It wasn't a difficult decision for Ryan Cain when he was invited to join the University of North Dakota football program last weekend.

One of his best friends, North Dakota freshman and former Linn-Mar standout Jer Garman, was Cain's host during his recruiting visit to Grand Forks.

"We always wanted to play together, so it was kind of like a dream come true," said Cain, a standout cornerback, receiver and kick returner for the Washington football team.

"We played football together and against each other since we were kids," Cain said of his relationship with Garman. "We've been close friends since childhood.

"He kind of helped in the recruiting process."

Cain will sign a national letter of intent with UND this week. The national signing period starts on Wednesday.

Cain said he didn't know much about North Dakota before his visit.

"I knew they won their conference (Big West) and that things are on the rise, looking good," he said.

North Dakota becomes a member of the rugged Big Sky Conference, which features tradition-rich programs such as Montana, Montana State and Eastern Washington that are annually among the contenders for an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) national championship. Eastern Washington won the 2010 national championship. Montana reached the semifinals this year after knocking out Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals.

"It's a pretty dominant Division I-AA conference," Cain said.

Cain said he has been told that he will have a chance to start as a freshman at safety and kick returner.

"It's looking bright. I'm in the running for starting," he said. "I just have to go in, get the playbook down and see what happens."

Cain said he had narrowed his college choices to North Dakota, South Dakota and Northern Iowa before he chose UND. He said he will study business with an eye on an MBA and, eventually, law school.

Cain is the second Warrior to commit to a Big Sky Conference school. Tackle McCauley Todd has committed to Montana.