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2025 Football Roster

Tim Sanger
Zachary Lucy
Tim Sanger
Zachary Lucy
Tim Sanger
Tim Sanger
Tim Sanger
Tim Sanger

9 Cole Payton

  • Position Quarterback
  • Height 6-3
  • Weight 233
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Omaha, Neb.
  • High School Westside HS

Biography

* 2022, 2024 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
* 2022, 2023, 2024 MVFC Honor Roll

2024 SEASON (JUNIOR):
Played in the first eight games as NDSU's backup quarterback including one start at tailback in the home opener against Tennessee State...Missed the final eight games of the year after sustaining an injury in the Oct. 19 home win over South Dakota State...Finished the season with 21 carries for 164 yards and one touchdown...Season-high 80 yards against Illinois State, including a 73-yard touchdown run...Completed 10 of 16 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns...Named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll...Earned the MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award.

2023 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart...Carried the ball at least once in all 15 games...Rushed 84 times for 615 yards and tied for the team lead with 13 rushing touchdowns...Season-high 13 carries, 104 yards and two touchdowns in the NCAA first round playoff win against Drake...Opened the season with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games with 104 against Eastern Washington and 102 against Maine...Completed 18 of 27 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns...Named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll.

2022 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in 13 games as the team's No. 2 quarterback...Rushed 38 times for 284 yards and two touchdowns...Averaged 7.5 yards per carry...Tied a career high with 48 rushing yards against Montana in the second round of the NCAA playoffs...Completed all four passing attempts against North Carolina A&T and finished the season 8 of 12 for 51 yards with one interception and no touchdowns...Named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll...Earned the MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award.

2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Used a redshirt season with the Bison...Played in three of a possible four games under NCAA rules but dressed with the team in all 15 games...Completed 1 of 3 passing attempts and rushed eight times for 78 yards and two touchdowns...Ran three times for 48 yards including a 37-yard TD in the home win over Valparaiso...Had four carries for 28 yards with an 18-yard TD against Indiana State...Also appeared in the national championship win over Montana State carrying one time for two yards.

HIGH SCHOOL: 2021 graduate of Omaha Westside High School...Three-year starter...Team captain his senior year...Played for coach Brett Froendt...Led the Warriors to a 31-5 record over three seasons including a Class A state championship in 2020...Nebraska's Gatorade State Player of the Year for 2020-21...Two-time all-state first team...Set school records for career passing completions, yards and touchdowns...Threw for 5,338 yards and 65 TDs in his career while rushing for 2,122 yards and 37 scores...Accounted for 2,742 yards of total offense and 39 TDs in a 12-0 senior season after a state runner-up finish his junior year...Also participates in baseball...All-metro academic honoree...2020 Greater Omaha Sports Football Scholar.

PERSONAL: Graduated from NDSU in May 2025 with a degree in sport management...Son of Brian and Lynda...Has a brother, Ethan.

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 15

    2021Freshman

    Quarterback
    6'3" 221 lbs
    15
  • 15

    2022Redshirt Freshman

    Quarterback
    6'3" 230 lbs
    15
  • 9

    2023Sophomore

    Quarterback
    6'3" 230 lbs
    9
  • 9

    2024Junior

    Quarterback
    6'3" 234 lbs
    9
  • 9

    2025Senior

    Quarterback
    6'3" 233 lbs
    9