Completed Event: Football at Montana on December 6, 2025 , Loss , 29, to, 50
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South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen
SDSU FOOTBALL ADDS 17 MID-YEAR TRANSFERS
2/4/2026 4:00:00 PM | Football
South Dakota State head coach Dan Jackson officially announced Wednesday the addition of 17 transfer student-athletes to the Jackrabbit football team. All 17 recently enrolled in classes and will participate in upcoming spring practices.
"We've added a talented and motivated group of young men to our program. They embody the traits both on and off the field that we look for in Jackrabbits," Jackson said. "The roster is set. It's time to work."
The additions include:
Alvano played in parts of three seasons at Nebraska and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He handled the bulk of the kicking duties for the Cornhuskers as a true freshman in 2023, connecting on 9-of-15 field-goal attempts and making all 27 of his extra-point tries. His 55-yard field goal against Purdue in 2023 set a Nebraska freshman record and tied for the second-longest in program history.
In 2024, Alvano was limited to three games due to injury, but went 3-for-4 on field goals and 12-for-12 on PATs. He saw action on kickoff duties in two games during the 2025 campaign.
At the prep level, Alvano set Nebraska state records (all classes) with 16 field goals his senior season at Omaha Westside High School, as well as kicking five field goals in a game. His 27 career field goals were the most in Class A history as we went on to score 200 points over his two seasons en route to all-state recognition.
A business economics major, Alvano was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a 2025 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar as a sport management major.
IFEOLWU CURRENT
Current earned NCAA Division II All-America honors from D2Football.com and Don Hansen's Football Committee during the recently completed 2025 season while playing at Nebraska-Kearney. He also was a first-team selection to the all-MIAA squad and the All-Super Region 4 squad selected by the Conference Commissioner's Association after sharing the team lead with four interceptions while adding four pass breakups and 55 tackles (45 solo).
Prior to enrolling at UNK, Current spent two seasons (2022-23) at Missouri Southern, totaling 71 tackles (51 solo) in 21 games and earning honorable mention all-MIAA recognition in 2023. He then moved on to Texas-Permian Basin in 2024, but was limited to three games before receiving a medical redshirt.
In high school, he played primarily on the offensive side of the ball for Kennedale High School, receiving first-team all-league honors as a wide receiver and running back.
Current will finish up a degree in interdisciplinary studies at SDSU.
JOSH HOLST
Holst saw action in 14 games over two seasons at Northern Illinois, combining to complete 59 percent of his passes (143-of-241) for 1,282 yards and six touchdowns, as well as rush for 385 yards. One of his three starts during the 2024 campaign came in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a game in which he earned MVP honors after completing 18-of-30 passes for 182 yards and touchdowns, as well as rushing 16 times for 65 yards and catching a pass for a 2-point conversion.
As a prep athlete, Holst was a three-time all-state honoree who accounted for 38 total touchdowns — rushing and receiving —his senior season at Marengo Community High School, including eight in one game. He also was a two-time team captain.
Holst is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
JACK JOHNSON
Johnson earned second-team all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division honors in 2025 after seeing action at linebacker and across the secondary. He tallied 71 tackles (50 solo), contributing 8.0 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a team-best 11 pass breakups.
For his career, Johnson registered 127 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 19 pass breakups and 4 fumble recoveries.
In addition, Johnson was honored on the 2025 NSIC Fall All-Academic Team and is majoring in business economics.
Johnson recorded 220 tackles over his final two seasons at Blaine High School, notching 125 as a junior and 95 as a senior en route to all-conference recognition.
PAUL KIM
Kim earned all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors each of his two seasons at Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was an honorable mention selection in 2024 after posting 26 tackles and four pass breakups in seven games, followed by earning second-team accolades after a 2025 campaign in which he tallied 25 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception.
Prior to enrolling at UWW, Kim played at Janesville Parker High School and was one of six finalists for the Wisconsin Sports Network's Jim Leonhard Award, which is presented to the state's top senior defensive back. He ended his senior season with 45 tackles and five interceptions — of which he returned for touchdowns.
Kim is a health studies major.
JES KRCIL
Krcil was honored as the 2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year after registering 81 total tackles and anchoring a defense that led the league in numerous categories. He recorded 10 or more tackles five times en route to finishing the year with 81 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He moved to linebacker after playing at defensive end during the 2024 season and being credited with 16 total stops, including two sacks.
Last week, Krcil was honored on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Team for NCAA Division II and is majoring in human biology.
