The 5 Best North Dakota State NFL Players of All Time

Carson Wentz gave North Dakota State championship production in two seasons as its starting quarterback. He finished 20–3 as a starter, threw for more than 5,100 yards and added 1,028 on the ground. His two national titles included a return from a broken wrist to earn championship-game MVP honors. Philadelphia selected him second overall in 2016.

The strongest argument for Wentz begins with what he accomplished for the Bison, rather than his draft position. His passing and rushing totals show two meaningful sources of offense, while the championship return provides a distinct peak within his starting career. This was not a ranking built on extensive longevity: it rests on substantial production, a strong winning record and individual recognition on the championship stage.

Trey Lance built his North Dakota State reputation around a remarkable 2019 season. He threw 28 touchdown passes without an interception, rushed for 1,100 yards and helped the Bison finish 16–0. The Walter Payton Award recognized him as the best offensive player in FCS. After one more college appearance, San Francisco traded up to select him third overall.

Lance's place here is chiefly an argument for peak performance rather than a long starting career. The combination of passing scores, interception avoidance and rushing production gives that peak several dimensions. His national award connects the statistical performance to recognition beyond North Dakota State, while the unbeaten finish supplies the team context. Those college accomplishments carry the ranking more convincingly than draft status alone.

Easton Stick's North Dakota State career combined sustained winning with a substantial scoring contribution from the quarterback position. He was part of four national championship teams and finished 49–3 as a starter. His 41 career rushing touchdowns added another dimension to his role, alongside an ability to limit turnovers. He provided continuity during the Bison dynasty between two quarterbacks who became first-round selections.

Stick's ranking case rests on a broad body of work rather than one defining season. The starting record demonstrates how long he contributed to successful teams, while his rushing scores make clear that he was more than a caretaker. Championship-team membership and starting victories are different measures, but together they establish the sustained college contribution that makes him important to this list.

Christian Watson brought size, speed and several ways to score to North Dakota State's offense. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver averaged more than 20 yards per catch across his college career. He scored on receptions, jet sweeps and kick returns, with the Bison creating touches to get him into space. Green Bay selected him in the second round in 2022.

Watson's career receiving average is the strongest foundation for his ranking because it describes sustained big-play production, not simply one standout afternoon or season. His rushing and return contributions broaden the case without changing his primary identity as a receiver. For North Dakota State, his significance lies in that combination: a productive receiving option whose scoring value extended beyond conventional pass plays.

Phil Hansen represents North Dakota State's defensive tradition before its modern dynasty. A Division II All-American at defensive end, he accumulated sacks and tackles for loss while helping anchor a national championship team. Those contributions placed him at the intersection of individual recognition and team achievement. Buffalo drafted him in 1991, and he went on to start for a decade.

Hansen belongs in this ranking for more than the professional career that followed. His college case combines disruptive defensive production with national honors and a championship role. Sacks and tackles behind the line give concrete substance to his reputation, while All-America recognition provides a broader measure of his standing. He also gives the list an important defensive and historical counterweight to the program's later offensive stars.