BISON WATCH-- Since Carson Wentz is now dead to me ~solemn head bow~, here's my Bison man-crush for this year. Big, fast, and smart. The FCS's version of Luke Keuchly. I'm calling 2nd or 3rd round draft pick right now.
#49 Nick DeLuca
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 242
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
High School: Millard North HS
* 2016 Butkus Award Watch List
* 2015 College Sporting News "Fab 50" All-America Team
* 2015 College Sporting News FCS Playoff MVP
* 2015 All-MVFC First Team
* 2015 College Sporting News National All-Star
* 2015 MVFC Defensive Player of the Week
* 2015 MVFC All-Academic Honorable Mention
* 2013 MVFC Honor Roll
2015 SEASON (JUNIOR): All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first team linebacker...Started all 15 games in the middle for the Bison...Led NDSU in tackles by 54, registering 135 total tackles and tying the school record with 59 solo stops...Finished with 10.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, six pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and two forced fumbles...Named MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and College Sporting News National All-Star after making a career-high 20 tackles in the win at Southern Illinois...Also had games of 12 tackles at Montana, 15 against South Dakota, and 16 in the NCAA quarterfinal win over Northern Iowa...Made nine stops and created two turnovers in the NCAA championship win over Jacksonville State...Led a defensive unit that held four FCS playoff opponents under 300 total yards and all four to season-lows in total yards...Named College Sporting News FCS Playoff MVP...Honorable mention to the MVFC All-Academic Team.
2014 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Started five of 16 games at middle linebacker including all four FCS playoff games...NDSU's leading tackler in his five starting assignments, making 46 stops (9.2 tackles per game) and two interceptions...Impressed in his first collegiate start at South Dakota, where he made 12 tackles including five solos and had an interception...Career-high 13 tackles in the NCAA semifinal win over Sam Houston State along with a 35-yard interception return...Finished the season with 67 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions...NDSU's second leading tackler in the FCS playoffs with 34 stops...Second leading tackler on special teams with 10 tackles, including a team-high four punt coverage tackles.
2013 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in 12 of 15 games…NDSU’s leading tackler on special teams with 15 tackles all coming on kickoff coverage…Totaled 27 tackles on the year including 20 solo stops…Season-high eight tackles (five solos) against Delaware State…Had one tackle for loss in the NCAA second round win over Furman…Named to the MVFC Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time first-team Class A all-state and Super State linebacker for Millard North High School and head coach Fred Petito...Had 103 tackles including 81 solos, 13 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in leading Millard North to the 2012 state championship and 13-0 record...Member of the 11-2 state title team in 2010...Two-time all-conference and all-metro first team pick...Three-year letterwinner, two-year starter who also played fullback and tight end...Earned second team all-state honors at catcher for Millard North baseball team...His former Little League football team named an award after him "The DeLuca.”
PERSONAL: Majoring in university studies…Born Jan. 27, 1995...Son of Michael DeLuca and Chery DeLuca, both of Omaha, Neb.