WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — There was a time when visions of playing in the NFL danced in Nate Hartung’s head.

All that’s been dancing there lately is pain.

The 6-foot-2, 405-pound Butler graduate, now 26, is entering his final season of football as a senior guard for Winston-Salem State. He suffered a broken ankle during Week 7 of the Rams’ run to the Division II championship game last season.

Yet Hartung never missed a game.

“I was taken out and rested for stretches of some games, but I suited up and played every week,” Hartung said. “I wanted to be there for my team.”

The same holds true this year.

Hartung underwent ankle surgery in February and missed all of spring ball. He participated in full drills during preseason camp this summer, but his ankle is not 100 percent.

“It never will be again,” Hartung said. “The position of the break, right on top of the ankle, and ligament damage ... It still hurts. But I can tolerate it and I can play.

“My NFL prospects would have been marginal even if I was totally healthy. The way I am now, I just want to get through this season and help steer us toward another championship run.”

Hartung is one of two NCAA pre-season All-Americans returning to Winston-Salem State from last year’s 14-1 team. The other is linebacker Carlos Fields, last season’s Division II Defensive Player of the Year.

Hartung is one of only two returning starters along the offensive line.

“We’re counting on him being a leader up front, which is what Nate’s been ever since he got here,” Rams coach Connell Maynor said. “He’s not the quickest lineman, but he’s very strong.

“Once he gets his hands on you, it’s a done deal.”

In Maynor’s mind, it’s the lack of quickness that stands between Hartung and the NFL.

“The weight has been an issue,” the coach said. “If Nate was down around 325 pounds, he’d be just as strong, but so much quicker and agile on his feet. His technique is so solid, he’d be unstoppable.

“But he couldn’t do much conditioning with that ankle and was forced to be too dormant. That’s not a good thing for an offensive lineman.”

Hartung was injured when a teammate was engaged in a block against an opponent and the two fell to the ground, landing on the back of his leg and rolling the ankle.

“People think I’m fat and out of shape and that’s why my ankle’s bad,” Hartung said. “All I can say to that is my ankle was fine before that happened.

“It’s a traumatic injury. That’s all. That’s part of football.”

When it comes to Winston-Salem State, so is winning.

The Rams return only nine starters from a year ago. Under Maynor, however, the team has averaged no fewer than 38 points per game in each of the past five years.

“We have a system here and it works,” Maynor said. “We play to players’ strengths. If Nate is unable to pull out on run blocking plays, then we won’t run those plays. We won’t ask a player to do what he’s physically incapable of doing.

“Either way, Nate will be what he’s been — a dominant lineman.”

Hartung believes the talent is in place for his team to make another run at the title.

After that, he will make a run at a master’s degree. Hartung will graduate in December as a history major.

“I’m looking at my options of furthering my education,” he said. “That’s what I plan to do.”