JACKRABBITS TURN FOCUS TO WESTERN

Saturday, October 1

Brookings, S.D.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Western Illinois

Buy Tickets

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

9/28/2022 4:30:00 PM | Football

GAME 5: Western Illinois (0-4, 0-1 MVFC) at #2/3 South Dakota State (3-1, 1-0 MVFC)

When	Saturday, Oct. 1 \| 2 p.m. Central
Where	Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium \| Brookings, S.D. \| ORDER TICKETS
TV	Midco Sports Two \| ESPN+ \| Jackrabbits All-Access
Radio	Jackrabbits All Access (free audio) \| Jackrabbit Sports Network
Live Stats	GoJacksLive.com
Game Notes	SDSU \| Western Illinois \| Missouri Valley Football Conference \| FCS Insider
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| #GoJacks

Following a road victory over a fellow top-five opponent last week, the South Dakota State football team returns to Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium Saturday to face Western Illinois in the Jackrabbits' Missouri Valley Football Conference home opener.

Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Saturday's game is designated as the Precision Ag Bowl, as well as the annual Hall of Fame Game. The five newest members of the Jackrabbit Sports Hall of Fame will be recognized at halftime.

The Jackrabbits, ranked second in this week's Stats Perform media poll and third by the Football Championship Subdivision coaches, improved to 3-1 overall after posting a 28-14 victory at No. 4/6 Missouri State on Sept. 24. SDSU scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to secure the win.

Western Illinois, meanwhile, is in search of its first win of the season under first-year head coach Myers Hendrickson. The Fighting Leathernecks, 0-4 overall, dropped a 52-17 decision at home to Northern Iowa last weekend to open MVFC action.

THE SERIES: Saturday's game will mark the 18th meeting on the gridiron between the Jackrabbits and Western Illinois. The series dates back to a 28-21 Fighting Leatherneck victory at SDSU's Coughlin-Alumni Stadium in 1976.

Overall, SDSU leads the all-time series by a 12-5 count on the strength of winning 11 of the last 12 matchups, including a seven-game winning streak from 2008-14.

Since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision, SDSU?holds an 11-2 series advantage. Both of Western Illinois' victories since 2007 have been in overtime games on its home field. The Leathernecks claimed a 29-26, four-overtime victory in the 2007 season opener, adding a 30-24 double-overtime win in the 2015 regular season finale.

In last season's matchup, Oct. 16, 2021, in Macomb, Illinois, SDSU broke loose from Western Illinois with a 21-point third quarter to defeat the Fighting Leathernecks, 41-17.

The outburst was keyed by a blocked punt for touchdown on the first possession of the second half. Kinser Madison broke through the line to block the punt at the WIU 15, and Canyon Bauer scooped up the football at the 9-yard line and carried it in for the touchdown and a 20-10 Jackrabbit lead.

Pierre Strong, Jr., scored on a 17-yard touchdown run and Jaxon Janke found the end zone from 21 yards out on a pass from Chris Oladokun later in the third quarter. Strong capped the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

JACKS PICKED SECOND IN VALLEY: South Dakota State has been picked to finish second in the 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference race, according to a preseason poll conducted among the league's coaches, sports information directors and a select media panel that was announced in early August.

Defending league and national champion North Dakota State earned the top spot in the poll with 446 points and 39 first-place votes, followed by the Jackrabbits with the other two first-place votes and 407 points. Missouri State (355), Southern Illinois (306) and Northern Iowa (304) rounded out the top five.

Since joining the MVFC at the start of the 2008 season, SDSU has been picked to finish second in the league standings on seven occasions and was tabbed as the favorite in 2021.

SEASON 15 IN THE MVFC: The 2022 season marks South Dakota State's 15th as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Since joining the league in 2008, SDSU is the only program in that span to not have a losing season in conference play.

The Jackrabbits hold a 77-34 record in MVFC games and have won six or more league games six times. SDSU earned a share of league titles in 2016 and during the 2020-21 spring season.

