FARGO — Saturday will mark both the beginning and the end of a journey for Nathaniel Staehling. The North Dakota State junior linebacker will make his first career start Saturday when the Bison make their 2025 debut at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

That signals the beginning. It’s the end of Staehling’s waiting to get on the field. Staehling signed with the Bison in December 2021. He redshirted in the 2022 season, played 14 games in 2023, mostly in a special teams and backup role. Staehling’s path to the field was blocked as two sixth-year seniors in Luke Weerts and Nick Kubitz returned in 2024. To add to Staehling’s delay, he was injured late in NDSU’s blowout win over Illinois State, a season-ending shoulder injury.

“Getting injured is not easy,” Staehling said. “But Cole

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