The #605Hogs are coming off a season that didn’t meet their standard and one where injuries certainly factored into the result.  However, because of all of the injuries depth was built and competition to be in the starting five is fierce.  The only starter who graduated was Sam Hagen who was signed as a priority free agent by the Houston Texans quickly after the draft.  The Jacks return an All-American left tackle and three other starters who played at various spots on the line, PLUS they bring back the guys who subbed in when injuries occurred last fall.  When I interviewed Coach Bangtson in late July, it sure sounded like center and the right guard and right tackle spot were open and that the five guys who gel together will be the ones who start.  This group is primed to take a big step forward and return to the standard of past #605Hogs groups.

Coach Bangtson feels good about year two because guys are just so much more familiar with the offense and with playing next to one another.  The group is led by All American left tackle #69 Quinten Christensen (6-5, 310, Sr).  Q has played in 44 career games and has started 29 straight at left tackle.  There probably isn’t much he hasn’t seen in his career.  Coach Bangtson says he is a leader, teacher, and is doing a great job with the younger guys but also being vocal and holding them accountable to the standard of the room.  Coach also believes that Q has changed his body and added muscle this offseason.  He shared the Q is also healthy and that he has really big expectations for himself this season.

At left guard is #77 Will Paepke (6’5, 300, JR) who has seen action in 32 games over the past 3 seasons including 14 starts at guard last season.  Coach Bang thinks that “Pap” had a really good offseason and that he looks great.  Last year he battled injuries but is now healthy and is moving really well.  He shared that Will also holds very high standards for himself and wants to dominate the guy across from him.  He also credited him with being able to play all five positions along the offensive line.

#76 Kenyon BigBow (6’5, 300, JR) was enjoying a solid season before injury derailed him after 11 games.  BigBow played at right guard last season but is competing to be the starting right tackle this season.  Again, Coach Bang credits Kenyon for getting after it in the weight room this offseason and changing his body.  Coach also said that Kenyon is a really hard worker who is a fun guy to have in the room.  He thinks Kenyon could play at either guard or tackle spot because of his intelligence. Before his injury, BigBow had moved to right tackle to replace an injured Hagen and was playing pretty well in limited action.

The fourth returning starter was #54 Shane Willenbring (6-4, 305, So) who split time between center and right guard last season.  I’ve shared this before but according to PFF data, Willenbring went from having an average season at center to being an elite right guard down the stretch.  I asked Coach Bangtson why he thought this may have happened and he said that moving to guard allowed Shane to quit thinking so much and just use his freakish athleticism.  Coach Bang said that Shane is the kind of player that you can give an instruction once and he figures out how to get it done.  I’m not sure if Shane will be at guard or center this season but I’m confident that his experience will make him a better player this season.

Dell Rapids St. Mary’s Alum #56 John Pica (6’4, 310, SR) was a key depth piece last season that showed terrific versatility as he filled in for injured players throughout the season and spent some time as a “jumbo” tight end.  Coach Bangtson says that Pica has developed as the next leader up behind Christensen.  Coach shared that Pica is well respected in the room and is competing to start.  He said that Pica is always trying to get extra work and that his experience in 2025 will pay off this fall.

The Jackrabbits also have #58 Jackson Kerstin (6’4, 295, JR) who has worked himself into a position where he is competing to start at right guard.  Coach Bang said he’s a player who has added good weight to an already athletic player.  He said he grew a bunch in the past year and that he was playing good football in spring ball.  He thinks Jackson’s hard work is paying off and that he is tapping into his potential.

#63 Kyan Rauk (6’6, 300, So) became a fan favorite for his work against UND All-American Lance Rucker.  Kyan came off the bench cold after Q was tossed.  It felt like the Jacks would be in trouble without their AA offensive lineman but Rauk completely shut Rucker down.  It was one of the best performances I can remember for a player coming in cold off the bench.  Coach Bangtson credits him with paying attention, doing the work, and being ready when his number was called.  He said that Kyan is getting stronger and that he’s a big guy who plays hard and has a nastiness about him.  Kyan is competing to start at right tackle.