ELITE COMPANY: South Dakota State is one of only two Football Championship Subdivision programs to reach the playoffs each of the last 10 seasons, including advancing to the national semifinals or championship game in four of the last five seasons.

Defending national champion North Dakota State holds the longest active streak with 12 consecutive trips to the playoffs.

RANKINGS STREAK: By being ranked in a tie for second in this week's Stats Perform FCS poll , SDSU has now appeared in the top 25 of 136 consecutive media polls dating back to October 2012.

The Jackrabbits' second-place preseason showing in 2022 marked the highest in program history, surpassing a third-place preseason ranking three times (2018, 2019, 2021).

CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team are seven captains, including three who hail from the state of Iowa:

Adam Bock, Jr., linebacker, Solon, Iowa;
Garret Greenfield, Sr., offensive lineman, Rock Valley, Iowa;
Mark Gronowski, So., quarterback, Naperville, Illinois;
Mason McCormick, Sr., offensive lineman, Sioux Falls;
Caleb Sanders., Sr., defensive tackle, Glenwood, Iowa;
Reece Winkelman, Grad., defensive end, Marshall, Minnesota;
Landon Wolf, Grad., wide receiver, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

McCormick is in his second season as a captain, while all other captains are in their first seasons in the role.

AWARD WATCH LISTS: Three South Dakota State standouts were among the 35 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2022 Walter Payton Award, which is presented annually by Stats Perform to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Representing the Jackrabbits on the initial watch list were running back Isaiah Davis, wide receiver Jaxon Janke and tight end Tucker Kraft. The watch list will be updated periodically throughout the regular season, with a national media panel selecting the award winner prior to the FCS national championship game.

Davis, a junior from Joplin, Missouri, is expected to fill the featured back role after playing alongside two-time Walter Payton Award finalist Pierre Strong, Jr. the past two seasons. Davis missed most of the 2021 regular season due to injury, but managed to finish second on the team with 701 rushing yards and seven touchdown after three consecutive 100-yard games in the FCS playoffs. He averaged nearly eight yards per carry through his first two seasons in a Jackrabbit uniform.

Through the first four games this season, Davis has again been a top offensive performer for the Jackrabbits, rushing 74 times for 319 yards (4.3 ypc) and catching seven passes for 56 yards.

A senior from Madison, Janke posted team highs of 72 receptions and 1,165 receiving yards in 2021, while adding five touchdowns. He caught at least two passes in all 15 games last season and tallied 100-plus receiving yards in seven contests, including four in a row to close out the regular season.

Kraft emerged as another top receiving target for the Jackrabbits last season, catching 65 passes for 780 yards and six touchdowns.

A junior from Timber Lake, Kraft notched three 100-yard games and hauled in at least two receptions in all 15 games of the 2021 campaign. He was limited to one reception for seven yards before being injured in the season opener at Iowa.

Janke currently ranks behind his twin brother, Jadon, with 13 receptions, 164 receiving yards and two touchdowns through four games.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jackrabbit linebacker Adam Bock was included in the 35-player watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award. A junior from Solon, Iowa, Bock was the Jackrabbits' leading tackler during the 2021 season, totaling 125 stops in starting all 15 games at middle linebacker. He also registered 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, intercepted two passes and forced a pair of fumbles. Bock tallied 10 or more tackles six times last season, including a career-high 17 tackles in an Oct. 9 game versus Southern Illinois.

Bock was a late addition to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list last season and tied for 11th in the balloting.

Through four games this season, Bock has tallied a team-best 33 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. In the Sept. 3 opener at Iowa, he was credited with a game-high 13 tackles and also recorded a forced fumble and fumble recovery en route to being named Missouri Valley Football Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

The watch lists will be updated periodically throughout the regular season, with a national media panel selecting the award winner prior to the FCS national title game.

MORE PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Besides the four players named to the Payton and Buchanan award watch lists, four other Jackrabbits received preseason All-America recognition over the summer.