A 2023 graduate of Carlisle High School, Krcil excelled on both sides of the ball by leading Class 4A with 110 tackles and rushing for 1,538 yards and 21 touchdowns his senior season en route to first-team all-state honors. He also competed in wrestling and soccer.
NOAH LUGINBILL
Luginbill led Saddleback College with 52 tackles (37 solo) in 11 games during the 2025 season. He added seven tackles for loss, an interception and five pass breakups.
During his first season at the junior college level, Luginbill tallied seven tackle and a pass breakup in seven games.
At the prep level, Luginbill set the Clovis High School career record for tackles with 429 across three seasons with respective season totals of 136, 152 and 141. He was selected as the Southern League Player of the Year while also earning all-Valley and all-state honors.
Luginbill plans to major in interdisciplinary studies at SDSU.
JUSTIN LUTZ
Lutz began his collegiate career by serving as long snapper for an Iowa Western squad that won the 2023 NJCAA national championship. He later moved on to Weber State, where he redshirted during the 2025 season.
He is majoring in communication studies.
RAMON McKINNEY JR.
McKinney earned recognition on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team after rushing for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2025 season at Northeastern State (Okla.). He topped the 100-yard mark four times while also contributing 35 receptions for 340 yards and three scores and averaging 19.9 yards on 13 kickoffs.
As a freshman, McKinney moved into the featured back role midway through the season in totaling 495 rushing yards and scoring 10 touchdowns in the final six games.
At the high school level, McKinney was an all-district honoree as a dual-threat quarterback at Waxahachie High School. He racked up 2,101 yards of total offense and accounted for 21 touchdowns — seven passing and 14 rushing.
McKinney is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
AMAJE PARKER
Parker ranked third on the team with 71 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks during the 2025 season for Virginia Military Institute. He added an interception, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
At the prep level, Parker was a four-year letterman for Albermarle High School while seeing action at both quarterback and free safety.
Parker is majoring in psychology.
HENRY PICKENS
Pickens played two seasons at Duquesne and finished the 2025 season with 22 tackles for loss and six pass breakups in 12 games.
Prior to his time at Duquesne, Pickens spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Southeast Missouri State, where he tallied 31 tackles and an interception return for touchdown. At the prep level, we was a two-year starter at Palmetto Prep Academy and earned an invitation to play in the Florida/Georgia Showcase.
Pickens is pursuing a general studies degree.
ANTHONY REZAC
Rezac spent two seasons at Notre Dame, but did not see any game action for the Fighting Irish in either 2024 or 2025.
In 2023, Rezac led Omaha Westside to a state championship and was honored as the Nebraska player of the Year by both Gatorade and MaxPreps, as well as a captain for all-state teams selected by the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star. During his senior season, he threw for 2,316 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding 905 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
His father, D.J., played one season at Indiana, while his brothers Dominic (Vanderbilt) and Teddy (Notre Dame) also have competed collegiately. He is majoring in business economics.
ASHTON SAYRE
Sayre moved into a starting role at defensive tackle for Minnesota State, Moorhead during the 2025 season, finishing the year with 31 tackles (20 solo), including 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also was a key contributor on special teams for the Dragons, collecting four blocked kicks over his three seasons.
Sayre also has been a two-time NSIC All-Academic honoree and is a business economics major.
At the prep level, Sayre was an all-district performer at Alexandria Area High School after being credited with 67 tackles, three sacks and eight tackles for loss as a senior.
EDDY SCHULTZ
Schultz spent the past two seasons at Portland State, where he caught 13 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in five games during the 2025 season. He also tallied 56 rushing yards on only seven carries.
Originally signed to play at Cal Poly, he caught one pass for 19 yards in his lone appearance with the Mustangs in 2023, then saw action in three games during his first season at Portland State.
Schultz tallied 22 receptions for 424 yards and five touchdowns his senior season at Mission Viejo High School, earning all-South Coast League recognition. He played his junior season at JSerra Catholic High School, where he returned four kickoffs for touchdowns and hauled in 22 receptions for 397 yards and three touchdowns en route to first-team all-Trinity League recognition and All-CIF-Southern Section honors.
For his educational pursuits, Schultz is majoring in business economics.
CARTER SITZMAN
Sitzman earned back-to-back first-team all-Northern Sun honors in 2024 and 2025 at Wayne State College. He led the league with 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a sophomore, while adding 7.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks in 2025. Sitzman also was named to the D2CCA All-Super Region 4 Second Team in 2024.
