South Dakota State ranks No. 3 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Jackrabbits finished 12-3 last year, losing 28-21 at North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals.
Here’s a look at the 2025 SDSU football squad.
Returning 2024 FCS All-Conference Players (3)
1st Team
RB Julius Loughridge (Fordham transfer)
2nd Team
OL Nate Adams (SFA transfer)
Honorable Mention
DL Kobe Clayborne
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (5)
Julius Loughridge (RB), Fordham
Zayid Aziz (DB), Georgetown
Mason Brosseau (DL), Sac State
Coleman Kuntz (TE), Sac State
Nate Adams (OL), Stephen F. Austin
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (12)
Jayden Oliver (DB), Buffalo
Jamari Holliman (DB), FIU
Graham Eben (LB), Iowa
Jalyn Thompson (TE), Iowa
Reese Osgood (WR), Iowa
Jackson Powers (DB), Minnesota
Koby Bretz (DB), Nebraska
Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda (WR), Nebraska
Alex Bullock (WR), Nebraska
Luke Marble (QB), Northern Illinois
Kevin Carrigan (P/K), UCF
Nate White (RB), Wisconsin
Transfers Lost To The FCS (2)
Kentrell Prejean (WR) to Southeastern Louisiana
Dawson Rudd (OL) to Tarleton State
Transfers Lost To The FBS (21)
Davin Stoffel (TE) to Illinois
Bryce Hawthorne (DL) to Iowa
Mark Gronowski (QB) to Iowa
Evan Beerntsen (OL) to Northwestern
Griffin Wilde (WR) to Northwestern
Matthew Durrance (DB) to Washington State
Cale Reeder (DB) to Washington State
Caleb Francl (LB) to Washington State
Jack Stevens (K) to Washington State
Angel Johnson (RB) to Washington State
Kirby Vorhees (RB) to Washington State
Fernando Lecuona (DE) to Washington State
Max Baloun (DL) to Washington State
Colby Humphrey (DB) to Washington State
Maxwell Woods (RB) to Washington State
Trey Ridley (DB) to Washington State
Tucker Large (DB) to Washington State
Carsten Reynolds (LB) to Washington State
Nick Bakken (OL) to Washington State
Anthony Palano (LB) to Washington State
Beau Baker (TE) to Washington State
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Offensive Outlook
SDSU’s roster and coaching staff had a shocking offseason overhaul when head coach Jimmy Rogers accepted the Washington State head coaching job and then took his entire staff with as well as more than 15 current SDSU players and several 2025 recruits.
The Jackrabbits still have a solid core that decided to stay, a combination of experienced players and/or younger players who were being groomed to be the next standouts. They hired a familiar trio to lead the coaching staff and potentially upgraded at some spots. And they landed some splash transfers that expect to be immediate impact players. While it looked like the cupboard was going to be bare in early January, SDSU landed on its feet pretty well, all things considered, and is expected to continue competing at or near the top of the FCS.
Dan Jackson was hired as head coach, a former SDSU player who spent most of the 2010s on the coaching staff. He hired Eric Eidsness as his offensive coordinator and Brian Bergstrom as his defensive coordinator, two familiar names who held those same roles in Brookings during SDSU’s national rise in the 2010s.
Personnel-wise, SDSU loses its standout QB, top three running backs, and top wide receiver. The Jacks have three offensive linemen with full-time starting experience on the 2025 roster, return its No. 2 and 3 wide receivers from last year, brought in a two-time First Team All-Conference FCS running back, and have a heir apparent at QB.
Mark Gronowski will go down as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in FCS history. He won two national titles and tied the FCS record for most wins by a quarterback. It was known last summer that 2024 would be Gronowski’s last at SDSU, and he elected to grad transfer to Iowa this offseason instead of declaring for the NFL Draft.
In steps Chase Mason at quarterback.
Gronowski said last year that one reason 2024 would be his last at SDSU despite having another year of eligibility was to give Mason the reins. Mason, an elite South Dakota high school athlete, arrived at SDSU in 2022 after beginning his college sports career playing baseball at Nebraska. Mason spent 2023 and 2024 as SDSU’s backup and was utilized with his dual-threat abilities.
Last season, Mason rushed 46 times for 464 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. In 19 career appearances, he’s gone 33/52 passing for 400 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Mason is 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds with breakaway speed. He is said to have an effortless cannon of an arm. From a pure physical standpoint, Mason has an All-American-level ceiling. Pre-snap adjustments, reading a defense post-snap, pocket presence, protecting himself, etc. are all to be determined when the lights come on.