Two of the preseason All-America picks were offensive linemen Garret Greenfield and Mason McCormick. Both have been multi-year starters for the Jackrabbits — Greenfield at tackle and McCormick at guard — who helped pave the way for a balanced SDSU offensive attack to average 36.1 points and 441.1 yards of total offense per game during the 2021 season.

Also earning preseason accolades were defensive tackle Caleb Sanders and senior tight end Zach Heins.

A senior from Glenwood, Iowa, Sanders led the team in sacks for the second year in a row with 6.5 and tallied 13 tackles for loss among his 34 total stops.

The other half of the top returning tight end tandem in the FCS ranks, Heins hauled in 24 receptions for 250 yards in 2021. The Sioux Falls native also tallied six touchdowns.

GAME NO. 300: The Sept. 24 league opener at Missouri State marked John Stiegelmeier's 300th game as head coach at South Dakota State. Since taking over the program at the start of the 1997 season, Coach Stig has led the Jackrabbits to a 188-112 overall record, including a 77-34 mark in MVFC contests.

Counting his nine seasons as a full-time assistant coach at SDSU prior to becoming head coach, Stiegelmeier has been on the sidelines (or coaching booth) for 397 Jackrabbit football games, helping lead teams to a combined 244-153 record.

GRONOWSKI RETURNS: The Jackrabbits welcomed quarterback Mark Gronowski back to the starting lineup in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa.

A sophomore from Naperville, Illinois, Gronowski helped lead SDSU to the FCS title game during the 2020-21 spring season, but sat out last fall due to an injury he suffered on the first offensive series of the championship game against Sam Houston.

Gronowski started all 10 games as a true freshman during the modified 2020-21 season and was honored as the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the league's Freshman of the Year. He completed 57.4 percent (108-of-188) of his passes for 1,565 yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding another 577 yards (7.0 ypc) and seven touchdowns on the ground.

In addition, Gronowski finished as runner-up for the 2021 Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Gronowski was honored as Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Jackrabbits to a conference-opening victory at Missouri State, setting single-game career highs in completions, yards and passing touchdowns in No. 2/3 South Dakota State's 28-14 road win over the No. 4/6 Bears.

Gronowski completed 22-of-29 passes for 319 yards and accounted for all four Jackrabbit touchdowns through the air. Gronowski book-ended touchdowns of 3 and 40 yards to Jadon Janke, while also connecting on scoring strikes of 13 yards to Jaxon Janke and the go-ahead 21-yarder to Zach Heins early in the fourth quarter. He directed scoring drives of 70 and 84 yards in the fourth quarter that took a combined 8 minutes and 35 seconds off the clock.

BIG-PLAY JACKS: After being limited to only one 20-yard play in its first two games of the season — a 20-yard pass from Mark Gronowski to Jaxon Janke on the first play of the fourth quarter in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa — the Jackrabbit offense got on track in the Sept. 17 game against Butler, posting five plays of 20-plus yards in a 45-17 victory.

Quarterback Mark Gronowski had a hand in all five big plays, including scrambling for a 23-yard gain on the opening drive of the game and tossing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Zach Heins in the second quarter. The longest play of the night was a 54-yard catch and run by Canyon Bauer on a pass from Gronowski later in the first quarter.

SDSU added eight plays of 20 yards or more in the Sept. 24 victory at Missouri State. Zach Heins tallied four receptions of 20 or more yards, including the go-ahead 21-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Over its 15-game 2021 season, the South Dakota State offense averaged 6.9 yards per play. The Jackrabbits averaged at least 7.5 yards per play in each of their first three games, highlighted by an average of 9.3 yards per play in their Sept. 11 home opener against Lindenwood.

Conversely, SDSU limited the opposition to 5.2 yards per play, including 3.3 yards per rushing attempt.

The Jackrabbits registered 87 plays of 20 or more yards from scrimmage last season and have most of the same playmakers returning to the lineup in 2022. The longest play from scrimmage in 2021 was an 85-yard touchdown run by Pierre Strong, Jr. Oct. 9 versus Southern Illinois.

In addition, Malik Lofton returned a fumble 97 yards for a touchdown in the game against Southern Illinois. It is the longest such return on record in program history.

