NDSU signs three-star offensive line recruit from Buffalo, Minnesota – InForum

FARGO – North Dakota State football has landed an offensive line commit for the class of 2025 who had a Big Ten offer but decided to come to Fargo.

Buffalo (MN.) offensive tackle Ryan Babatz is the Bison’s latest commit. Babatz is a 6-foot-5, 275-pound offensive tackle who announced his commitment to NDSU.

“I loved the people at NDSU.” » said Babatz. “I have an incredible relationship with offensive line coach Dan Larson and coach (Tim) Polasek, as well as the rest of the staff.”

Babatz received an offer from Nebraska last fall, along with offers from six other FBS schools, including Wyoming, Central Michigan and Ohio University.

Babatz is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports and is considered the fifth-ranked prospect in Minnesota for the class of 2025. He was selected as the district offensive lineman of the year and first-team all-district selection for the last Buffalo Bison. season. Buffalo went 5-4 in 2023, losing to Woodbury in the first round of the Minnesota Class 6A tournament.

“There are several reasons why I chose NDSU. Firstly the people, secondly their rich winning history and their production and success on the offensive line.”

Babatz was a standout in three sports for the Bison, earning top honors in wrestling and track and field. He will compete in the Minnesota state track and field meet later this week in the shot put. He finished second in the state wrestling tournament in the heavyweight division this winter.

Babatz made three visits to Lincoln to visit the Huskers. NDSU began expressing interest in the fall and officially offered in February. In total, Babatz received 13 scholarship offers, including South Dakota State, North Dakota, Coastal Carolina and Army.

Babatz was teammates with new NDSU signee Wyatt Osterbauer. Osterbauer committed to the Bison in September 2023 and received a late offer from Kansas State before signing with the Bison in December. Osterbauer will arrive on campus later this month.

Babatz becomes the third offensive lineman in the Bison class of 2025, joining Annandale (MN)’s Gavin Wang and Wisconsin native James Nellis. All three are 6-foot-4 or taller and each had multiple offers.

NDSU has a former Buffalo offensive lineman on its roster, sixth-year senior Hunter Poncius. Poncius made the most memorable play of the 2023 season, blocking a Montana State extra point in overtime to seal the Bison’s victory in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Babatz said his university position is not yet known. “It will probably be a guard, but it could potentially be a tackle.”

Dom Izzo is the sports director of WDAY-TV. He began working for WDAY in 2006 as a weekend sports anchor and was promoted to sports director in 2010.