As the 2025 FCS offseason marches on, HERO Sports will look at five questions for the 2024 quarterfinalists.
Next up is South Dakota.
USD finished 11-3 last year, losing 31-17 at Montana State in the semifinals. Here are five questions for the Coyotes entering 2025.
Is USD The Top Challenger To NDSU?
South Dakota went from 3-8 in 2022 to 10-3 in 2023, featuring a quarterfinal run. The question last offseason was if that was lightning in a bottle, or if the Coyotes could build off of it in 2024.
The Yotes proved it was no fluke and got even better last season, finishing 11-3 with a trip to the semifinals. They were the only FCS team to defeat eventual national champs North Dakota State, and they nearly won at defending champs South Dakota State.
Now the question turns to if USD can take another step forward. Can the Yotes make it a round further and play for a national championship?
NDSU has some offseason questions but mostly looks loaded for another title run if it gets solid QB play. But who will be the top challenger to the Bison in 2025? Montana State and South Dakota State lose a bulk of their starting lineup, although they have a nice core coming back. UC Davis loses a great senior class. Idaho lost most of its top guys to graduation or the transfer portal. Quarterfinalists Mercer and UIW bring back a good amount of starters, but are they ready to step into Tier 1?
On paper, it looks like USD is the top challenger to knock NDSU back off its throne.
The Yotes bring back eight offensive starters if you include co-starting RB Charles Pierre Jr. The defense has some holes to fill, but it returns three standouts and its top two tacklers to build around.
They should go 3-1 in conference play, although their FBS opponent at Iowa State could be a competitive game. The Yotes go to NDSU, but they get playoff contenders Illinois State, North Dakota, and SDSU at home.
The talent is there, and the schedule is manageable for USD to keep its FCS ascension climbing in 2025.
How Does USD Look Under A New HC And Coordinators?
Head coach Bob Nielson announced his retirement in mid-January. His tremendous head coaching career spanned 32 seasons, the last nine being at USD. He won two Division II national championships at Minnesota Duluth and was then a three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Coach of the Year: 2015 at Western Illinois, and 2023 and 2024 at USD.
Nielson was a winner everywhere he went and knew how to build a program with his day-by-day, month-to-month, and year-to-year visions.
Defensive coordinator Travis Johansen, who was a hot commodity in the coaching world, was elevated to head coach. He hired Billy Kirch as defensive coordinator and promoted Miles Taylor to co-defensive coordinator.
The Yotes also lost offensive coordinator Josh Davis to Fresno State. Davis was a key figure in USD’s breakout seasons in the last two years. Tim Morrison was promoted to OC after two seasons as USD’s tight ends coach.
Don’t expect USD to look much different schematically. But how the program continues to build and evolve day-to-day, month-to-month will be key under new visions.
Can Aidan Bouman Go From Good To Great To Elite?
Last season was expected to be Bouman’s last at USD. But he had a change of heart and announced after the season that he’d be back.
It was massive news for the Yotes. Of the eight quarterfinalists, only two bring back their starting QB from the playoffs (Mercer being the other).
Bouman, who will be a sixth-year senior, has been USD’s starter since the end of the 2022 season. He was good in 2023, completing 67% of his passes for 2,551 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He was great in 2024, completing 69% of his throws for 2,959 yards, 19 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Bouman’s 165.8 passing efficiency was No. 5 in the FCS, and he finished as PFF’s No. 3-graded FCS quarterback behind Montana State’s Tommy Mellott and NDSU’s Cam Miller, both of who have graduated.
Bouman or Monmouth’s Derek Robertson have arguments to be considered the best returning FCS quarterback in 2025. Robertson was the No. 4-graded PFF quarterback, throwing for 3,937 yards, 31 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
The last few FCS national champions had elite quarterback play. If Bouman can go from good in 2023 to great in 2024 to elite in 2025, USD has a real shot at winning a natty.
Who Steps Up As The Go-To Pass-Catchers?
USD’s offense brings back plenty of experience, led by Bouman.
The o-line will be large and experienced after helping USD to the No. 6 FCS rushing offense. Four starters return: Adrian Hawkins (6’6″ 300 lbs), Bryce Henderson (6’8″ 320 lbs), Joe Cotton (6’7″ 315 lbs), and Jordan Larsen (6’3″ 310 lbs).
Leading rusher Charles Pierre Jr. is also back after a breakout season, totaling 1,244 rushing yards and 16 scores. The other 1,000-yard back, Travis Theis, has graduated.
The question will be pass-catchers. Standouts Carter Bell (WR) and JJ Galbreath (TE) graduated. Home-run hitter Quaron Adams is back, though. He averaged a crazy 30.17 yards per catch, finishing No. 2 on the team with 543 receiving yards and a team-high five receiving touchdowns. Javion Phelps and Jack Martens are also back, two guys that will be relied on more after flashing at different points last season. Both recorded around 200 receiving yards.
Can The Defense Reload?
USD lost three First Team All-MVFC defenders and six of its top 11 tacklers after the 2023 season. But the Coyotes got even better defensively in 2024. Strong depth via high-level recruiting allowed the Yotes to reload quickly on defense.
They’ll have to do so again in 2025 to fill out the 2-deep.
A few standouts remain, including the top tacklers in linebackers Gary Bryant III (103 tackles) and Nate Ewell (78). However, the next seven leaders in tackles are gone. Veteran DB Shahid Barros returns after totaling 41 tackles. Tim White (34 tackles) is also back in the secondary after earning a couple of starts last year.
USD could have one of the best offenses in the FCS next season. If the new-look defense can get close to what it fielded in 2024, which was a top-tier unit, the Yotes may be the most complete team in the subdivision.