DAVIS HITS 100: Walter Payton Award candidate Isaiah Davis reached the century mark in rushing for the first time this season, grinding out 112 yards while matching a career high with 25 carries in the Jackrabbits' Sept. 10 home win over UC Davis.

A junior, Davis topped 100 yards in a game for the eighth time in his career overall and for the second time against UC Davis.

TOUGH AGAINST THE RUN: South Dakota State enters the week ranked fifth in the Football Championship Subdivision by allowing an average of 58 rushing yards per game. The Jackrabbits have limited the opposition to 2.2 yards per carry and have yet to allow 100 yards rushing in a game this season, giving up 57 (Iowa), 49 (UC Davis), 53 (Butler) and 73 yards (Missouri State) in their first four games.

PICKING OFF THE COMPETITION: After leading the FCS ranks with 21 interceptions a season ago, the Jackrabbit defense has continued to take the ball away from the opposition in the early weeks of the 2022 campaign. SDSU defenders have recorded one interception in each of their first four games, with safeties Colby Huerter and Matthew Durrance each notching the first of their careers Sept. 24 at Missouri State.

Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, the Jackrabbits have intercepted at least one pass in 45 of their last 55 games for a total of 73 pickoffs.

Reserve cornerback Dalys Beanum led the Jackrabbits in 2021 with four interceptions — three of which came in SDSU's opening-round playoff victory against UC?Davis, the last of which he returned 59 yards for a touchdown. Beanum also notched a pick-six on his first career interception earlier in the season against Dixie State, covering 36 yards.

As a team, the Jackrabbits tied one of their longest-standing school records with six interceptions in the playoff game versus UC?Davis. SDSU also intercepted six passes in a 1950 game against Augustana and in a 1952 matchup with St. Cloud State.

In all, 11 different Jackrabbits recorded at least one interception a season ago and SDSU picked off at least one pass in 12 of 15 games.

BIG INTERCEPTION, BIG RETURN: Sophomore safety Colby Huerter's first career interception helped keep the momentum in South Dakota State's favor in the Jackrabbits' conference-opening matchup at Missouri State last week.

On the opening drive of the second half, Huerter stepped in front of a Jason Shelley pass deep in the red zone and his ensuing 70-yard return to the MSU 24 set up the Jackrabbits' second touchdown of the game for a 14-0 lead. Huerter's interception return was the longest by an SDSU player since Winston Wright returned a pickoff 82 yards for a touchdown at South Dakota on Nov. 16, 2013.

HEINS HAS CAREER DAY: Picking up some more of the slack in the absence of All-American Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State tight end Zach Heins turned in a career day against Missouri State on Sept. 24. A senior from Sioux Falls, Heins hauled in seven passes for 127 yards, setting career highs in both categories. His final reception was a 21-yarder for a touchdown that gave SDSU a 21-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Four of Heins' receptions covered at least 21 yards and five of his catches resulted in first downs on the afternoon.

ENDING AN ODD STREAK: When Mark Gronowski threw for a career-high 319 yards last Saturday at Missouri State, it marked the first time in four seasons the Jackrabbits won a game with a quarterback topping 300 yards through the air.

SDSU had lost its last five games when crossing the 300-yard mark in the passing department — once each in 2019 and the 2020-21 spring season, and all three times in the fall of 2021. Prior to the Sept. 24 victory at Missouri State, the last Jackrabbit victory with a 300-yard passer was Nov. 10, 2018, at Southern Illinois, when Taryn Christion racked up 341 yards as the Jackrabbits prevailed, 57-38.

JAXON FOR 2K: South Dakota State wide receiver Jaxon Janke reached a career milestone in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa, becoming the eighth Jackrabbit to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.

A senior from Madison, Janke caught two passes for 24 yards in that contest and has gone on to catch 13 passes this season for 164 yards to up his career receiving yardage total to 2,155 yards.

In addition, Janke has upped his career receptions to 146, putting him in eighth place on the SDSU career charts.

