The college football landscape tends to be one of “haves” and “have nots.”
Powerhouse programs like Alabama and Ohio State routinely produce a slew of NFL draft picks each year, and some of the biggest programs are well-represented among NFL starting quarterbacks. North Dakota State is an exception. The Bison, who don’t even play at the FBS level, have produced NFL quarterback after NFL quarterback, in addition to some big-name offensive line prospects.
On Thursday night, a new name joins the list of North Dakota State quarterbacks set to start an NFL game. With Justin Herbert out for the rest of the season, Easton Stick will take over for the Chargers after waiting several years for a chance to make an appearance.
Stick didn’t enter the NFL with as much fanfare as some of the other NDSU alumni around the league, but he has a chance to prove himself over the final four games of the season, just as many other backups have already done this season.
Here’s a closer look at the NFL quarterbacks North Dakota State has produced over the years.
North Dakota State QBs in the NFL in 2023
Three North Dakota State quarterbacks have made it to the NFL and all three are active. However, before Stick replaced the injured Herbert in Week 14, the trio had not thrown a pass in the regular season this year.
Carson Wentz helped put the Bisons on the map in 2015 when he emerged as a top prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played well enough to be selected second overall by the Eagles and quickly found success, making an MVP bid in 2017 before a torn ACL ended his season. Wentz put up solid numbers in the years since, but he regressed sharply in 2020 and had his ups and downs with the Colts and Commanders in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Wentz signed with the Rams in November and serves as Matthew Stafford’s backup.
Trey Lance was selected third overall by the 49ers in 2021, a pick that was a real gamble after North Dakota State played just one game in 2020. San Francisco gambled on Lance’s raw talent, and it didn’t work out. He made just four starts in two seasons with the 49ers before being traded to the Cowboys before this season. Lance is currently No. 3 on Dallas’ depth chart behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.
Easton Stick has found himself in a similar situation for several years, albeit without Lance’s draft status. A fifth-round pick of the Chargers in 2019, Stick was retained by Los Angeles despite being third on the depth chart for most of his first four NFL seasons. After working his way up to second, Stick now has a crucial period ahead of him for his own future.
North Dakota State Quarterbacks in the NFL
North Dakota State has produced 50 NFL players, 28 of whom have joined the league in the last 15 years alone.
Christian Watson, Billy Turner and Cody Mauch are among the Bison’s most notable draft picks in recent years, but it’s at quarterback where North Dakota State seems to be making a name for itself. Of the three top players the Bison have produced, two have been top-three picks in the NFL draft.
If this season has taught us anything, it’s that a quarterback doesn’t need to be a first-round pick to succeed in the NFL. Stick has four games to prove he belongs, and sticking with Herbert for four years is one of the best ways to learn how to make the most of an opportunity.
Here’s a look at the stats and records of North Dakota State’s NFL quarterbacks.
| Year | Name | Round (Pick) | Save | Career Passing Statistics |
| 2016 | Carson Wentz | 1 (2) | 46-45-1 | 22,129 yards, 151 touchdowns, 66 interceptions |
| 2019 | Easton Stick | 5 (166) | 0-0 | 183 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT |
| 2021 | Trey Lance | 1 (3) | 2-2 | 797 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT |
