Playing football at the next level wasn’t always a priority for North Central College’s Sam Pryor.
But back in the day, the 6-foot, 270-pound senior right guard was a recruiting priority for the Cardinals, who were coming off their first NCAA Division III national championship in 2019.
He wasn’t so sure, however.
“I didn’t know much about college football,” said Pryor, a Kaneland graduate. “It’s so much different than high school football. I didn’t have an idea what I was getting into.”
Pryor learned quickly, thrust into the lineup as a true freshman, and his career has blossomed. A second team All-American last year, he will make his 49th start Saturday at Augustana.
“I’ve been unbelievably blessed to be at the school I’m at with the coaches and the team that I have,” Pryor said.
Over the past few years of dominance, the Cardinals have flexed their muscle offensively.
From quarterbacks like Broc Rutter to Luke Lehnen and running backs like Ethan Greenfield to current leading rusher Joe Sacco, they have been the gold standard of Division III football.
While NCC coach Brad Spencer is quick to praise all of them, and rightfully so, he knows where success begins and ends for the Cardinals.
“We do nothing without them,” Spencer said of the offensive line. “They’re the most important guys on the field. We try to do everything we can to help the linemen on both sides of the ball feel special. We let them sit on the best seats on the bus or the plane, name them players of the week.
“They’re the most important guys that we recruit.”
Eric Stuedemann, NCC’s offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, was enamored with Pryor’s tape from Kaneland.
“The only reason he got overlooked by bigger schools was strictly for his size,” Stuedemann said. “He could have been a scholarship player. What jumped off the film from high school was the way he attacked guys.”
At the Division III level, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound linemen are generally off the recruiting board. Stuedemann looks for intangibles they can work with in the weight room and with technique.
“The size at our level, you can’t get the best players and the biggest guys,” Stuedemann said. “You look for physical guys that have a high ceiling. Technique is going to come over time.”
Pryor and fellow offensive lineman Jeske Maples came in at the same time and both started as freshmen. Now, they’re the leaders of the O-line for NCC.
“We’re best buds,” Pryor said. “Being a couple of young cats trying to figure it out as freshmen made us real close. I’m beyond thankful for him.”
Pryor was named a captain this season, and that does not surprise Spencer.
“He’s always been mature and had a strong voice,” Spencer said. “People have always respected his wisdom and his leadership. He’s had a really positive effect on the younger players.”
Pryor said leadership just comes naturally.
“If you do the right things, it’s not hard to find your voice,” Pryor said. “I believe the main job as a leader is to make new leaders, to inspire younger guys and hold them to the standard and make them understand that they can be great.”
The Cardinals came up a point shy of their third NCAA Division III championship in four seasons last year, coming up short on 2-point conversion in the final minutes against Cortland.
Instead of putting it behind them, the Cardinals are using it as motivation. With a 6-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the country yet again, it seems to be working.
“We have wristbands that say 37-38 on them,” Pryor said, referring to the final score. “They also say attitude, effort and resolve. Those are the only things we can control.
“We think about that every day. One little detail will lose you a game. That’s the big takeaway we took into this season.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