TWIN TOUCHDOWNS: Twin brothers Jadon and Jaxon Janke each caught a touchdown pass in last week's victory at Missouri State. It marked the second week in a row and the sixth time in their Jackrabbit careers the dynamic duo from Madison accomplished the feat.

Jadon book-ended the SDSU scoring with a 3-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and a 40-yard catch and run in the decisive fourth quarter. Jaxon's touchdown covered 13 yards in the third quarter.
A week earlier against Butler, Jaxon's touchdown came on a 7-yard pass in the first quarter, while Jadon tallied his touchdown on a 17-yard pass play early in the second quarter.
In addition, both Jankes upped their career receiving touchdown total to 17, putting them in a tie for eighth place on the SDSU career charts with Rusty Lenners (1993-96).
Following are the games in which both Jankes have caught touchdown passes:

April 24, 2021, vs. Holy Cross — Jadon (13, 45 yards in second/third quarters), Jaxon (11 yards in first quarter);
Sept. 25, 2021, at Indiana State — Jadon (33 yards in first quarter), Jaxon (42 yards in second quarter);
Oct. 16, 2021, at Western Illinois — Jadon (8 yards in first quarter), Jaxon (21 yards in third quarter);
Nov. 20, 2021, vs. North Dakota — Jadon (17 yards in second quarter), Jaxon (21 yards in third quarter);
Sept. 17, 2022, vs. Butler — Jadon (17 yards in second quarter), Jaxon (7 yards in first quarter);
Sept. 24, 2022, at Missouri State — Jadon (3/40 yards in first/fourth quarters), Jaxon (13 yards in third quarter).

SEEING DOUBLE: The 2022 edition of the South Dakota State football team features three sets of twin brothers.

Returning for their senior seasons are wide receivers and Madison natives Jadon and Jaxon Janke. Jaxon Janke has been the team's leading receiver each of the past two seasons, while Jadon Janke hauled in 14 touchdown receptions during the 2021 calendar year split between the spring and traditional fall seasons.

Another pair of twins with South Dakota roots are sophomore linebackers Aaron and Adam Kusler. Aaron played in three games last season, while Adam contributed mostly on special teams and saw action in 14 of the team's 15 games.

New to the squad this season are freshmen Jason and Justin Harris from New Lenox, Illinois. Jason is listed as a wide receiver, while Justin plays running back.

WINKELMAN, SANDERS CRACK TOP 10s: Senior defensive linemen Reece Winkelman and Caleb Sanders were not only the top two sack artists for the Jackrabbits last season, but the Jackrabbit duo have nearly identical career numbers for sacks and tackles for loss as they both have moved in and out of the SDSU career top 10 in those categories.

Sanders, a defensive tackle from Glenwood, Iowa, moved into seventh place in tackles for loss (34) with one tackle for loss at Iowa and stands just outside the SDSU top 10 with 15 career sacks.

A defensive end from Marshall, Minnesota, Winkelman broke a three-way tie for 10th place in career sacks with Kevin Tetzlaff (15 sacks from 1988-91) and Sanders by notching his 16th career sack in the season opener at Iowa. He also has tallied 33 tackles for loss in his career, putting him ninth on the career list. Winkelman, who missed the Sept. 10 home opener against UC Davis due to injury, notched a team- and career-best 6.5 sacks during the 2019 campaign and led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss in 2021.

YOUNG SAFETIES STEP UP: South Dakota State went into its Sept. 10 matchup against 25th-ranked UC Davis without its two starting safeties — Cale Reeder and Isaiah Stalbird — from the previous week's season opener. However, sophomore Colby Huerter and redshirt freshman Tucker Large picked up the slack in their first career starts to help the Jackrabbits weather a late storm for a 24-22 victory.

Huerter was credited with a career-high seven tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, while Large added a career-best seven tackles of his own with a pass breakup.

In addition, true freshman Dontay Johnson made his collegiate debut and registered three stops, including a tackle for a loss of five yards.

DOUBLE-DUTY DUSTMAN: Junior Hunter Dustman has figured prominently in the Jackrabbits' special teams efforts in the early going of the 2022 season.

