No Grant Olson?

Yesterday, Bison head coach Craig Bohl accepted an eight-year contract extension that runs from 2013 to 2021. NDSU held a press conference to announce the signing of this contract later that day but that wasn't what most people were curious about.

Reports had been flying around the Twitter world that junior linebacker Grant Olson had a recent visit to the hospital for issues with his appendix. When asked, Bohl said that Olson will be traveling with the team and is probably for Saturday's game against Sam Houston State.

Before the question was answered, I started to wonder what NDSU would be losing at the middle linebacker position and who would replace him.

A First Team All-Conference player this year, has been unbelievable this season. He is one of the four captains and has been part of a group of linebackers that has had the same three starters since game one.

His stats overall read like this: 146 tackles, 50 solo tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

In the playoffs, he has averaged 15.6 tacklers per game, including a 29 tackle performance against Wofford College in the quarterfinals.

That is a lot to be missing in the year's biggest game. Because he has been so solid, his backup, junior Antonio Rodgers, has barely seen the field this season. He's participated in all 14 games, but only has 16 tackles this year.

The other linebackers, sophomores Travis Beck and Carlton Littlejohn, have been just as solid. Beck is second on the team with 93 tackles while Littlejohn is third with 75. Their backup, sophomore Esley Thorton backs up both players, only has 15 tackles this season. You might know him better as the third string quarterback.

There would definitely be a major shift at that position if Olson were not able to go on Saturday. I would expect Beck to move over to the middle backer position and have Thorton play at the outside linebacker position.

The simple fact that not one of the three starters have missed a start due to injury is a mixture of luck and good health. My guess is that even if Olson is at 75 percent health wise, that is better than having one of the backups play against the Bearkats.