Former North Dakota State quarterback Kevin Feeney has continued a college quarterback lineage in his family with his two sons, but most likely neither will ever suit up for the Bison.
Jett Feeney recently committed to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, though the Bison offered him in the recruitment process and recently joined the FBS and Mountain West Conference. Jett’s younger brother, Trey Feeney, plays for Division III St. John’s after starting his collegiate career with former Bison rival North Dakota.
Kevin Feeney, who coached both of his sons at Moorhead High, recently talked with Gopher Illustrated about why Jett Feeney opted for the Gophers. A three-star recruit, Jett Feeney also had offers from Wyoming, Montana State, and South Dakota State in addition to NDSU. Moorhead is notably just 10 minutes from the NDSU campus.
“Throughout the recruiting process, Jett has had the belief that he has the ability and skill set to compete at the highest level, and the Big Ten has proven to be the best conference in the country,” Kevin Feeney told Gopher Illustrated.
After all, the Big Ten has produced the past three national champions, and the conference is loaded with top-tier programs such as Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Washington, Oregon, USC, and Penn State.
If the younger Feeney takes the field for the Gophers as the starter, he will have his work cut out for him since Minnesota has been in the middle of the pack for years. However, Minnesota has produced successful quarterbacks of late in Max Brosmer and Tanner Morgan.
The Coach’s View on Jett Feeney
Kevin Feeney, who coached the Moorhead Spuds to the Class 6A state title game last year, sees how Jett Feeney can succeed with the Gophers.
The elder Feeney played four seasons at NDSU when the Bison played Division II in the 1990s. Jett Feeney has been stellar for the Spuds with 7,827 yards passing for 104 touchdowns versus 18 interceptions, and he has 241 yards rushing for five touchdowns in three seasons.
“Jett has a very high level of compete,” Kevin Feeney told Gopher Illustrated. “He is a guy who wants the ball in his hands in the biggest moments, his ability to process concepts and his knowledge of the game is extremely high.”
“Taking the next step will require him to continue to progress in his reads and progressions,” Feeney added. “He is able to get away with some things in high school because of his athletic ability and ability to extend plays.”
Jett Feeney Details Gophers Decision
Besides playing for a Power Four team, Feeney said the Gophers coaching staff, led by head coach P.J. Fleck, really stood out to him.
“I love the connection that I have with all the coaches (and) that the coaches have with all the players,” Feeney told the Fargo Forum. “It just seems like they have a really good bond.”
Feeney will also join Moorhead teammates running back Taye Reich and wide receiver David Mack with the Gophers in 2027. The three will seek a Class 6A state title as seniors with the Spuds in 2026.
“I think for all of us, it was just the best opportunity, and that’s when it happened,” Feeney said.
Ex-NDSU QB Details Son Choosing the Gophers