Dustman handled all of the kicking duties in the Sept. 3 season opener at Iowa, punting 11 times for an average of 41.5 yards (long of 52) and scoring the Jackrabbits' only points on a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter. Dustman's 11 punts mark the most by an SDSU player in the Division I era (since 2004).

For the season, Dustman is averaging 43.1 yards per punt and is 3-for-7 on field goals.

STAFF SHAKEUP: South Dakota State football underwent some restructuring following a successful 2021 season, with four coaches earning internal promotions and four new coaches joining the staff. The staff shakeup was the result of 2021 coordinators Jason Eck (offense) and Brian Bergstrom (co-defense) accepting head coaching positions at Idaho and Winona State, respectively.

Zach Lujan takes over as the Jackrabbits' offensive coordinator, while continuing to coach the team's quarterbacks. A former SDSU quarterback himself from 2014-16, Lujan began his coaching career in 2018 as running backs coach before moving over to mentor the quarterbacks a year later.

Also on offense, Ryan Olson has moved from coaching the Jackrabbit tight ends to offensive line coach, and has added the title of run game coordinator. Olson joined the SDSU coaching staff prior to the start of the 2020-21 spring season and previously coached the offensive line at Bemidji State from 2017-19.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jimmy Rogers has been named the team's sole defensive coordinator after splitting duties with Bergstrom the past three seasons. Rogers will continue to coach the squad's linebackers and also holds the title of assistant head coach. Another former Jackrabbit player, Rogers is the longest-tenured assistant coach on staff as he enters his 10th season this fall.

In addition, defensive line coach Christian Smith has added defensive run game coordinator to his duties. Smith has coached at SDSU since 2017.

Two of the new coaches are former Jackrabbit football players — Josh Davis as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach and Jesse Bobbit as safeties coach and recruiting coordinator. Also joining the coaching staff were Chris Meyers as tight ends coach and Mark Kubacki as assistant defensive line coach.

Davis previously served as wide receivers coach at SDSU from 2009-15, when he mentored five players currently in the Jackrabbits' top 10 for career receptions. He spent the past six years at Northwestern College (Iowa), where he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for a perennial top-10 NAIA program that reached the national championship game in spring 2021.

A standout receiver himself for the Jackrabbits from 2002-05, Davis ended his career as the Jackrabbits' all-time leader in receptions (225) and ranked second in both career receiving yards (3,192) and touchdowns (26). While those marks no longer stand as record, Davis continues to hold the SDSU single-game receptions mark with 16.

Bobbit, who played linebacker at SDSU from 2013-16, began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at SDSU in 2019. He moved on to Washington State, where he was a defensive graduate assistant and quality control coach for two years. He worked with the linebackers for a Cougar team that earned a Sun Bowl berth in 2021.

Meyers most recently served as an offensive line graduate assistant at Oklahoma State, where he worked with a unit that cleared the way for 2019 NCAA rushing champion Chuba Hubbard. The 2021 Oklahoma State team played in the Big 12 Football Championship and closed a 12-2 season with a win in the Fiesta Bowl.

Kubacki, who joined the staff in July, brings a decade of collegiate coaching experience to SDSU. He spent the last five seasons at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, following a five-year stint at St. Thomas, where he coached on both sides of the ball for a program that compiled a 56-8 record at the NCAA Division III level.

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS: South Dakota State University offensive lineman Wes Genant earned his fourth career selection to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Division I Football Team and defensive end Reece Winkelman also earned first-team recognition during the 2021 season.

Genant, a Parkston native, was honored on the first team with a 3.90 grade-point average as a human biology major. A multi-year starter at center, Genant also was a first-team selection in 2018 and 2020-21 after earning second-team recognition in 2017. He redshirted during the 2019 season while recovering from injury.

Winkelman, a native of Marshall, Minnesota, was selected with a 3.87 GPA as a business economics major. On the field, he was a second-team all-MVFC selection who led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss and ranked second with 5.5 sacks.