His career totals in three seasons with the Wildcats included 109 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. In addition, he was a two-time NSIC All-Academic honoree and is majoring in construction management.
Sitzman prepped at Lincoln Christian High School, where he was a two-year starter and earned Class C1 all-state recognition. He was selected for the 2022 Nebraska Shrine Bowl after registering 36 total tackles and 10 sacks while rushing for more than 500 yards as a senior.
COOPER STARKS
Starks saw limited action as an offensive lineman and on special teams units over the past two seasons at Vanderbilt.
During his high school career, he received Class 2A all-state accolades after helping North Mac to a conference title his senior season. He also was a member of the varsity basketball team and competed in the throwing events in track and field.
Starks is majoring in sport management.
JAE'SHAUN THOMAS
Thomas moved into a starting role at left tackle for a Minnesota-Duluth squad that qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs during the 2025 season.
At the prep level, Thomas played in the trenches on both offense and defense, earning all-conference honors twice at Catholic Memorial High School, which won a state title his junior season. He also competed in wrestling and track and field.
Thomas is an ecology and environmental science major.
ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The Jackrabbits finished the 2025 season with a 9-5 overall record and made their 14th consecutive appearance in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. SDSU won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023, and has claimed five Missouri Valley Football Conference titles since 2016.
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"We've added a talented and motivated group of young men to our program. They embody the traits both on and off the field that we look for in Jackrabbits," Jackson said. "The roster is set. It's time to work."
The additions include:
- Tristan Alvano, 6-1, 210, Jr., kicker, Omaha, Nebraska (Nebraska)
- Ifeolwu Current, 6-2, 195, Sr., cornerback, Kennedale, Texas (Nebraska-Kearney)
- Josh Holst, 6-4, 205, Jr., quarterback, Marengo, Illinois (Northern Illinois)
- Jack Johnson, 6-0, 185, Jr., safety, Blaine, Minnesota (Minnesota State, Moorhead);
- Paul Kim, 5-11, 185, Jr., cornerback, Janesville, Wisconsin (Wisconsin-Whitewater)
- Jes Krcil, 6-1, 220, Jr., linebacker, Carlisle, Iowa (Wayne State (Neb.))
- Noah Luginbill, 6-0, 185, Jr., safety, Clovis, Calif. (Saddleback College);
- Justin Lutz, 6-0, 225, So., long snapper, Lawrence, Kansas (Weber State);
- Ramon McKinney Jr., 5-10, 180, Jr., running back, Waxahachie, Texas (Northeastern State (Okla.);
- Amaje Parker, 6-0, 190, Jr., safety, Charlottesville, Virginia (Virginia Military Institute);
- Henry Pickens, 6-1, 180, Sr., cornerback, Belle Glade, Florida (Duquesne);
- Anthony Rezac, 6-3. 200, So., quarterback, Omaha, Nebraska (Notre Dame);
- Ashton Sayre, 6-4, 285, Sr., defensive tackle, Alexandria, Minnesota (Minnesota State, Moorhead);
- Eddy Schultz, 6-1, 195, Jr., wide receiver, Montclair, California (Portland State);
- Carter Sitzman , 6-4, 260, Sr., defensive end, Lincoln, Nebraska (Wayne State (Neb.));
- Cooper Starks, 6-5, 330, Jr., offensive lineman, Girard, Illinois (Vanderbilt); and
- Jae'Shaun Thomas, 6-4, 285, So., offensive lineman, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Minnesota-Duluth).
Alvano played in parts of three seasons at Nebraska and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He handled the bulk of the kicking duties for the Cornhuskers as a true freshman in 2023, connecting on 9-of-15 field-goal attempts and making all 27 of his extra-point tries. His 55-yard field goal against Purdue in 2023 set a Nebraska freshman record and tied for the second-longest in program history.
In 2024, Alvano was limited to three games due to injury, but went 3-for-4 on field goals and 12-for-12 on PATs. He saw action on kickoff duties in two games during the 2025 campaign.
At the prep level, Alvano set Nebraska state records (all classes) with 16 field goals his senior season at Omaha Westside High School, as well as kicking five field goals in a game. His 27 career field goals were the most in Class A history as we went on to score 200 points over his two seasons en route to all-state recognition.
A business economics major, Alvano was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a 2025 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar as a sport management major.
