There is a very good possibility that in a few years, Northern Iowa offensive tackle Joe Briesemeister may end up having to try and block North Dakota State defensive end Ethan Wood.

Both are Mount Vernon seniors, at present.

“That’d be really exciting,” Wood said. “I think that’d be really fun.”

Briesemeister decided on the Panthers and signed his letter of intent in February. That put the two Mustangs seniors on a possible collision course in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Briesemeister started the recruiting process at UNI with Coach Marc Farley. When UNI and Farley parted ways, and they brought in former Drake Coach Todd Stepsis, the Panthers kept talking to Briesemeister.

“I finally got an offer about a month ago,” Briesemeister said back in February. “I went up for a visit. It was great. I loved the new coaching staff and I love what they stand for.”

The commitment also brought a smile to the face of Mount Vernon coach Brad Meester, who played at UNI before a long career in the NFL.

“I’m so excited for him,” Meester said of Briesemeister. “He’s a tremendous player and I can’t wait to see what he does there. I was just hoping that someone would give him an opportunity, because he is as athletic as it comes as an offensive tackle.

“I Know he’ll be a good one for them.”

Of course, Wood had already signed with the Bison, committing to them last summer.

“I love that guy,” Briesemeister said of Wood. “We work out together and practice together. He really pushed me to be the best version of myself. He’s amazing.”

Exactly how many Mustang linemen end up knocking helmets in college is still up in the air. Seniors Nova Lane (6-4, 220) and Tyler Williams (6-0, 240) are both going to Iowa Western, a junior college in Council Bluffs. After a year or two with the Reivers, they could continue their college football path at a four-year school.

Still deciding is Kael Riniker, who led the team with 15 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. He was the Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year by IA Football