Mason will have an experienced offensive line in front of him.
Last year’s starting tackles, Sam Hagen (6’6″ 315 lbs) and Quinten Christensen (6’5″ 300 lbs), are back. Guard William Paepke (6’5″ 295 lbs) also returns after playing more than 300 snaps in 2024. SDSU added Nate Adams (6’7″ 321 lbs) from Stephen F. Austin, where he started two seasons and was a 2024 All-Southland Conference selection.
Two transfers are expected to step into lead running back roles after SDSU lost its three leading rushers. Wisconsin’s Nate White had a standout spring. And Fordham’s Julius Loughridge was a splash addition for the Jacks. Loughridge is a two-time All-Patriot League First Team selection. He rushed for 1,044 yards and nine touchdowns last fall, 1,146 yards and 10 scores in 2023, and 896 yards and eight TDs in 2022.
A new No. 1 wide receiver also needs to emerge. Last year’s No. 2 and 3 WRs are back. Grahm Goering recorded 25 catches for 360 yards and five touchdowns. Lofton O’Groske had 15 receptions for 212 yards and one touchdown as a true freshman. Redshirt freshman Jack Smith and/or true freshman Landon Dulaney, two standout South Dakota products, are also expected to make big impacts sooner than later in their collegiate careers.
At tight end, David Alpers (9 catches, 164 yards, 1 TD) returns after playing more than 400 snaps last year, and Greyton Gannon (9 catches, 113 yards, 1 TD) is another returner who played more than 200 snaps. Sac State’s Coleman Kuntz transfers in as another FCS addition who was an impact player at his previous school. Kuntz had 20 catches for 236 yards in 2023 and 25 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns in nine games last year.
Defensive Outlook
SDSU’s defense loses its top eight tacklers from 2024. The Jacks return five defensive lineman who played at least 200 snaps last year and a standout group of young linebackers.
The front seven looks to be a strength for the Jacks entering 2025.
SDSU will test its depth and development on the d-line again. The group is highlighted by Kobe Clayborne (6’0″ 275 lbs), who is expected to be one of the best interior defensive lineman in the FCS after an All-MVFC season. Last year, he had 34 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks. DE Dawson Ripperda (6’4″ 245 lbs) logged more than 355 snaps in 2024, totaling 23 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks. DE Reis Kirschenman (6’4″ 245 lbs) added more than 230 snaps as a freshman with six TFLs and five QB hurries.
Logan Green (6’4″ 290 lbs) and Aaron Wolfcale-Holsten (6’2″ 285 lbs) both played more than 200 snaps on the interior last fall and both tallied three TFLs. Mason Brosseau (6’3″ 276 lbs) is another Sac State transfer who will play a key role. He started for the Hornets in 2024 and recorded 20 tackles, five TFLs, and 3.5 sacks.
The linebackers lack reps, but it is a highly thought of group as they’ve waited in the wings behind veterans over the last couple of years. The former coaching staff certainly pushed hard for some of these guys to join them at WSU. Joe Ollman and Chase Van Tol are expected to have breakout seasons. Cullen McShane and Bryce Johnson will also be key players, while Matt Goehring will factor in as a two-time all-conference performer arriving from the University of Sioux Falls (D2).
The secondary is the biggest question mark for SDSU entering this fall. SDSU loses its top eight defensive backs in reps.
Cornerback Aydan Dautermann is back after playing more than 180 snaps in 2024 and registering 16 tackles and two pass breakups. CB Myles Taylor played more than 120 snaps last year and also returns. CB Jalen B. Lee, safety Noah Thompson, and safety Dontay Johnson all saw limited time last year but will be factors this fall.
Two transfers figure to be in the mix as well.
Safety Zayid Aziz arrives from Georgetown. He played nearly 1,000 combined snaps in 2023 and 2024, combining for 63 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one interception, and eight pass breakups. Jayden Oliver has FBS starting experience at Buffalo in 2022 and 2023, but he missed all of 2024 due to injury. In 2023, he had 18 tackles, one interception, and five pass breakups.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
South Dakota State Football Schedule
8/30 vs No. 12 Sacramento State
9/6 at No. 2 Montana State
9/13 vs Drake
9/27 vs Mercyhurst
10/4 at Youngstown State
10/11 vs Northern Iowa
10/18 at Murray State
10/25 vs No. 1 North Dakota State
11/1 vs Indiana State
11/8 at No. 4 South Dakota
11/15 vs No. 7 Illinois State
11/22 at RV North Dakota
Bold indicates MVFC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
