Nolan Schmidt
Thanks to some tremendous leadership on the front line of their defense, North Dakota has been stifling so far in 2018. They held Sam Houston State, who averaged 43 points per game last season, to just 20 points in last week’s victory. Much of this defensive success has to do with the big bodies up front for the Fighting Hawks. All of them now look to leave their impression on the program as the season progresses.
#91 Austin Cieslak (Left)
Senior – Hazen, North Dakota
6’4″, 292 lbs
Outside of his freshman season in 2014, where he redshirted, Cieslak is played in all but one contest for the Fighting Hawks. Coming into his final season in Grand Forks, Cieslak has racked up 47 total tackles for UND. He will surely look to increase that mark in 2018.
Stat Check: Cieslak in 2017
Games: 11
Tackles: 23
Interceptions: 1
#77 Steve Greer (Middle)
Senior – Baldwin, Missouri
6’2″, 310 lbs
Greer has been a mainstay on the defensive line for the Fighting Hawks since his freshman season. He played in 10 games in his first season in 2015. Last season, Greer appeared in all 11 games at nose tackle for UND. He will look to continue to be a vital body on Eric Schmidt’s defensive line.
Stat Check: Greer in 2017
Games: 11
Tackles: 11
Tackles For Loss: 1.5
Sacks: 0.5
#92 Tank Harris (Right)
Senior – Chicago, Illinois
6’3″ 287 lbs
Harris is perhaps the lifeblood that makes this Fighting Hawks defensive line run. Earning All-Big Sky Second Team honors last season, Harris has made an impact since coming to Grand Forks. In his redshirt freshman season in 2015, he finished the season with 14 tackles as a reserve nose guard. Harris’ success will be crucial to UND’s defensive success in 2018.
Stat Check: Harris in 2017
Games: 10
Tackles: 30 (career-high)
Tackles For Loss: 6
Consecutive Games With At Least One Tackle: 5
