Redshirt freshman will take first snaps against Valparaiso on Thursday
All along, the UND football coaching staff has said both Ryan Bartels and Joe Mollberg will see playing time at quarterback in the season opener Thursday night against Valparaiso in the Alerus Center. But someone has to be labeled the starter. On Friday, UND coach Chris Mussman said Bartels has received that designation. Aftera tight battle throughout fall camp, Mussman opted to go with the redshirt freshman from Sycamore, Ill.
"We chart every throw and it's really close," Mussman said. "We thought in the end that Ryan had a slight edge. We had to make a decision and that's the decision we'll go with."
Bartels, a 6-foot-3 right-hander, won the competition out of fall camp due to his strong arm and sound decision-making.
Mollberg, who's also a 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman, will also play against Valparaiso. Mollberg was highly recruited out of Detroit Lakes, Minn. "We expect that to be acompetition for awhile," Mussman said. UND hosts South Dakota State in Week 2.
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McGill to redshirt
UND senior wide receiver R.J. McGill will redshirt this season and play his senior year in 2014. McGill, of Phoenix, Ariz., played as atrue freshman in 2010. McGill, who has more than 800 career receiving yards, was forced to miss the last six games of last season with a knee injury. That injury has forced McGill to be sidelined for all of fall camp.
UND's depth remains strong at receiver with returners Greg Hardin, Kenny Golladay and Jameer Jackson.
Eye on the true freshmen
UND expects at least three true freshmen to play in next week's season opener.
Free safety Cam Kuksa, fullback Dustin Iverson and punter Mitch Meindel will see the field against Valpo, Mussman said.
"There are one or two more we're contemplating," Mussman said. "We'll see."
Although Mussman didn't specify who else was up in the air, other true freshmen who have been receiving buzz to play right away are wide receiver Aeron Carr and defensive lineman Marcus Cheatom.
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Miller reports on sports. Call him at (701) 780-1121; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1121; or send e-mail to tmiller@gfherald.com .
