Photo By Bruce Crummy
There is likely a host of things you don’t know about Josh Babicz. For example, did you know most of Babicz’s family is originally from Poland (with some family members still there)? Josh’s father Bogdan and mother Miroslawa both came to America from Poland when they were eight or nine years old. Much of the extended Babicz family still lives in the Barrington, Illinois, area, Josh’s hometown.
Did you know that Josh was a stellar volleyball player throughout his high school career? Babicz was an all-conference middle hitter on two conference and regional title teams for Barrington High School. His brother, Chris, was also a vaunted volleyball talent in high school. Obviously, football was Josh’s first love despite him garnering some interest from college volleyball programs.
“I was mostly football oriented. My coach in high school said that I would have a chance if I wanted to but I never really looked into it,” Babicz said about playing volleyball in college. “Every time spring rolled around, I would go and play volleyball with my buddies.”
While you may not have known those things about Josh Babicz, you likely know how dangerous a threat the sophomore tight end is in the red zone. As is customary with all of North Dakota State’s “crew chief” tight ends, Babicz has scored in bunches in 2019. Oddly enough, his previous experience on the volleyball court has helped in his growth as a football player.
“Mostly explosiveness and quickness side to side,” Babicz said of the volleyball skills that translate to football. “That really helped because blocking as a middle, you’d need to get up and go to the pin blockers. Also, getting up and attacking the ball.”
It’s safe to say, Babicz is “attacking the ball” especially after a career day against Youngstown State last weekend. Babicz caught three passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns against the Penguins. Those marks are all career bests for the sophomore, who has nine catches for 96 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. Fans will recall his coming out party in the season opener against Butler where he also caught two touchdowns.
What’s clear is that Babicz has a knack for scoring in bunches when his number is called. The same could be said for senior Ben Ellefson and sophomore Noah Gindorff, NDSU’s other tight ends. Each week, opposing defenses must choose which “crew chief” to defend, leaving the other two open. While many believe offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl is favoring his position group, Babicz breaks down that aspect of the gameplan rather simply.
“We’re all in there a ton, it’s just a matter of who is in at that certain point in the game. That’s who usually gets the play called,” he said.
Sandwiched between Babicz’s great games against Butler and Youngstown State, are contests that may not leap off the stat sheet. Babicz only caught three passes for 29 yards in a seven-game stretch before last week. However, his play in those seven games was invaluable to NDSU. Look no further than his block against South Dakota State that helped spring Adam Cofield free for his game-winning 71-yard touchdown run.
That is not something you’ll see in the stat book.
“All of us in that room love to block and do whatever we can for the offense. Sometimes we might not get highlighted for what we do in the run game and the passing game is nice with the catches and touchdowns,” Babicz said about defining roles. “Our mindset is whatever we can do to help the offense, we’ll do no matter what it is.”
Babicz’s ability to run block (and successfully run block) is something that was foreign to him when coming to NDSU. Throughout much of his high school career, Babicz did not need to run block. Since coming to North Dakota State, he believes he has taken the biggest strides in that facet.
“Physically, I think I’ve improved the most run blocking. In high school, I never really run blocked until my senior year when I had to do a little bit,” he said. “Mentally, learning the playbook and adjusting each week for whatever schemes we’re about to play.”
Much of that improvement is thanks to the aforementioned Roehl, who still remains the tight ends/fullbacks coach. “Coach Roehl does a great job helping and teaching us how to do all of the footwork,” Babicz said. “He is critiquing us every single time no matter if you’re a first-year or a fifth year, he will critique you.”
The annual Harvest Bowl will take place this week with the Bison hosting 1-8 Western Illinois. When asked what the team is looking to improve upon from last week’s rout in Youngstown, Babicz says the team is focused on discipline. “We want to keep on improving and getting better with the penalties from last week and try to limit that as much as possible,” he said. “Communication overall as an offensive group is big and executing our plays the best we can.”
With NDSU’s schedule lightening the rest of the regular season, some may be concerned about complacency on the field. Western Illinois is at the bottom of the Missouri Valley standings, but Babicz says the Bison will not take them lightly. “You just have to lock into the gameplan and make sure you know your assignment on every play. We can’t take anything for granted, they are a good team and something may happen,” he said. “We just have to focus and execute our roles.”
Josh Babicz may not show up in the stat sheet each week for North Dakota State, but he is always making an impact on the Bison offense. However, when he does show up in the box score, it is usually in a big way. Look no further than his multiple two-touchdown games so far this season.
The sophomore tight end is scoring in bunches in 2019 and is another weapon in a loaded North Dakota State offense.
