BURNSVILLE, MN – Linemen on both sides of the ball for the University of Mary are the 2023 Northern Sun Players to Watch for the Marauders. Drake Lalim is the offensive representative for UMary with Grant Collins earning defensive honors.
 
A senior from Saint Stephen, MN, Lalim has anchored the Marauders offensive line at left tackle since he was a true freshman. After serving as a reserve his first two collegiate games, he moved into a starting role in his third game and has started 31 straight games for the Marauders. Lalim, a team captain since his sophomore year, earned All-NSIC honorable mention selection as freshman in 2019 and protected the Marauders quarterback's blind side as UMary led the nation in passing in 2021. He is also an NSIC all-academic team member.
 
"Drake is a guy that has played a lot of football in this league and he was a team captain last year," said UMary head coach Shann Schillinger. "He is the anchor of that group and we are really excited about the offseason he has had. He has already graduated with honors with a degree in nursing and is a terrific guy off the field. It's been fun getting to know Drake and I look forward to spending this year with him."
 
Collins moved into a starting spot on the defensive line last season as a sophomore after playing a key role on the line as a redshirt freshman in 2021. The native of Peoria, AZ, started all 11 games in 2022 and recorded 24 tackles. He had 2.5 tackles for loss – including a sack – and recovered a fumble. An NSIC All-Academic Team selection last fall, Collins set a career-high for tackles with five in the Marauders home win in overtime against Northern State.
 
"Grant started every game last year and has continued to take strides this off-season," said Schillinger. "He's a kid that isn't scared to work and we appreciate that about him. I think Grant has a chance to have a good year and I'm really excited for him."
 
The Marauders are projected to place 12^th in the 2023 NSIC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
"The team lost a lot of production from last year but we are excited to see who steps in those roles," said Schillinger, entering his first season at the helm of the Marauders program. "There will be a lot of young guys getting action and it will be fun to watch them grow into those roles. It's been a unique offseason around here, but we are excited to get on the field with the team and watch them compete."
 
Bemidji State is the preseason favorite in the NSIC poll with 131 points, followed by Minnesota State (125), Wayne State (114), Augustana (112), Minnesota Duluth (109), Winona State (103), Northern State and Sioux Falls (75 each), Southwest Minnesota State (50), MSU Moorhead (45), Concordia-St. Paul (35), UMary (20) and Minot State (20).
 
UMary held its first practice session today in preparation for the 2023 season. The Marauders open their schedule at Augustana on Saturday, September 2. The UMary home opener is slated for 2 pm on Saturday, September 9, at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
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