UND bolsters offensive backfield with commitment from Illinois State's Matt Lawson

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Jan. 6—GRAND FORKS — The UND football program went within the Missouri Valley Football Conference to pick up a running back from the transfer portal.

On Tuesday, former Illinois State running back Matt Lawson announced his verbal commitment to play for the Fighting Hawks.

Lawson played as a true freshman in 2024, racking up more than 400 rushing yards. He redshirted in 2025.

"I informed the coaches I was leaving on Dec. 22," Lawson said. "It was a senior-heavy (running back) room, and I was looking for more opportunity. They wanted to redshirt me, so it got to a point where I had to take my talents elsewhere."

While Lawson was on his recruiting visit to Grand Forks, Illinois State was playing in the national championship game. The Redbirds lost to Montana State on Monday night.

"I'm happy for them and proud of my brothers to make it to the national championship," Lawson said. "Nothing but love."

Lawson, 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds from Illinois, played in 12 games in 2024. He was third on the team with 447 rushing yards for 4.3 yards per carry. He rushed for a career-high 84 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown at Northern Iowa.

Lawson was a MVFC recruiting draw out of high school, picking up offers from South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

After announcing a transfer intent, Lawson said he was offered by Fordham, Western Illinois, Mercyhurst and Chicago State. He had planned a visit to Central Michigan, as well.

Lawson's connection to UND is through Fighting Hawks starting quarterback Jerry Kaminski.

"Jerry has been my guy since the high school days," Lawson said. "He got me in touch with (UND running backs coach D.J. Davis) and we clicked right off the bat. I hung up and thought it was a relationship we can build."

Lawson and Kaminski played 7-on-7 in high school together for a program called the Chicago Boom.

Lawson visited Grand Forks and liked the experience.

"The University of North Dakota had a great opportunity, great coaches and great facilities," Lawson said. "Their facilities are a lot better than some FBS ones. I'm a thousand-percent excited. If I could start tomorrow, I would start tomorrow. I see the great things the coaching staff is doing. When I first got there, all the coaches greeted me at the door. I felt valued.

"The facilities have everything you need. You're already training like a pro. I liked how intentional they were with workouts and programming. I was like, 'What more can I ask for?'"

UND's running back depth chart will be up for grabs in 2026 after losing Sawyer Seidl to the transfer portal and Gaven Ziebarth to graduation.

UND's top two backs expected to return are Charles Langama and Colton Brunell.

Langama, a true freshman from Maple Grove, played in four games in the regular season and two more in the playoffs to maintain redshirt status. He finished the year with 16 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown. Langama had a 26-yard carry at Southern Illinois and an 18-yard carry at Tennessee Tech.

Brunell, a redshirt freshman, saw his role expand as the 2025 season played out. Brunell's most important game was at Tennessee Tech, where he had nine carries for 40 yards and a touchdown in a win in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Brunell finished the year with 53 carries for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

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