Genant is the only Jackrabbit football student-athlete to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors four times. SDSU has placed at least one player on the squad in 15 of the last 17 seasons, including multiple selections 13 times. Overall, SDSU football student-athletes have received Academic All-America recognition from CoSIDA 44 times since 1974.

The Academic All-America program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Candidates, who are first nominated and honored at the district level, must be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, a starter or key reserve on his team and carry at least a 3.3 GPA.

JACKS IN THE PROS: In preparation for the 2022 season, 10 former South Dakota State standouts were members of National Football League teams, continuing the Jackrabbits' long tradition of developing players into pro prospects.

Headlining the list is tight end Dallas Goedert of the Philadelphia Eagles. After being drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Goedert has gone on to record 204 receptions for 2,463 yards and 17 touchdowns in five seasons.

Goedert set a career high with 830 receiving yards on 56 catches during the 2021 season. He established career bests of 58 receptions and five touchdowns in 2019.

Linebacker Christian Rozeboom earned a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. A member of the Rams' practice squad in 2020, Rozeboom made his NFL debut with the Kansas City Chiefs early in 2021 before returning to Los Angeles and seeing action mostly on special teams for the Rams for remainder of the regular season and postseason. He was credited with three tackles in 2021 and has registered one tackle thus far in 2022.

Also on an NFL roster in 2021 as practice squad members were cornerback Jordan Brown (Las Vegas Raiders) and Cade Johnson (Seattle Seahawks). Brown, who was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, moved on to the New Orleans Saints during the offseason, while Johnson returned to Seattle for training camp and was again assigned to the Seahawks' practice squad for the 2022 season.

For the first time since 1976, the Jackrabbits saw two players selected in the same NFL?Draft. Running back Pierre Strong was a fourth-round selection by the New England Patriots, while quarterback Chris Oladokun was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Strong has played in two games and returned two kickoffs for 48 yards. Oladokun was released during training camp by the Steelers, but was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs and assigned to their practice squad.

Additionally, Don Gardner (Tampa Bay), Wes Genant (New Orleans), Michael Griffin II (Tennessee) and Aron Johnson (Baltimore) all received post-draft free agent offers.

In addition, wide receiver Jake Wieneke has caught on with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Through his first two seasons (2019, 2021), Wieneke recorded 95 total receptions for 1,467 yards with 19 touchdowns. He was named the CFL's East Division Most Outstanding Rookie.

So far in 2022, Wieneke has caught 33 passes for 388 yards and a touchdown.

Another former Jackrabbit standout, quarterback Taryn Christion, recently retired after a brief stint playing with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.

Headlining the list of Jackrabbit pro football alumni are Hall of Famer Jim Langer and the NFL's career scoring leader, Adam Vinatieri.

Langer who played football at SDSU from 1967-69 and also was an All-American in baseball, played center on every offensive down during the Miami Dolphins' perfect season in 1972. He was a first-team All-Pro four times and was selected to play in six Pro Bowl games. He played with the Dolphins from 1970-79 before returning to his home state to finish his career with the Minnesota Vikings from 1980-81. Langer passed away in September 2019.

Vinatieri wapped up his playing career after becoming the NFL's all-time scoring leader in 2018 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Over Vinatieri's 24 seasons, his totals include NFL bests of 599-of-715 on field goal attempts, 83.8 percent, and 2,673 career points. He also ranks second in career extra points with 874. In all, Vinatieri set 15 NFL records, including 21 100-point seasons.

Several other former Jackrabbit players and coaches have had ties to the professional game, including:

Bryan Witzmann (player from 2010-13), played for several NFL teams as an offensive lineman from 2014-20;
Steve Heiden (player from 1995-98), former tight end for the Chargers and Browns who is currently the tight ends coach for the Arizona Cardinals;
Reed Burckhardt (player from 2004-07), former director of pro scouting for the Minnesota Vikings and now director of player personnel for the Denver Broncos;
Glen Fox (player from 2006-09), director of pro personnel for the Arizona Cardinals after previously serving as a pro scout for 10 years;
Shawn Mennenga (assistant coach from 2009-10), former special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers;
Trent Baalke (assistant coach from 1991-95), general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars and formerly the GM for the San Francisco 49ers;
Brad Seely, longtime special teams coordinator with numerous NFL?teams.

