MANKATO — How blessed are we to have football back?
Minnesota State opened up practice on Monday. Bodies have been colliding, the offense and defense are talking smack to one another like brothers arguing.
This week has been a blast to see what this team, a year removed from falling to eventual national champion Ferris State in the NCAA DII quarterfinals, has in store while still adhering to the standard of excellence set by those before them.
I locked in on observing the offense this week (don’t worry, defense is next week). Here are my observations.
Assessing the quarterbacks
How does that one saying go: A team that has two quarterbacks really has no quarterbacks? Yeah, that’s how that goes.
Last year I believed MSU was an exception to that rule. A part of me still believes that when I watch junior Mitchell Thompson and sophomore Maximus Sims.
Both are more than capable of running this offense, yet each adds their own dynamic to it.
Thompson is the more dynamic running threat. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds he’s a load to bring down behind an offensive line that’s lost one starter.
Thompson, a former state champion wrestler at 189 pounds in Wisconsin, doesn’t shy away from contact.
Sim is also a threat with his legs, albeit not a physical one like Thompson. Sims’ running style serves more as a compliment to a quarterback’s ability to extend plays outside of the pocket and when structure breaks down as opposed to a traditional running option.
Of the two, Sims is the better thrower. Neither Thompson nor Sims have been perfect passing. Both have made throws that were forced and/or head scratchers, both have dropped dimes.
As for who starts Week 1, well, I have a feeling that question won’t really be answered in August. My guess is that the position will be won by Week 3, just in time for MSU’s home opener against Bemidji State on Sept. 12.
I have a guess on who that will be, but it’s hard to say it with my chest right now. Especially when neither are taking actual hits or seeing an opponent that doesn’t wear a purple helmet.
But entering Week 1 my guess is Thompson listed first on the depth chart over Sims. At the same time, both quarterbacks will each get a certain number of series to play with the offense against Colorado Mesa.
Running backs are not concerning
In what’s probably the least surprising observation of the week, MSU’s running back room looks strong. It’s no surprise when juniors Sam Backer and Carter Henderson are back in the saddle. Both have looked good during team offense sessions, individual drills and everything you can imagine.
There’s a lot of preseason attention with Backer being named an NSIC Player to Watch. He’s earned that attention too, I hope he would after he averaged five yards a carry and netted 980 yards on the ground.
Receiving threats emerging
Let’s be honest, filling the voids left behind by TreShawn Watson and Grant Guyett are going to be tough. Watson was an All American caliber receiver that was one of best, if not the best, receiver in all of Division II. Guyett’s leadership and ability to play opposite of him was huge. But, in typical MSU fashion, no pity parties were held when I watched this group on Wednesday.
Sophomore Hudson Dillon appears to be the front runner for wide receiver No. 1. The 6-foot-4 Bethlehem Academy product had his breakout game in the NCAA Tournament opener against the University of Findlay last season. He’s also the statistical leading wide receiver from last year’s team.
He’s also not solely a deep threat. He’s a handful underneath, but expect to see him outside more than the slot.
Sophomore Connor Stauff has also shown his ability to be the ideal second option for this group. He’s 5-foot-10, and a violent runner, but not in the sense of using stiff arms and bullying his way over defenders. He’s violent in the sense that he generates a lot of power when shifting from horizontal to vertical running.
Sophomore Lebarion Gillmore also appears poised to be on the field during meaningful snaps. Ishmael Emmanuel-Holloway, a transfer junior from North Dakota State College of Science, appears to have chemistry with Sims out of the gate.
Other offensive standouts
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s phrases stick with me. One applies here.
When it comes to football players you want to tell them to calm down instead of getting fired up. Or, in his words, tell a player “easy killer” instead of “sick’em.”
Freshman Carson Parker proved to me that he’s one of those players you have to tell “easy killer.”
He’s 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds. He’s a true freshman. If I had to guess he’ll end up at guard.
I watched him absolutely manhandle a defensive lineman in a one-on-one drill on Thursday. It was the strongest pancake block I saw in that session.
During one of the team offense sessions I overheard a veteran lineman having a conversation with Parker. The vet told him to calm down when asking for reps. When he needs a break, he’ll tag Parker in.
Again, Parker is an “easy killer” player. You will know who he is when he earns the opportunity to play on Saturdays.
I can also tell you about the two Mankato receivers MSU has, because I have a hunch a lot of you will ask me about them both if you see me in public.
Freshman Hayden Tischler is finding his way. I’ve yet to really see him literally and figuratively drop the ball. I have a feeling the 2026 Mankato East graduate will be redshirted this season, but he 100% has a future as a slot receiver at the least.
On Wednesday I finally learned about Mankato West graduate El Staley. I really wish I was here about three years sooner to watch him at West.
He redshirted in 2025. What I’ve seen so far in 2026 has been a massive thumbs up.
Staley may not be able to make an immediate impact at receiver, but he has a chance to be a difference maker in special teams.
He had the opportunity to run kickoffs back during a special teams session Thursday. On one return he read his blocks perfectly and got himself what would have been an untouched touchdown in game action.
The future is bright for Staley. He has a chance to make an impact this season.
Finally, one of the young guns left me thinking of what he could be down the road.
Yes, Backer and Henderson will be the 1-2 punch out of the backfield. One of the younger backs did catch my eye though. That would be redshirt freshman Xavier Daniels.
He won’t see a lot of time with the ball this season. He’s still raw. Also, he’s not needed for a big role yet.
But folks, he’s listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds. If you saw him coming at you with the ball and a full head of steam you’d probably freak out a bit.
Everything I like about Daniels is what I like about Mark Fletcher Jr. at the University of Miami. Just go back and watch Miami’s offense in the national championship game if you don’t believe me. Daniels has the potential to be an absolute bruiser between the tackles that defensive backs and most linebackers want no part of by the time his number is called.
Mitch Vosburg is a multi-time award-winning sports writer and photographer who proudly serves as sports editor for The Free Press. He can be reached at mvosburg@mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on X (@realmitchvburg) and on Instagram (@themantheycallmitch).