North Dakota
Tennesse State looking forward to playing North Dakota State
Tennessee State soccer has already scored one recreation with a school soccer heavyweight, and it’s closing in on one other one with FCS energy North Dakota State.
TSU AD Dr. Mikki Allen informed the Tennessean that his college is “shut” to signing a home-and-home settlement with the reining FCS nationwide champions.
“North Dakota State within the FCS panorama is a premier program; they’ve had a wealthy custom and lots of success there,” Allen mentioned. “For us, we’ve at all times mentioned since coach (Eddie) George has taken over we wish to be in a state of affairs the place we put our children in entrance of the most effective. They’re hungry to play groups like North Dakota State, groups which have high-talented youngsters. So we’re excited concerning the alternative.”
The video games would happen at NDSU’s Fargo Dome in 2024 and TSU’s Nissan Stadium the next yr, if it involves fruition.
NDSU does have one HBCU on its menu this season. It’s going to tackle North Carolina A&T this September in a recreation that was initially scheduled to happen in 2020. Tennessee State signed a contract earlier this season to play at Notre Dame within the 2023 season, changing into the primary FCS program and first HBCU to play the storied program.
Tennessee State QB getting settled in
However earlier than Tennessee State can get to both of these video games, it should deal with the 2022 season.
Saturday TSU competed in an intra-squad scrimmage that gave coaches an opportunity to take a look at the progress of quarterback Draylen Ellis and the offense. Ellis is a former Ohio Valley Convention Rookie of The Yr that transferred in from Austin Peay. He acquired an opportunity to take the reins of TSU’s new-look no-huddle offense and mentioned he felt fairly good about it.
“There’s not that a lot distinction within the two offenses,” Ellis mentioned. “There’s nice chemistry right here. We grind from the time we clock in till the time we clock out. I actually just like the ambiance right here. It seems like a household.”
“Draylen had some good throws and the offense appeared very environment friendly with him on the market,” coach Eddie George mentioned. “It was clear and that’s one thing you actually wish to see in your first scrimmage. It was significantly better than our first scrimmage final season.”
One factor that George didn’t like was the quantity of sacks his quarterback took.
“You possibly can’t take sacks in these conditions,” George mentioned. “That’s one thing coming in that I used to be conscious of; he took lots of sacks at Austin Peay. He’s very cell. He prefers to sit down within the pocket and throw it and sling it. But when he has to get out and make performs together with his legs he can do this. I wish to see him make higher selections within the pocket.”
