2021 Football Roster
Roster

Jersey Number 94
Costner Ching
- Position:
- Defensive Tackle
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 284
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Castlewood, S.D.
- High School:
- Castlewood HS
* 2022 NFF Hampshire Honor Society
* 2021 MVFC All-Academic Honorable Mention
* 2021 MVFC Presidents Council Academic Award
* 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2021 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
* 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2021 MVFC Honor Roll
2021 SEASON (SENIOR): Started all 15 games at defensive tackle...Made 28 total tackles including 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks...Tied a career high with 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over Valparaiso and finished with a season-high five total tackles...Recovered a fumble against Northern Iowa to help the Bison score back-to-back touchdowns and build a 17-point lead early in the third quarter...Also credited with one pass breakup in the NCAA playoff win over Southern Illinois...Part of an NDSU defense that ranked third in the FCS limiting opponents to 26% on third-down conversions and ranked sixth in rushing defense allowing just 87.6 yards per game.
2020-21 SEASON (JUNIOR): Started all 10 games at defensive tackle...Credited with 22 total tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss...Career-high six tackles against South Dakota State...Third straight MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award...Fourth straight year on the MVFC Honor Roll.
2019 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Changed positions from tight end to defensive line during 2019 spring practice...Played in all 16 games at defensive tackle...Made 28 tackles including 3.0 tackles for loss and was in on two assisted sacks...Season-high four tackles twice in the NCAA second round win over Nicholls and the semifinal win over Montana State...Broke up a pass in the national quarterfinal victory over Illinois State...MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award...MVFC Honor Roll.
2018 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Scout team player at tight end who appeared in three games against North Alabama, Delaware and Southern Illinois...MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award...MVFC Honor Roll.
2017 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season as a redshirt in the Bison program...Made the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2017 graduate of Castlewood High School...Four-year starter and two-time captain under coach Doug Ruesink...Played offensive line, tight end and defensive line...Three-time all-conference...Conference MVP as a senior...Named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 and the South Dakota all-star game...All-state first team tight end in 2016...Caught 15 passes for 186 yards and scored four 2-point conversions...On defense, had 76 tackles with four sacks, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles...In two years at tight end, caught 21 passes for 298 yards and two TDs...Had 210 tackles and 12 sacks in his career...Team captain in basketball...State track and field qualifier in the discus throw including a fifth-place finish.
PERSONAL: Graduated from NDSU in December 2021 with a bachelor's degree in general agriculture...Son of Jeff and Tamra Ching...Father played football at South Dakota State...Has two brothers, Carver and Canyon...Also has an uncle who played at Nebraska, a cousin who played at South Dakota State, and a cousin who played volleyball at LSU.
* 2021 MVFC All-Academic Honorable Mention
* 2021 MVFC Presidents Council Academic Award
* 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2021 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award
* 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2021 MVFC Honor Roll
2021 SEASON (SENIOR): Started all 15 games at defensive tackle...Made 28 total tackles including 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks...Tied a career high with 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over Valparaiso and finished with a season-high five total tackles...Recovered a fumble against Northern Iowa to help the Bison score back-to-back touchdowns and build a 17-point lead early in the third quarter...Also credited with one pass breakup in the NCAA playoff win over Southern Illinois...Part of an NDSU defense that ranked third in the FCS limiting opponents to 26% on third-down conversions and ranked sixth in rushing defense allowing just 87.6 yards per game.
2020-21 SEASON (JUNIOR): Started all 10 games at defensive tackle...Credited with 22 total tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss...Career-high six tackles against South Dakota State...Third straight MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award...Fourth straight year on the MVFC Honor Roll.
2019 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Changed positions from tight end to defensive line during 2019 spring practice...Played in all 16 games at defensive tackle...Made 28 tackles including 3.0 tackles for loss and was in on two assisted sacks...Season-high four tackles twice in the NCAA second round win over Nicholls and the semifinal win over Montana State...Broke up a pass in the national quarterfinal victory over Illinois State...MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award...MVFC Honor Roll.
2018 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Scout team player at tight end who appeared in three games against North Alabama, Delaware and Southern Illinois...MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award...MVFC Honor Roll.
2017 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Sat out the season as a redshirt in the Bison program...Made the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2017 graduate of Castlewood High School...Four-year starter and two-time captain under coach Doug Ruesink...Played offensive line, tight end and defensive line...Three-time all-conference...Conference MVP as a senior...Named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45 and the South Dakota all-star game...All-state first team tight end in 2016...Caught 15 passes for 186 yards and scored four 2-point conversions...On defense, had 76 tackles with four sacks, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles...In two years at tight end, caught 21 passes for 298 yards and two TDs...Had 210 tackles and 12 sacks in his career...Team captain in basketball...State track and field qualifier in the discus throw including a fifth-place finish.
PERSONAL: Graduated from NDSU in December 2021 with a bachelor's degree in general agriculture...Son of Jeff and Tamra Ching...Father played football at South Dakota State...Has two brothers, Carver and Canyon...Also has an uncle who played at Nebraska, a cousin who played at South Dakota State, and a cousin who played volleyball at LSU.
NDSU Football Mountain West Press Conference - February 9, 2026
Monday, February 09
The Bison Football Show - December 7, 2025
Monday, December 08
NDSU Football Postgame Press Conference - December 6, 2025 (FCS Playoffs 2nd Round)
Saturday, December 06
NDSU Football Press Conference - December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 02








































































































































