Fargodome.
