Trey Lance became the third consecutive NDSU Bison quarterback to be selected in the NFL Draft when the San Francisco 49ers took Lance as the No. 3 overall pic in 2021. Lance played 19 games during his Bison career, making 17 starts. As a redshirt freshman, he led NDSU to a perfect 16-0 record in 2019, helping the Bison win another FCS national championship. Lance currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
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Quarterback Trey Lance was selected No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. A remarkable showing, given that the Marshall, MN, native played only 19 games in his career with the North Dakota State University Bison. But it was clearly enough time to make a big impression on NFL scouts.
And it was impressive. Lance won all 17 games he started for the Bison. In his standout redshirt freshman season in 2019, he completed 192 of 287 passes (67%) for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns with no (yes, that's "zero") interceptions.
In addition to those passing numbers, Lance rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 TDs, leading the Bison to a 16-0 record and a third consecutive FCS national championship in his only full season as a starter. Lance won the Walter Payton Award for the best offensive player in the FCS, and the Jerry Rice Award for the top freshman in the subdivision.
Lance produced a lot of pre-draft buzz. on Lance said: "The most extraordinary prospect in the most peculiar draft in NFL history starred in college, but for an FCS power."
The headline and subhead for the story read: "Trey Lance Is Just Different: Meet the rocket-armed, audiobook-listening, spreadsheet-loving, small-school quarterback who is thrilling and confounding NFL scouts."
In his first year with the Niners (2021), Lance played behind veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. But he did see some action in the regular season. In six games, Lance was 71 of 41 passing (57.7%), for 603 yards, 5 TDs and 2 interceptions, earning a 97.3 passer rating. Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023.
Honors Lance earned in college:
- 2021 NFL Combine Invitee
- 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game Most Outstanding Player
- 2019 STATS FCS Walter Payton Award Winner
- 2019 STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award Winner
- 2019 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year
- 2019 FCS ADA Offensive Player of the Year
- 2019 Phil Steele FCS Offensive Player of the Year
- 2019 STATS FCS All-America First Team
- 2019 HERO Sports FCS All-America First Team
- 2019 Athlon Sports FCS All-America First Team
- 2019 Phil Steele FCS All-America First Team
- 2019 FCS ADA All-America First Team
- 2019 Walter Camp FCS All-America First Team
- 2019 AP All-America Second Team
- 2019 AFCA All-America Second Team
- 2019 MVFC (Missouri Valley Football Conference) Offensive Player of the Year
- 2019 MVFC Newcomer of the Year
- 2019 MVFC Freshman of the Year
- 2019 All-MVFC First Team
- 2019 MVFC Offensive Player of the Week
- 2019 MVFC Newcomer of the Week (2)
Other facts about Trey Lance:
- Lance's father, Carlton, played in the Canadian Football League and the World League of American Football.
- His brother, Bryce, is a wide receiver at NDSU. He was redshirted for the 2021 season.
- Lance majored in strategic communication.
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