IFEOLWU CURRENT
Current earned NCAA Division II All-America honors from D2Football.com and Don Hansen's Football Committee during the recently completed 2025 season while playing at Nebraska-Kearney. He also was a first-team selection to the all-MIAA squad and the All-Super Region 4 squad selected by the Conference Commissioner's Association after sharing the team lead with four interceptions while adding four pass breakups and 55 tackles (45 solo).
Prior to enrolling at UNK, Current spent two seasons (2022-23) at Missouri Southern, totaling 71 tackles (51 solo) in 21 games and earning honorable mention all-MIAA recognition in 2023. He then moved on to Texas-Permian Basin in 2024, but was limited to three games before receiving a medical redshirt.
In high school, he played primarily on the offensive side of the ball for Kennedale High School, receiving first-team all-league honors as a wide receiver and running back.
Current will finish up a degree in interdisciplinary studies at SDSU.
JOSH HOLST
Holst saw action in 14 games over two seasons at Northern Illinois, combining to complete 59 percent of his passes (143-of-241) for 1,282 yards and six touchdowns, as well as rush for 385 yards. One of his three starts during the 2024 campaign came in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a game in which he earned MVP honors after completing 18-of-30 passes for 182 yards and touchdowns, as well as rushing 16 times for 65 yards and catching a pass for a 2-point conversion.
As a prep athlete, Holst was a three-time all-state honoree who accounted for 38 total touchdowns — rushing and receiving —his senior season at Marengo Community High School, including eight in one game. He also was a two-time team captain.
Holst is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
JACK JOHNSON
Johnson earned second-team all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division honors in 2025 after seeing action at linebacker and across the secondary. He tallied 71 tackles (50 solo), contributing 8.0 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a team-best 11 pass breakups.
For his career, Johnson registered 127 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 19 pass breakups and 4 fumble recoveries.
In addition, Johnson was honored on the 2025 NSIC Fall All-Academic Team and is majoring in business economics.
Johnson recorded 220 tackles over his final two seasons at Blaine High School, notching 125 as a junior and 95 as a senior en route to all-conference recognition.
PAUL KIM
Kim earned all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors each of his two seasons at Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was an honorable mention selection in 2024 after posting 26 tackles and four pass breakups in seven games, followed by earning second-team accolades after a 2025 campaign in which he tallied 25 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception.
Prior to enrolling at UWW, Kim played at Janesville Parker High School and was one of six finalists for the Wisconsin Sports Network's Jim Leonhard Award, which is presented to the state's top senior defensive back. He ended his senior season with 45 tackles and five interceptions — of which he returned for touchdowns.
Kim is a health studies major.
JES KRCIL
Krcil was honored as the 2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year after registering 81 total tackles and anchoring a defense that led the league in numerous categories. He recorded 10 or more tackles five times en route to finishing the year with 81 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He moved to linebacker after playing at defensive end during the 2024 season and being credited with 16 total stops, including two sacks.
Last week, Krcil was honored on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Team for NCAA Division II and is majoring in human biology.
A 2023 graduate of Carlisle High School, Krcil excelled on both sides of the ball by leading Class 4A with 110 tackles and rushing for 1,538 yards and 21 touchdowns his senior season en route to first-team all-state honors. He also competed in wrestling and soccer.
NOAH LUGINBILL
Luginbill led Saddleback College with 52 tackles (37 solo) in 11 games during the 2025 season. He added seven tackles for loss, an interception and five pass breakups.
During his first season at the junior college level, Luginbill tallied seven tackle and a pass breakup in seven games.
At the prep level, Luginbill set the Clovis High School career record for tackles with 429 across three seasons with respective season totals of 136, 152 and 141. He was selected as the Southern League Player of the Year while also earning all-Valley and all-state honors.
Luginbill plans to major in interdisciplinary studies at SDSU.
JUSTIN LUTZ
Lutz began his collegiate career by serving as long snapper for an Iowa Western squad that won the 2023 NJCAA national championship. He later moved on to Weber State, where he redshirted during the 2025 season.
He is majoring in communication studies.
RAMON McKINNEY JR.
McKinney earned recognition on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team after rushing for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2025 season at Northeastern State (Okla.). He topped the 100-yard mark four times while also contributing 35 receptions for 340 yards and three scores and averaging 19.9 yards on 13 kickoffs.
As a freshman, McKinney moved into the featured back role midway through the season in totaling 495 rushing yards and scoring 10 touchdowns in the final six games.
At the high school level, McKinney was an all-district honoree as a dual-threat quarterback at Waxahachie High School. He racked up 2,101 yards of total offense and accounted for 21 touchdowns — seven passing and 14 rushing.
