The Lance name is forever etched in North Dakota State history, but even though Trey was drafted No. 3 by the San Francisco 49ers over three years ago, Lance’s legacy in Fargo isn’t over yet. Wide receiver Bryce Lance is following in his brother’s footsteps with the Bison while forging his own path to greatness.
A name has weight
When your brother has arguably the best season in FCS history, it’s a huge accomplishment, especially when you go to the same school as him. For Bryce Lance, it wasn’t just his brother’s support that got him into North Dakota State University. In high school, Bryce was a star, setting school records for receptions (68), receiving yards in a game (199), season (873) and career (1,766) at Marshall High School in Minnesota.
Football is in Bryce Lance’s blood, and not just because of his brother. Bryce and Trey’s father, Carlton Lance, played in the Canadian Football League. A father who played professionally and a brother who was a top draft pick? That’s a lofty household.
Bryce didn’t shy away from the name Lance when he arrived at North Dakota State in 2021, the season after Trey moved on to the NFL. Bryce even chose to wear the number 5 jersey – just like the one his older brother wore on the field a season earlier.
“You know, we’re really close. So it was definitely cool to continue that five-year tradition here at NDSU,” Bryce said.
A jersey number and a historically great brother can put a lot of pressure on a young man fresh out of high school – as if joining FCS football’s greatest dynasty of the last decade wasn’t enough. The pressure of being the new Lance in town was unavoidable for Bryce.
“(The pressure is) definitely something I struggled with earlier in my career, but I feel like my brothers here at NDSU, this coaching staff, see me for who I am,” Bryce said.
Waiting for his deployment
It took a while for Bryce to prove himself as a wide receiver while dealing with the pressure and expectations early in his career. Bryce weighed just 180 pounds when he started college, meaning he was a redshirt freshman. Luckily, Bryce was able to turn to his brother for advice on how to make the most of his redshirt year and the years that followed, where he played primarily on special teams, as Trey was also a redshirt freshman.
“It was a huge blessing to have Trey and learn from all of his experiences and be able to ask him for advice at every opportunity,” Bryce said. “Watching him during his short college career was definitely beneficial for me. We still talk every day. He still encourages me.”
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While he learned from Trey’s experiences, developed in practice, and had limited playing experience as a wide receiver, Bryce was also in an offense full of elite FCS talent. His wide receiver room saw Christian Watson drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and several other teammates made the jump to the pro league. Trey was not the only player Bryce could look up to.
“We’ve had some really special players in this program. The opportunities they’ve had coming out of college… That’s definitely something I aspire to,” Bryce said. “But the way those guys conduct themselves and being able to watch that has been really useful to me. That’s just something I try to emulate every day and also try to be a leader.”
Bryce may not have been on the starting lineup right away, but while he waited for the right time, he received valuable mental support and lessons from those before him.
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Bryce’s Moment
Bryce’s chance to make a name for himself finally came at the start of the 2024 season. Last season’s top wide receivers, Zach Mathis and Eli Green, left the team, as did NDSU head coach Matt Entz, who became linebackers coach and assistant head defensive coach at Southern California. Incoming head coach Tim Polasek and offensive coordinator Jake Landry, who saw Bryce Lance as a wide receiver with potential.
“They’ve seen the work I’ve done and what I’ve done on the field and off the field. Their belief in me has really meant the world to me,” Bryce said. “I’m super grateful to coach Landry and coach Polasek and everything they’ve done for me so far.”
Now over 200 pounds, Bryce was up against the clock and it was his time to shine. His first opponent was a potential top-three draft pick – like his brother – Travis Hunter of Colorado. Lance caught his only pass for seven yards against the projected first-round pick and finished the game with three catches for 32 yards.
Bryce Lance (Trey Lance’s brother): 1.90 m, 92 kg, junior pic.twitter.com/0aIMYcDah6
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) 30 August 2024
The Bison next faced Tennessee State, where Bryce was the star. He finished the game with seven catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns and was named player of the game. He became only the third wide receiver in North Dakota State’s Division I history to achieve such a stat, joining Kole Heckendorf and Zach Vraa.
“It was special. Scoring a touchdown as a receiver here at NDSU was a huge weight off my shoulders,” Bryce said. “I’ve had a lot of great players come through this program that I’ve been able to watch and learn from. It just felt good to go out there and do my job.”
First career TD for Bryce Lance! pic.twitter.com/XlZQ885wPE
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) 7 September 2024
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Go your own way
Bryce’s breakthrough performance has earned him plenty of attention as he creates his own legacy at North Dakota State as more than just Trey’s little brother. In 2024, when Trey will be several years out of the program, Bryce will be the Lance that matters in the locker room in Fargo, and the pressure will be minimal.
“Trey doesn’t get mentioned a lot, even though he’s done some great, really good things here. I don’t feel any pressure to live up to him,” Bryce said. “I’m on my own journey, on my own path, and everyone here emphasizes that. So it’s been really helpful.”
🏆: A complete history of North Dakota state championships
Exceeding the standards of a top-3 NFL draft pick and a Walter Payton Award is a proud accomplishment in Bryce’s career, but Bryce can accomplish something Trey couldn’t – win multiple FCS titles as a contributing member.
Both brothers won titles during their redshirt seasons, and Trey’s 2019 title is well known. However, with the 2024 season currently underway and the 2025 season next year, Bryce can end his career with three shiny fingers while Trey has two. That means he can brag about it in the Lance house.
“I have two more years… Two more rings is the goal,” Bryce said. “So I can definitely hang that title over his head.”
