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Jersey Number 44
Matt Plank
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 219
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Gardner, Kan.
- High School:
- Gardner Edgerton HS
* 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
* 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 MVFC Honor Roll
2017 SEASON (SENIOR): Played in 12 of 15 games including two starts against Western Illinois and South Dakota State...Totaled 14 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss...Made five stops on kickoff and punt teams...Season-high four tackles in the NCAA second round playoff win over San Diego...Had one pass breakup...Named to the MVFC Honor Roll and earned the MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award.
2016 SEASON (JUNIOR): Played in all 14 games and made the final 10 starts at middle linebacker after a season-ending injury to Nick DeLuca...Third on the team with 76 total tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss...Standout on special teams who made four tackles on kickoff duty...Career-high 12 tackles in the regular-season loss to South Dakota State and back-to-back 10-tackle games against Northern Iowa and Youngstown State...Had an interception late to help seal a 24-20 win at UNI...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2015 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Backup middle linebacker and regular contributor on special teams for all 15 games...NDSU's second leading special teams tackler with 14 stops all on kickoff duty...Totaled 21 tackles for the season including one forced fumble in the home win over Missouri State...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2014 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Reserve linebacker and special teams contributor who played in four contests...Made a season-high five tackles in the Incarnate Word game...Totaled seven tackles on the season including an assisted tackle for loss at Missouri State...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2013 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season as a redshirt in the Bison program.
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time all-state linebacker for Gardner Edgerton High School and head coach Marvin Diener and Kris Henry...Three-year starter...Played middle linebacker, offensive tackle, tight end and running back during career...Selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl, East vs. West All-Star game...Named the 2012 Eastern Kansas League Defensive Player of the Year...Earned all-state honors from the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capitol Journal as a junior and senior...Two-time all-EKL first team selection, second team as sophomore...Recorded 104 tackles including 66 solos, eight tackles for loss and six sacks with a pair of fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and an interception as a senior to lead Gardner Edgerton to the state playoff quarterfinals...Member of three district championship teams, twice reaching the state playoff semifinals...As a junior, credited with 127 tackles including 76 solos, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks with three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions...Finished career with 319 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, six fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles and three interceptions...Two-year starter on basketball court...Played guard, forward and center...Member of 2010 state semifinalist basketball team.
PERSONAL: Graduated from NDSU in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in social science education and minors in history and psychology...Son of Jeffery Plank, Gardner, Kan., and Tania Plank, Olathe, Kan....Father played football for Coffeyville CC and Arkansas State...Mother played basketball at Arkansas State...Uncle, Greg Plank, played football for Kansas State.
* 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 MVFC Honor Roll
2017 SEASON (SENIOR): Played in 12 of 15 games including two starts against Western Illinois and South Dakota State...Totaled 14 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss...Made five stops on kickoff and punt teams...Season-high four tackles in the NCAA second round playoff win over San Diego...Had one pass breakup...Named to the MVFC Honor Roll and earned the MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award.
2016 SEASON (JUNIOR): Played in all 14 games and made the final 10 starts at middle linebacker after a season-ending injury to Nick DeLuca...Third on the team with 76 total tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss...Standout on special teams who made four tackles on kickoff duty...Career-high 12 tackles in the regular-season loss to South Dakota State and back-to-back 10-tackle games against Northern Iowa and Youngstown State...Had an interception late to help seal a 24-20 win at UNI...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2015 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Backup middle linebacker and regular contributor on special teams for all 15 games...NDSU's second leading special teams tackler with 14 stops all on kickoff duty...Totaled 21 tackles for the season including one forced fumble in the home win over Missouri State...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2014 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Reserve linebacker and special teams contributor who played in four contests...Made a season-high five tackles in the Incarnate Word game...Totaled seven tackles on the season including an assisted tackle for loss at Missouri State...MVFC Honor Roll and Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
2013 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season as a redshirt in the Bison program.
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time all-state linebacker for Gardner Edgerton High School and head coach Marvin Diener and Kris Henry...Three-year starter...Played middle linebacker, offensive tackle, tight end and running back during career...Selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl, East vs. West All-Star game...Named the 2012 Eastern Kansas League Defensive Player of the Year...Earned all-state honors from the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capitol Journal as a junior and senior...Two-time all-EKL first team selection, second team as sophomore...Recorded 104 tackles including 66 solos, eight tackles for loss and six sacks with a pair of fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and an interception as a senior to lead Gardner Edgerton to the state playoff quarterfinals...Member of three district championship teams, twice reaching the state playoff semifinals...As a junior, credited with 127 tackles including 76 solos, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks with three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions...Finished career with 319 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, six fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles and three interceptions...Two-year starter on basketball court...Played guard, forward and center...Member of 2010 state semifinalist basketball team.
PERSONAL: Graduated from NDSU in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in social science education and minors in history and psychology...Son of Jeffery Plank, Gardner, Kan., and Tania Plank, Olathe, Kan....Father played football for Coffeyville CC and Arkansas State...Mother played basketball at Arkansas State...Uncle, Greg Plank, played football for Kansas State.
NDSU Football Mountain West Press Conference - February 9, 2026
Monday, February 09
The Bison Football Show - December 7, 2025
Monday, December 08
NDSU Football Postgame Press Conference - December 6, 2025 (FCS Playoffs 2nd Round)
Saturday, December 06
NDSU Football Press Conference - December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
