GRAND FORKS -- University of North Dakota redshirt freshman Erik Mersereau turned some heads during the preseason when he was clocked as the fastest player on the Sioux roster during the team's timing of the 40-yard dash.
On Saturday, UND fans got their first look at Mersereau on the field -- and again heads turned.
In the second half of Saturday's game against Southern Oregon, the Sioux gave Mersereau his first chance at returning punts after the Sioux fumbled two punts earlier in the game.
The Port Washington, Wis., native made quite the first impression. He returned his first punt 49 yards -- 40 yards longer than any Sioux punt return all season.
As a result, Mersereau will be back on the field when the Sioux visit UC Davis at 3 p.m. Saturday. The winner is the outright champion of the Great West Conference.
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"You'll see him more as a punt-return specialist for us," UND coach Chris Mussman said. "He basically earned it Saturday and showed what he can do and is capable of. We've had him out there in practice every day returning punts, so we wanted to take a look at him in a game. He bought himself a little bit of work."
Mersereau returned four punts against Southern Oregon, finishing with 80 yards.
As a senior at Port Washington High School, Mersereau had 538 return yards and three touchdowns.
Mersereau, an all-conference linebacker as a senior, was also a high school track standout. He was a state finalist in the 110 hurdles.
But is he really faster than speedy Sioux wide receiver Ismael Bamba?
"That day, I guess I was," Mersereau said. "It's a different story in pads. On the track that day, though, I got him."
Said Mussman: "Game speed and 40 times are different, but Erik can go."
Mersereau, who has earned a spot at defensive back in nickel packages this season, is expected to contribute more defensively in the years to come.
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"He's a young kid and has a long way to go as a football player," Mussman said. "He'll get better every year. We're anticipating a good, solid football player for the next three years, following this one."
