NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Sport Management – 3.92 GPA
Head Coach: Chris Klieman | Athletics Director: Matt Larsen
Faculty Athletics Representative: Ann Burnett
Whether it’s winning two national championships, graduating summa cum laude in 3.5 years, or currently boasting a 4.0 GPA in his MBA program, Easton Stick has accomplished it all in his time at North Dakota State. The Omaha, Nebraska, native makes history by becoming the Bison’s first-ever NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
A 2017 FCS ADA Academic All-Star and two-time First Team Academic All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, Stick has excelled in the classroom, posting a 3.92 GPA during his undergraduate studies. Stick was a 2017 MVFC President’s Council Academic Award recipient, a three-time winner of the MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and a four-time MVFC Honor Roll member. He was named a 2018 First Team Academic All-District selection.
This season, Stick has thrown for 2,094 yards and 22 touchdowns while also rushing for 11 touchdowns and 402 yards. He has led North Dakota State to Missouri Valley Football Conference title and the No. 1 overall seed in the FCS Playoffs following a perfect 11-0 (8-0 conference) regular season – part of a 17-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the FCS. He boasts a conference-best 171.1 passing efficiency, which ranks second in the nation, and his 22 passing touchdowns are second in the MVFC. Stick has been named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week three times this year, most recently following his performance against Missouri State where he tied an NDSU single-game record with five touchdown passes. He was announced as one of 25 finalists for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award as the FCS Offensive Player of the Year.
A three-year captain, Stick led North Dakota State to FCS national titles following the 2015 and 2017 seasons. The 2017 FCS Championship Game MVP, Stick has helped the Bison finish no lower than third nationally the last three seasons. The 2017 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year and a two-time honorable mention all-conference selection, he guided the Bison to a share of the MVFC title in 2015 and 2016 and the outright conference title in 2017.
Boasting an impressive 45-3 record as a starting quarterback, Stick owns Bison records with 82 career passing touchdowns, 117 career touchdowns responsible for and 10,283 yards of total offense for while ranking second in NDSU history with 8,035 passing yards in his career. He also sits second in school annals in career pass attempts (915) and completions (552).
A member of the 2018 AFCA Good Works Team and the NDSU Student-Athlete Advisory Council, Stick served on the Summit League Food Fight committee that raised more than $2,000 and collected 2,000 pounds of food for the Fargo Emergency Food Pantry. Stick has raised $5,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and he organized the first on-campus football camp for the Special Olympics. He also participates in numerous hospital and school visits and serves as a guest speaker with various youth groups.
