As the 2024 FCS offseason marches on, HERO Sports will look at five questions for the 2023 quarterfinalists.
First up is South Dakota State.
SDSU finished 15-0 last year, winning its second straight FCS national title by beating Montana 23-3 in Frisco. Here are five questions the Jackrabbits face entering 2024.
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Is Mark Gronowski Returning?
Here are words that will make FCS fans wince: Mark Gronowski still has two years of eligibility remaining. His true freshman year in the 2021 spring was a free year of eligibility due to COVID. He redshirted in the 2021 fall recovering from a knee injury suffered in the spring national title game. That leaves the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons for his four years of eligibility.
Here are words that will make FCS fans a little happier: There is a realistic chance that Gronowski won’t finish his college career as a Jackrabbit.
The question is when his final season at SDSU will be. Is it 2024? 2025? Or did his final season already happen?
Mingling with SDSU fans in Frisco, the No. 1 talking point wasn’t the national championship game against Montana. It was if Gronowski was going to enter the transfer portal in the days after the game. An obvious landing spot would be Northwestern. SDSU offensive coordinator Zach Lujan took the same job there, it’s close to Gronowski’s hometown, and Big Ten quarterbacks can earn a handsome NIL deal that most FCS coaches would be jealous of.
Despite a January article on the Chicago Tribune website where a writer, who talked to Gronowski for a story on him winning the Walter Payton Award and another FCS title, wrote the words “Gronowski, who will graduate in May with a degree in mechanical engineering, intends to pursue an NFL career at some point. But he has two years of eligibility left and is planning to return to South Dakota State.” … reports from SDSU media said Gronowski is still undecided. A rather odd mixup and/or assumption from the writer that created a rollercoaster of emotions for Jackrabbit (and FCS) fans.
A timetable for when a decision will be officially made is unknown. The next window to enter the transfer portal is April 15-30. But Gronowski could enter beyond those dates since he’ll be a grad transfer. Players who aren’t yet grad transfers who decide they want to play for a new team in the fall and don’t want to do spring ball with their current team could also technically announce anytime that they “intend” to enter the transfer portal without actually entering the portal until the next window.
My hunch is the longer Gronowski remains publicly undecided, the better SDSU fans should feel. Teams typically prefer transfers, especially QBs, to get enrolled for the second semester and take part in spring ball, which is why the first transfer portal window is during bowl season and the FCS playoffs. Also, as Gronowski does offseason workouts and potentially spring ball with the 2024 version of SDSU football, it may make it an increasingly difficult decision to leave.
My gut, for whatever that’s worth, tells me Gronowski will be back at SDSU for the 2024 season. And then he’ll explore his options in 2025. That is not an educated guess. Just purely a gut feeling. Gut feelings treated me well in December and January. It had me predict the second-round, quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship game results with 100% accuracy (not to brag). My gut was also accurate in thinking Montana QB Clifton McDowell was probably going to transfer while WR/RS Junior Bergen was going to stay despite likely P5 NIL offers coming his way.
We’ll see if that gut-feeling streak continues or ends with Gronowski’s decision.
One point some have made on why Gronowski may leave, besides the Northwestern connection, is that he has nothing left to accomplish at SDSU. I disagree. The Jacks have been wildly talented in the last two seasons. Now, many of those guys are pursuing the NFL. If Gronowski comes back and leads a new-look starting SDSU offense to a three-peat, which is very obtainable if he returns, his legendary status will increase even more. Gronowski is also 13 wins away from breaking the FCS record for QB victories. There’s something to be said about becoming the most accomplished quarterback in FCS history, especially when there’s a 2025 season to explore P5 destinations.
NFL Draft stock is said to be a big part of Gronowski’s decision. Trying the FBS now is high-risk, high-reward. He’ll need to continue honing his craft to improve his future draft status, whether it be mechanics, getting better at certain throws, or just continuing to grow more comfortable reading defenses and making pre-snap checks. One more season of development at SDSU may create more confidence in his ability to take over a P5 program as its 2025 starting quarterback.
