Dakota State’s Bonnard Bosler honored for resilient return with Frontier Conference’s inaugural Grit Award for Football

Bonnard Bosler’s comeback did not hinge on a single snap or one dramatic return to the field. It was built over months of frustration, work and quiet consistency, and on April 1, 2026, the Dakota State sophomore defensive end was recognized for all of it when the Frontier Conference named him the football recipient of the inaugural Grit Award, sponsored by the Montana Army National Guard.

For Bosler, a business administration major from Sioux Falls, S.D., the adversity was as steep as any player could face. He endured two consecutive season-ending ACL tears, and in one especially difficult stretch, he competed for a full week without realizing he was playing on a torn ACL. The physical toll was obvious, but so was the mental challenge. A return story like this is rarely about one injury alone. It is about absorbing setback after setback and still choosing to stay invested in the game, in teammates and in the daily work that recovery demands.

That commitment became the heart of Bosler’s impact. Even while sidelined, he stayed closely connected to the Dakota State program, showing up for events, meetings and practices and continuing to support teammates through each stage of his recovery. He also took on a mentorship role with younger players, giving the team a steady presence beyond the stat sheet. Dakota State head coach Josh Anderson praised Bosler’s resilience and team-first approach, and those qualities helped make him a natural choice for an award created to honor perseverance, mental toughness and integrity.

Bosler’s support system and daily discipline showed up beyond football, too. He has maintained a 3.9 GPA while balancing the demands of recovery and competition, and he has served as a residential assistant on campus. He is also active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and in team Bible study, signs of a player whose comeback has been shaped by community as much as determination. The award citation pointed to that full picture, recognizing his resilience, service, discipline and teamwork as qualities that reflect the values of the Montana Army National Guard.

In a conference that values toughness, Bosler’s story stands out because it is grounded in more than endurance. It is about staying present when playing time is taken away, continuing to lead when the spotlight shifts and finding purpose in the long middle stretch of rehab. The Frontier Conference’s first Grit Award in football went to a player who kept showing up, and for Dakota State, that makes Bonnard Bosler’s return worth celebrating.