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Jeff Bentrim

Quarterback

Inducted 1998

Date of Birth

6/21/1965

Birthplace

St. Paul, MN

School

North Dakota State University (1983-1986)

Bio

Jeff Bentrim, playing for North Dakota State 1983-86, set records that no other quarterback has touched. He was the starting quarterback in four championship games in NCAA Division II. He was the national scoring champ in Division II in 1984, 1985, and 1986. He scored 386 points in his career. Bentrim stood 6 feet tall, weighed 195, and could run or pass expertly. His team played the veer offense. He was the triggerman on the option. Bentrim in his career rushed for 64 touchdowns, a record for Division II. He broke the record of 63 held by Walter Payton of Jackson State. In 1983, Bentrim, a freshman, quarterbacked North Dakota State to a 41-23 victory over Central State in the NCAA Division II title game. In 1984, North Dakota State lost the title to Troy 18-17. Championships were won in 1985 over North Alabama 38-7 and 1986 over South Dakota 27-7. North Dakota State was 47-5-1 in Bentrim's four years and was 11-1 in playoff games, all of which he started. In addition to his TD runs Bentrim he passed for 24 additional touchdowns. In playoffs he rushed for 17 touchdowns and passed for five. In 1986, he was named All-America, won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the best player in Division II, was named Most Valuable Player in the North Central Conference. He was named quarterback on the Division II Quarter-Century Team, covering years 1973-97. In regular season games of his career he rushed for 2,948 yards and completed passes for 3,400.