FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

In the podcast we talked about OK State guys with D3 connections, not specifically North Central connections, that helped Wilson find his way to this level.

[cciwman]

I think it is more players looking for places to get playing time and enjoy the game, even coming down from the highest levels.  Cardinals reportedly have a OK State guy.  But two back-ups from Illinois have moved on to D3.  Mary Hardin Baylor got Illini backup Kirkland Michaux to transfer in.  He was third string at Illinois last year and the back-up for the Bowl Game. 

Also another ex-Illini is a UW Lacrosse, Jacob Huber.  Was lower on the depth chart but can still fling it.

In the podcast we talked about OK State guys with D3 connections, not specifically North Central connections, that helped Wilson find his way to this level.

[CarollFan]

Last year the Liberty League experimented with using wearable devices during games.
This article describes results from that experiment. Looks like NCAA for football did not approve their use, at least for now.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/03/13/gorout-sees-positive-traction-from-first-college-football-deployment/

[CarollFan]

Preseason All-Americans

https://d3football.com/awards/all-americans/2025-preseason

In general CCIW represented more on defense than on offense.

[GusD]

Preseason All-Americans

https://d3football.com/awards/all-americans/2025-preseason

In general CCIW represented more on defense than on offense.

Isn't the saying, "Defense wins games"? 

[robertgoulet]

Been a long long time since NCC failed to land someone on the preseason Offensive AA teams, it feels like.


Guessing 2016 or 2017?

[Pat Coleman]

It was 2018:
https://d3football.com/awards/all-americans/2018-preseason

[robertgoulet]

It was 2018:
https://d3football.com/awards/all-americans/2018-preseason

Price Is Right rules. I win.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park's Ben Butler made third team. I was a little surprised that Jereme Ombogo did not get listed.

Then again, I realize that the preseason A-A teams are really just an appetizer and discussion-starter. The only really important A-A teams are the ones that comes out at the end of the season.

[Pat Coleman]

North Park's Ben Butler made third team. I was a little surprised that Jereme Ombogo did not get listed.

Wide receiver was one of the few places where we have a stacked depth chart of returners from last year. We knew he was returning, but we had six guys ahead of him.

[Gotberg]

North Park's Ben Butler made third team. I was a little surprised that Jereme Ombogo did not get listed.

Wide receiver was one of the few places where we have a stacked depth chart of returners from last year. We knew he was returning, but we had six guys ahead of him.

I don't know if the QB position is settled at NP and that could affect Jereme's production, which he can't necessarily control.

[GusD]

Speaking of wide receiver, I was a little surprised that North Central's Thomas Skokna wasn't selected as a pre-season AA.

* Top receiver on the undefeated 2024 National Championship team.
* 16.9 yards per catch and 13 touchdowns.
* First Team All-CCIW.
* Returning starter on the pre-season. #1 team in the country.

[GusD]

As we all know much of the country, certainly including the Midwest, has been boiling under a stifling heat wave for much of summer. In conjunction with the possible ill effects of practicing/playing sports under such conditions, have heard at least one conference team has been having some practices at 11:00 PM. Presumably this will no longer be an option once classes start.

[wally_wabash]

Speaking of wide receiver, I was a little surprised that North Central's Thomas Skokna wasn't selected as a pre-season AA.

* Top receiver on the undefeated 2024 National Championship team.
* 16.9 yards per catch and 13 touchdowns.
* First Team All-CCIW.
* Returning starter on the pre-season. #1 team in the country.

Skokna is super good and I think could be A-A this year if his volume goes up.  Pat mentioned that returning WRs were particularly deep for the preseason.  If I had a short list of guys not on preseason A-A that I think have a better-than-most chance at making the team at the end of the year, Skokna is on that list. 

[Gregory Sager]

North Park's Ben Butler made third team. I was a little surprised that Jereme Ombogo did not get listed.

Wide receiver was one of the few places where we have a stacked depth chart of returners from last year. We knew he was returning, but we had six guys ahead of him.

I don't know if the QB position is settled at NP and that could affect Jereme's production, which he can't necessarily control.

It isn't settled yet, as far as I know. Kyle Rooker isn't going to just hand the NPU quarterbacking job to senior incumbent backup Justen Green without a challenge. In two seasons understudying Matt Eck for the Vikings, Green has appeared in ten games -- almost always in garbage time -- and gone 15-19 through the air for 140 yards, no TDs, and no picks, while carrying the ball 10 times for 2 yards and a TD. Those scant numbers are evidence both of Eck's durability and of NPU's propensity as a 5-5 team in both '23 and '24 to play a lot of close games. But it doesn't really leave much of a résumé for Green. Not saying that he won't be the starter, but he's going to have to earn it this month in camp, not gain it by automatic promotion. A little-used backup QB is not the Prince of Wales.

All of which is to acknowledge that you make a fair point regarding the variables of Ombogo's production this upcoming season, not because of Ombogo himself but because of the question mark regarding who will be sending passes his way for NPU.