DANA J. DYKHOUSE STADIUM: Jackrabbit football moved into a new home in September of 2016 with the completion of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

The stadium, which was constructed in phases on the site of SDSU's previous home field, Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, seats 19,340 spectators and cost $65 million to build.

The stadium is being funded through private gifts and long-term revenue streams, including concessions and suite, loge box and ticket sales. Bonds are financing nearly two-thirds of the project's construction, with the remaining dollars coming from private support. Lead gifts totaling $12.5 million from former Jackrabbit football player and Sioux Falls banker Dana Dykhouse and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford were announced in October 2013.

Dana J. Dkyhouse Stadium officially opened Sept. 8, 2016, featuring a concert by country music superstars Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and Lee Brice as part of the Jacks Bash opening weekend.

The first football game was two days later, on Sept. 10, when the Jackrabbits defeated Drake, 56-28. SDSU has gone on to post a 37-7 record at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium during its first five-plus seasons of operation, including an 8-1 mark in FCS playoff games.

The Jackrabbits went undefeated at home in 2018 at 7-0 and again during the 2020-21 spring season with a 5-0 mark.

Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium was designed by Kansas City-based Crawford Architects, with the construction firm JE Dunn serving as the project manager at risk and Henry Carlson Company of Sioux Falls serving as general contractor.

The stadium won the 2017 Alliant Build America Award from the Associated General Contractors of America South Dakota Building Chapter.

WORKING OVERTIME: South Dakota State holds a 5-6 record in 11 overtime games since overtime rules were implemented in the mid-1990s. The Jackrabbits have won four of their six overtime contests in Missouri Valley Football Conference games, including posting a 2-1 record at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.

Following is a list of the Jackrabbits' overtime results:
SDSU 30, Nebraska-Omaha 27 [2 OT] • Oct. 17, 1998 — at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium
Augustana 39, SDSU 33 [3 OT] • Oct. 19, 2002 — at Sioux Falls
Southern Utah 23, SDSU 17 [2 OT] • Nov. 13, 2004 — at Cedar City, Utah
Western Illinois 29, SDSU 26 [4 OT] • Aug. 30, 2007 — at Macomb, Ill.
McNeese State 46, SDSU 44 [3 OT] • Oct. 4, 2008 — at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium
SDSU 43, Missouri State 36 [2 OT] • Oct. 29, 2011 — at Springfield, Mo.
SDSU 37, Northern Iowa 34 [2 OT] • Oct. 26, 2013 — at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium
Western Illinois 30, SDSU 24 [2 OT] • Nov. 21, 2015 — at Macomb, Ill.
SDSU?27, Illinois State 24 [OT] • Nov. 11, 2017 — at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
SDSU?54, Indiana State 51 [OT] • Oct. 6, 2018 — at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
Southern Illinois 42, SDSU 41 [OT] • Oct. 9, 2021 — at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
Overall, SDSU is 5-6 in overtime games

STIG SHOW: The John Stiegelmeier Radio Show airs Monday nights throughout the 2022 season.

The weekly, hour-long show begins at 6 p.m. Central Time and will originate in front of a live audience once again at Cubby's Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Brookings. Hosted by Tyler Merriam, the show airs along the Jackrabbit Sports Network, including flagship station WNAX 570 AM, and can be heard through the Jackrabbit app and online at GoJacks.com.

Weekly segments include interviews with Jackrabbit head coach John Stiegelmeier, student-athletes and others associated with SDSU football. Fans can submit questions through social media platforms and fans in attendance can register for weekly prizes.

A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits continue home action by hosting in-state rival South Dakota on Oct. 8. Kickoff for the South Dakota Showdown Series game is slated for 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium with the game scheduled to air on Midco Sports and ESPN+.

-GoJacks.com-