Chris Klieman knew quickly the 2017 recruiting class he signed at North Dakota State was special.
“We thought,” Klieman said, “it was a class that we could develop.”
The Bison developed it better than anyone could have reasonably expected. Just ask the Bucs and the rest of the NFL.
The Bucs took 6-foot-5, 302-pound offensive lineman Cody Mauch in the second round of last month’s NFL draft, then grabbed defensive back Josh Hayes four rounds later. The Packers plucked Plant High alumnus Christian Watson in last year’s second round.