The free safety position was virtually worry-free for the Bison since Nick Schommer’s freshman year when he took it over. Schommer is now with the Tennessee Titans. His replacement, sophomore Daniel Eaves, has done some nice things this fall. Certainly, we’ll have to wait until game day, but Eaves has been manning the spot like he knows what he’s doing.

Other stuff from today:

• So far, nobody has been ruled out of the Iowa State opener on Sept. 3 because injury other than the ACL to true freshman tight end Kevin Vaadeland, who probably would have redshirted anyway.
• Freshman linebacker Eddie Beson continued individual workouts on the sideline in an effort to get back in pads. He missed last year with an ACL and had another procedure done over the summer.
• The defense had one of its best surges of fall camp with three interceptions in a short period of time by Freddie Banks, Josh Gatlin and Eaves. “I thought the secondary was really moving around well,” said head coach Craig Bohl.
• Quarterback Dante Perez, who sprained his ankle earlier this week, is expected to return to practice on Monday. Bohl said Perez is still in the mix, “but we’re getting to the point where we’ll be needing to name a starter.”
• It may not be until early next week for the starter to be named, but there can’t be much doubt that Nick Mertens is the guy. He looked sharp for the most part on Thursday.
• Watching true freshman Justin Juckem work out on the sideline (minor injury) – this guy looks like he’s already been through NDSU’s strength and conditioning program for two years.
• Thursday was the last of the two-a-day practices. NDSU’s practice/scrimmage on Saturday will be closed to the media and public.