Bryce Lance

FARGO, N.D. — It was a typical game-week press conference for Matt Entz as the head coach of the North Dakota State University football program.

But one answer Entz gave reporters on Tuesday should give fans in the Marshall area a reason to tune in to Bison football games this fall.

NDSU is looking to replace the production of Christian Watson, a talented wide receiver who was taken with the No. 34 pick in April’s NFL Draft.

Among the players Entz expects to fill in the gaps in production as the ‘X receiver’ this season is Marshall graduate Bryce Lance, a redshirt freshman receiver for the Bison. He said Lance has “really taken off” from where he was in the spring, and even showed some glimpses last fall in practices.

“Go back to the fall, Bryce Lance gave me headaches because every time I’d go down to watch the defense, he was catching a ball in the end zone. So I turned right back around because I thought that was about the last thing I wanted to see right now (as a defensive-minded head coach),” Entz recalled. “He’s just starting to pick up where he left off there. Great hands. He’s becoming more intentional in the run game, knows what he’s doing.”

The 6-foot-3 Lance gained strength in his first year on the NDSU campus, with his current listed weight at 200 pounds, up seven pounds from a season ago. Continuing to grow into his body has helped Lance’s ability to get on the field and contribute to the team’s success this season.

The Bison open the season Saturday with a home game against Drake University. Lance is not listed on the initial two-deep depth chart released by the program, but getting on the field this season is a possibility for Lance due to his growth and development.

“(He) has really worked hard on body control. He’s such a big, long kid,” Entz said. “I felt like early in his career, his arms were all over the place, almost like a baby giraffe out there. He’s gotten stronger, he’s gotten more physical. I think he’s at the point where he’s going to help us on offense but also on special teams.”