Many exceptional Saskatchewan football players find themselves either playing CIS football for the Regina Rams or Saskatchewan Huskies.
Meanwhile some make their way to Alberta, British Columbia or Manitoba for university football.
Still others ply their trade with the CJFL’s Regina Thunder and Saskatoon Hilltops and some opt to play junior in other provinces, all in the hopes of making their way to the CFL.
One thing remains the same, however: the vast majority of Saskatchewan born and raised football players tend stay in Canada to pursue their football dreams.
Yorkton’s Kolby Lang is not a member of the vast majority.
Instead Lang, a 6’3”, 225 pound defensive end who has drawn interest from the Regina Thunder, will be taking his game south of the border after recently signing his National Letter of Intent (NLI) with the NCAA Division II Minot State Beavers football team. “I had Minot State and the Regina Thunder looking at me,” mentioned the grade 12 student who currently studies at the YRHS. “It was a hard decision but I chose Minot because I believe they give me a better chance to progress as a football player.”
Lang also chose Minot State because, not only did they offer him a partial scholarship, but because he feels their educational reputation is very well respected. “I always planned on getting an education,” said Lang. “Even with the Thunder, they would have paid for my scholarship but it helps a lot more going to Minot.
“They’ve got a great school there.”
But how exactly did Minot State manage to not only scout, but recruit, the talented Raider defensive end and snatch him away from the recruitment fingers of the Regina Thunder?
The answer: Minot State Student Assistant Coach Mike Jarvis. “He (Jarvis) helped out a lot for sure,” suggested Lang, adding that it helped that Jarvis, a former Yorkton football coach who has ties with the YRHS Raiders, constantly attended Raider football games this past year. “He told me he would show the coaches down there my film, which is something that gave me a great opportunity to showcase what I could do.”
Apparently Minot State liked what they saw from the Lang recruiting video because they contacted Lang at the end of the Raiders football season before inviting him out to Minot for a tour of the campus where they then did something that Lang says he could have only dreamt of.
They offered him a scholarship. “When I went on that tour I got to see their stadium and it’s just crazy. It’s much bigger compared to ours and then after the tour, that’s when they offered me the scholarship,” beamed Lang, who plans to study business and management at Minot State. “I never had any idea that I would get a scholarship or anything so it’s pretty great.
“It’s just an amazing opportunity and I really have to make the most of it now.”
When it comes to making the most of his opportunity, Lang knows it won’t be easy. “I expect to be more than likely redshirted my first year,” offered Lang, adding that being redshirted will also mean he can learn the American game at a much more leisurely pace. “Really though, I’m excited and I really want to play some football again.
“Going to Minot State, that gives me a chance to continue playing football and I can’t wait.”