How Does SDSU Look Without Several Household Names?
The Jacks reached three national championship games in four seasons and have won back-to-back titles with a nucleus of standout players who stuck together. Many of those players have now exhausted their eligibility.
SDSU has replaced great seniors in the past and has gotten better as part of its rise. But the 2023 senior class will go down as one of the best in FCS history. How well SDSU reloads will determine if it can go from an elite team to an elite, dynasty-like program.
It will still be a senior-laden squad in 2024. There were 34 seniors on the 2023 roster. On the current 2024 roster, there are 30 seniors. Some of those are juniors turning into seniors. Others are 2023 seniors using another year of eligibility. Notable 2024 sixth-year seniors are All-American LB Adam Bock, starting OL Evan Beerntsen, All-Conference CB Dalys Beanum, and starting kicker/punter Hunter Dustman.
The Jackrabbits had great depth in 2023. Some of those depth and rotational players now need to step into bigger roles. SDSU returns four offensive starters (including Gronowski) and five defensive starters.
Who Are The New Playmakers On Offense?
SDSU loses its top three pass catchers (Jadon Janke, Jaxon Janke, Zach Heins) and leading rusher Isaiah Davis. All four will get a shot in the NFL.
Six-foot-2 Griffin Wilde looks to be the next big WR for the Jacks. As a true freshman last season, he caught 20 passes for 399 yards and six TDs.
The backfield has the potential to remain one of the best in the FCS despite the loss of Davis. Amar Johnson is back after rushing for 801 yards and four TDs in 2023. Angel Johnson has big-time potential in a larger role. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry in 2023, rushing for 381 yards and five TDs.
Gronowski returning as the best FCS quarterback will obviously be a huge boost. If he doesn’t, SDSU likes its backup QB Chase Mason, a 6-foot-4 and 230-pound junior who had FBS-level interest for baseball and football. The South Dakota native began his college career on the Nebraska baseball team before transferring to play football at SDSU in January 2022.
Can The O-Line Keep Its Elite Status?
SDSU’s offensive line loses Mason McCormick and Garret Greenfield from its left side, two potential NFL Draft picks. Right tackle John O’Brian is also gone after two solid seasons as a starter.
Evan Beerntsen returns at right guard. Gus Miller also returns after winning the 2023 Rimington Award as the best FCS center.
SDSU’s rise as a national power has a lot to do with its offensive line going from good to great. Developing young talent to plug and play up front will be put to the test in 2024.
Can The Defense Be As Dominant?
The 2023 SDSU defense will go down as one of the strongest in FCS history.
It allowed 9.27 points per game, which is the best in the subdivision since the 2003 Monmouth team allowed 8.5 PPG. SDSU held playoff opponents to 0, 12, 0, and 3 points.
Five defensive starters return. Plenty more are back with a lot of playing experience.
SDSU may not be as dominant in 2024. But it very well could be the best unit in the FCS again.
The Jacks rotated a lot on the d-line, and that depth will come in handy as it loses five seniors who played a lot of snaps. Jarod DePriest looks to lead that unit on the interior. A consistent pass-rusher on the edge needs to emerge.
The linebackers lose some special talent, including the team’s two leading tacklers Jason Freeman and Isaiah Stalbird. Adam Bock does return for his sixth year after a couple of seasons slowed by injuries. When he’s fully healthy, he’s a top-tier linebacker nationally. Daeton Mcgaughy, Caleb Francl, and Graham Spalding are familiar names who also return with good experience.
The secondary could be elite again despite losing lockdown CB DyShawn Gales. Dalys Beanum is a standout on his side at cornerback. All of the safeties return after a fantastic, and probably underrated, 2023 season. Tucker Large is primed for an All-American year. Cale Reeder is another standout, while Colby Huerter is also a proven commodity.
