North Dakota State added a tight end to the 2027 recruiting class on Monday, as the program’s first FBS recruiting class continues to fill out.

Watertown, South Dakota, standout Hunter Peterson announced his commitment to the Bison on Monday via social media. A 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior, Peterson tallied 28 catches for 365 yards and five touchdowns last season.

“Committed,” Peterson posted on X with a graphic that featured the Bison and his high school.

Before his junior season, Peterson worked with former Watertown and Bison standout Spencer Waege, who had a brief career in the NFL as a defensive end. Waege played for the Bison from 2017 to 2022 before he entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. He joined the Green Bay Packers in 2024 and participated in training camp and the preseason.

“He’s a big deal,” Peterson told InForum’s Dom Izzo on April 15 before his official social media announcement. “I got to work with him a little in my sophomore year when he was training for the NFL still, and I would talk to him a lot, and he kept always asking ‘hey, when are you going to commit?’”

Peterson also had an offer from Air Force, which also plays in the Mountain West Conference. The Bison will play their first season in the Mountain West this year and open conference play with Air Force.

“Ever since I’ve gone up there, I just felt like it’s been a fit every time,” Peterson told Izzo. “I love the coaches, facilities, and like the competitiveness they had. I think their mindset and approach is like pretty similar to mine.”

The All-State standout played both tight end and defensive end for the Arrows last season. He tallied 34 tackles on defense, as he helped his team reach the Class 11AA state quarterfinals amid a 5-5 record.

NDSU Has Produced NFL Tight Ends Before

NDSU has enjoyed success in developing tight ends who can reach the pros.

Ben Ellefson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He also played for the Minnesota Vikings between 2021 and 2022 before he joined the offensive staff. Ellefson won three FCS titles with the Bison between 2015 and 2019.

Noah Gindorff made it as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he played briefly for the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. Gindorff played for the Bison from 2017 to 2022 and won four FCS championships.

Josh Babicz played for the Bison between 2017 and 2021 with three FCS titles before he tried his hand at the NFL. He first signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, and he also spent time in the Green Bay Packers practice squad that year and in 2023.

How NDSU’s Tight End Room Looks Going Into 2026

Tight end has been a critical part of the NDSU offense over the years, NDSU will look to build the tight end room in Year One as an FBS program.

Last season, Reis Kessel was the go-to tight end in the passing game with 15 catches for 335 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. The Bison also have upperclassmen tight ends such as senior Luke Kokat, who played a major blocking role in 13 games last season.  Fellow senior Kaden Zenzen also played in 13 games last year and had two starts.

Junior tight end Abraham Myers appeared in three games last year after he moved from defensive end. Younger tight ends in the room include sophomore Jett Zabel, who played in nine games last season, and redshirt freshman Gabriel Cunningham, who played one game last year.

Matthew Davis covers the NFL, WNBA and college sports for Heavy.com. As a contributing writer to the StarTribune, he has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016. More about Matthew Davis

CINCINNATI — Anyone who needs to go to their polling location for Ohio’s primary election will be able to ride all Metro services for free Tuesday, May 5.

Metro announced all fixed-route buses will run their regular weekday schedules fare-free on Election Day. For those who need door-to-door help, Metro’s Access paratransit will be available for eligible riders, while MetroNow! — the on-demand shuttle service — will also be free to anyone who needs it.

“Access to transportation should never be a barrier to voting,” Brandy Jones, Metro’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said in a release. “By offering fare-free service on election day, we’re helping ensure that more people can take part in shaping their community.”

Metro has already announced that it will also offer fare-free rides for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as well.

To learn more about the different routes or transit options, download the Transit app or visit Metro’s website here.

After the Ohio Redistricting Commission passed new congressional maps last year, and some county board of elections announced polling consolidations this spring, there’s a chance your polling place has changed. If you are not sure where your polling location is, visit the Secretary of State’s website here.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced the South Dakota Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and sentence of a South Dakota man after an attempted threat of felony terrorism.

“Threats against the President of the United States and public officials are taken seriously,” said Attorney General Jackley. “We will continue to prosecute individuals who seek to harm or intimidate public officials and their families.”

According to court docs, Lucian Celestine first contacted the FBI in September 2019, claiming he was hearing voices instructing him to kill President Trump.

In June 2020, Celestine attempted to purchase a sniper-style rifle through an online marketplace and requested a scope capable of shooting up to 600 yards.

The rifle’s seller was a Brookings Police Officer acting as a private citizen and became concerned about Celestine’s behavior. The officer reported the interaction to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

Police later contacted Celestine as President Trump was due to visit Mount Rushmore for the 2020 Independence Day fireworks celebration. During the encounter, Celestine said he had contacted the FBI and admitted he had recently obtained a rifle.

Officers located a rifle, ammunition, and targets in the truck of his vehicle.

After being taken into custody in Rapid City, Celestine told investigators that the voices in his head instructed him to kill the President. He told police of a plan to go to Mount Rushmore and position himself above the monument.

He was then arrested and indicted for threat of felony terrorism.

Celestine entered a guilty plea in November 2024 for Attempted Threat of Felony Terrorism. In March 2024, the Pennington County Circuit Court sentenced him to two and a half years in the South Dakota Penitentiary with credit for time served.

Celestine later appealed his conviction and sentence, but the South Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s sentence.