South Dakota ranks No. 5 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Coyotes finished 10-3 last year, losing 45-17 in the FCS quarterfinals to North Dakota State.
Here’s a look at the 2024 South Dakota football squad.
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Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (7)
2nd Team
FB Travis Theis (RB)
OL Joey Lombard
K Will Leyland
AP Carter Bell (WR)
Honorable Mention
RB Travis Theis
TE JJ Galbreath
WR Carter Bell
DL Nick Gaes
S Dennis Shorter
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (7)
Connor Morgan (DL), Cornell
Adrian Hawkins (OL), Monmouth
Mike Reid (DB), Monmouth
Garrett Coon (RB), Montana State
Jonathan Bunce (LB), St. Thomas
Wade Abrams (LB), Valpo
AJ Coons (WR), Western Illinois
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (6)
Quaron Adams (WR), Iowa State
Marqui Lowery Jr. (DB), Michigan State
Nevan Cremascoli (QB), Northern Illinois
Carter Hooper (DL), UConn
Hayden Erickson (TE), Utah
Bradley McGannon (DL), Washington
Transfers Lost To The FCS (4)
Earl Miller Jr. (DL) to Bethune-Cookman
Nate Thomas (RB) to Idaho
Cam Grays (DB) to Murray State
Michael Mansaray (RB) to Valpo
Transfers Lost To The FBS (0)
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Offensive Outlook
South Dakota’s offense returns nine starters from last year.
The Coyotes look to be more consistent after averaging 24 points per game in 2023, ranking No. 73 in the FCS. They bring back their starting quarterback, top two running backs, top two wide receivers, top tight end, and four starting offensive linemen.
Quarterback Aidan Bouman enters his junior season and his second full year as a starter. He transferred to USD from Iowa State in 2022, finishing the year as the starter. Bouman then started all 13 games last fall, completing 187-of-280 passes (67%) for 2,551 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. His 156.7 passing efficiency ranked 11th in the FCS, and PFF graded Bouman as the No. 9 overall FCS QB.
Bouman will have all of his favorite weapons back.
Wide receiver Carter Bell and tight end JJ Galbreath are two of the top returning players at their positions in the FCS after All-MVFC seasons. Last fall, Bell led the Yotes with 52 catches for 908 yards and five TDs. Galbreath was second with 36 receptions for 579 yards and five scores. Starting WR Jack Martens is also back as USD’s No. 3 pass-catcher, recording 28 catches for 405 yards and a touchdown.
USD returns its top two rushers as well. Three-time All-MVFC selection Travis Theis rushed for 840 yards and six TDs last year. Charles Pierre was a great second option, rushing for 473 yards and five TDs on only 78 carries in eight game appearances.
Up front, the Yotes return a large and experienced offensive line with four starters back: Joe Cotton (6’7″ 310 lbs), Bryce Henderson (6’8″ 325 lbs), Sam Kohls (6’4″ 325 lbs), and All-MVFC Second Teamer Joey Lombard (6’5″ 315 lbs).
Transfer Adrian Hawkins (6’6″ 290 lbs) adds experience too, starting three games last season at Monmouth.
Defensive Outlook
South Dakota fielded a strong defense in 2023, allowing 17.7 points per game to rank No. 8 in the FCS. The Coyotes lose three First Team All-MVFC defenders from last year’s squad: DL Brendan Webb, LB Brock Mogensen, and DB Myles Harden. But they do return six players who started at least five games last season, plus three FCS transfers who bring starting experience.
As far as production, the defense brings back two of its top five tacklers and five of its top 11.
USD’s secondary will be the most experienced, returning starting safeties Josiah Ganues and Dennis Shorter and starting cornerback Shahid Barros. Barros totaled 49 tackles, two interceptions, and two pass breakups last year. However, he did suffer a leg injury late in the season and could miss a chunk of this fall.
Shorter is a two-year starter coming off an All-MVFC season where he finished second on the team with 97 tackles. Ganues is a three-year starter, finishing fourth on the team last fall with 59 tackles. plus 3.5 TFLs and two interceptions.
The interior defensive line will also be veteran, returning three players who logged five or more starts. Nick Gaes (6’4″ 275 lbs) is an All-MVFC performer who had 42 tackles, 10 TFLs, and six sacks in 2023. Blake Holden (6’3″ 300 lbs) totaled 53 tackles and 2.5 TFLs. Mosai Newsom (6’5″ 310 lbs) recorded nine tackles.
New leaders at linebacker will need to emerge as USD loses standouts Brock Mogensen and Stephen Hillis to the NFL.
The Yotes landed three FCS transfers who were multi-year starters at their previous school: DT Connor Morgan (Cornell), CB Mike Reid (Monmouth), and LB Jonathan Bunce (St. Thomas). Reid was a two-time All-CAA selection, and Bunce was a two-time All-Pioneer Football League performer.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
South Dakota Football Schedule
8/29 vs Northern State
9/7 at Wisconsin
9/14 at Portland State
9/21 vs Drake
9/28 vs No. 9 Southern Illinois
10/5 at Murray State
10/12 vs Northern Iowa
10/19 at No. 23 Youngstown State
10/26 at No. 1 South Dakota State
11/9 vs Indiana State
11/16 at North Dakota
11/23 vs No. 2 North Dakota State
Bold indicates MVFC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