McKinney is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
AMAJE PARKER
Parker ranked third on the team with 71 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks during the 2025 season for Virginia Military Institute. He added an interception, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
At the prep level, Parker was a four-year letterman for Albermarle High School while seeing action at both quarterback and free safety.
Parker is majoring in psychology.
HENRY PICKENS
Pickens played two seasons at Duquesne and finished the 2025 season with 22 tackles for loss and six pass breakups in 12 games.
Prior to his time at Duquesne, Pickens spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Southeast Missouri State, where he tallied 31 tackles and an interception return for touchdown. At the prep level, we was a two-year starter at Palmetto Prep Academy and earned an invitation to play in the Florida/Georgia Showcase.
Pickens is pursuing a general studies degree.
ANTHONY REZAC
Rezac spent two seasons at Notre Dame, but did not see any game action for the Fighting Irish in either 2024 or 2025.
In 2023, Rezac led Omaha Westside to a state championship and was honored as the Nebraska player of the Year by both Gatorade and MaxPreps, as well as a captain for all-state teams selected by the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star. During his senior season, he threw for 2,316 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding 905 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
His father, D.J., played one season at Indiana, while his brothers Dominic (Vanderbilt) and Teddy (Notre Dame) also have competed collegiately. He is majoring in business economics.
ASHTON SAYRE
Sayre moved into a starting role at defensive tackle for Minnesota State, Moorhead during the 2025 season, finishing the year with 31 tackles (20 solo), including 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also was a key contributor on special teams for the Dragons, collecting four blocked kicks over his three seasons.
Sayre also has been a two-time NSIC All-Academic honoree and is a business economics major.
At the prep level, Sayre was an all-district performer at Alexandria Area High School after being credited with 67 tackles, three sacks and eight tackles for loss as a senior.
EDDY SCHULTZ
Schultz spent the past two seasons at Portland State, where he caught 13 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in five games during the 2025 season. He also tallied 56 rushing yards on only seven carries.
Originally signed to play at Cal Poly, he caught one pass for 19 yards in his lone appearance with the Mustangs in 2023, then saw action in three games during his first season at Portland State.
Schultz tallied 22 receptions for 424 yards and five touchdowns his senior season at Mission Viejo High School, earning all-South Coast League recognition. He played his junior season at JSerra Catholic High School, where he returned four kickoffs for touchdowns and hauled in 22 receptions for 397 yards and three touchdowns en route to first-team all-Trinity League recognition and All-CIF-Southern Section honors.
For his educational pursuits, Schultz is majoring in business economics.
CARTER SITZMAN
Sitzman earned back-to-back first-team all-Northern Sun honors in 2024 and 2025 at Wayne State College. He led the league with 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a sophomore, while adding 7.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks in 2025. Sitzman also was named to the D2CCA All-Super Region 4 Second Team in 2024.
His career totals in three seasons with the Wildcats included 109 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. In addition, he was a two-time NSIC All-Academic honoree and is majoring in construction management.
Sitzman prepped at Lincoln Christian High School, where he was a two-year starter and earned Class C1 all-state recognition. He was selected for the 2022 Nebraska Shrine Bowl after registering 36 total tackles and 10 sacks while rushing for more than 500 yards as a senior.
COOPER STARKS
Starks saw limited action as an offensive lineman and on special teams units over the past two seasons at Vanderbilt.
During his high school career, he received Class 2A all-state accolades after helping North Mac to a conference title his senior season. He also was a member of the varsity basketball team and competed in the throwing events in track and field.
Starks is majoring in sport management.
JAE'SHAUN THOMAS
Thomas moved into a starting role at left tackle for a Minnesota-Duluth squad that qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs during the 2025 season.
At the prep level, Thomas played in the trenches on both offense and defense, earning all-conference honors twice at Catholic Memorial High School, which won a state title his junior season. He also competed in wrestling and track and field.
Thomas is an ecology and environmental science major.
ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The Jackrabbits finished the 2025 season with a 9-5 overall record and made their 14th consecutive appearance in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. SDSU won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023, and has claimed five Missouri Valley Football Conference titles since 2016.
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Dan Jackson Postgame Comments at Montana (12.06.2025)
Saturday, December 06
Football Highlights at Montana (12.06.2025)
Saturday, December 06
Gameday Eve - Montana (12.05.2025)
Thursday, December 04
Dan Jackson Weekly Press Conference (12.02.2025)
Tuesday, December 02