The Jacks brought in a pair of transfers along the offensive line.  #68 Cooper Starks (6’5, 330, JR) is coming in from Vanderbilt and #75 J’Shaun Thomas (6’4, 295, So) is from University of Minnesota Duluth.  Cooper missed most of the spring but is getting healthy and in shape.  Bangtson credits him with picking up the offense quickly.  Cooper is competing at guard and center and it’s a huge fall camp to show what he can physically do after all of the mental reps this spring.  Thomas is a very sharp and coachable player who did a nice job this spring.  He’s a hard worker who is always looking for extra work.  He said Thomas will need to be ready this fall as a potential swing tackle.

The other two veterans in the rooms are #53 Caden Hotz (6’2,295, So) and #67 Ian Mutchler (6’4, 295, Jr).  Hotz is very smart but pretty quiet according to Bangtson.  He’s in the middle of the competition at center because of his added strength and ability to make the calls along the line.  Mutchler is a great guy who works hard and who is teammates love.  Coach Bangtson credits him with being a glue guy in the room.

The Jacks have a large group of redshirt freshman and true freshman that we will work through next.  Coach Bangtson is very excited about this group and how they have developed over the past year. #78 Micah Hach (6’4, 310) has really developed even with splitting his time this past spring with wrestling.  Bangtson said that Micah would still come to workouts and meetings this spring even with his wrestling commitments.  He said that Micah is strong, athletic, and very tough.  Micah can play both tackle and guard but coach believes his best position may be at guard.   #61 Evan McCarty (6’5, 280) spent last season listed as a jumbo tight end but projects as a guard or tackle according to Bangtson.  He said that Evan plays with a nasty streak but is also smart and very coachable.  Evan was around 240 when he got to campus last summer and is now up to 280 so he is putting in the work in the weight room and with his nutrition!  #70 Lincoln Semchenko (6’5, 295) had a really nice summer after missing spring ball due to injury.  Coach said that Lincoln cares a ton and is a hard worker.  He said that Lincoln was the leader of the scout offensive line last season and that he was a “pest” to the Jackrabbit chaingang.  He too has guard/tackle flexibility.

#74 JB Walters (6’4, 295) is a player who Coach Bangtson said is terrific in the meeting room and is academically excellent.  Bangtson said that he is always in the right spot and that he can get reps this fall which will help him continue to develop.  #64 Thomas Dwyer (6’6, 300) suffered a knee injury his senior year late in the basketball season and has been dealing with that injury since getting to Brookings.  Coach credits him with staying engaged even though he couldn’t be on the field.  #66 Brock Osbahr (6’2, 295) is really strong and a hard worker.  He is still sort of new to the offensive line but has made huge leaps since getting to campus according to coach.  The final second year player is converted tight end #55 Shane Henderson (6’6, 270).  Shane is a tremendous athlete and is such a big frame.  Bangtson thinks he could be a very special tackle.  He said that Shane is still learning as a run blocker but that he has some tremendous instincts and raw ability as a pass blocker.

The Jacks brought in four highly regarded players in the 2026 recruiting class in #62 Weston Rowe (6’6, 300), #65 Braylin Dieken-Keahey (6’3, 295), #72 Noah Dietel (6’8, 300), and #73 Grant Wilkinson (6’9, 310).  Obviously, they are huge but Coach Bangtson credits them with doing nice work since they got to campus in June (Dieken-Keahey was an early enrollee in January).  Collectively, they are very intentional and have shown a willingness to learn. They show a strong desire to get better and learn.  All of them are athletic and can move according to Bangtson.

Again, it is no secret that this group had a down year last year.  Lot’s of guys were getting their first taste of the MVFC and this group really did deal with a lot of injuries which hurt the continuity of the group.  I do believe that this group will return to the standard that previous groups have set.  This group playing really well makes this offense really really dangerous.

Go Jacks!

Matt