South Dakota is coming off a 10-5 season, advancing to the FCS quarterfinals for the third straight year.
As the page turns to the 2026 season, here’s a look at the USD football squad.
Matt Vitzthum enters his first season as head coach, getting promoted from co-offensive coordinator. He replaces Travis Johansen, who left to be Rutgers’ defensive coordinator after one season as USD’s HC.
Returning 2025 FCS All-Conference Players (0)
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (3)
John Starman (DT), Brown
Kevin Dodard (S), Lafayette
Angelo Saroukos (OL), Portland State
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (11)
Kael Kolarik (DB), Iowa
Sam Same (LB), Iowa State
Bryce Cohoon (WR), Kansas
Asher Tomaszewski (DT), Kansas State
Neeo Avery (DE), Maryland
Ethan Carrier (DB), Minnesota
Harrison Brun (S), Minnesota
Jackson Proctor (QB), Northern Illinois
Jake Utley (OL), UTEP
Jake Riggs (OL), UTEP
Brook Honore (P), Cal
Transfers Lost To The FCS (3)
Jahiem Williams (DB) to Lindenwood
Ashton Paine (S) to Montana
Jamal Streeter (WR) to Prairie View A&M
Transfers Lost To The FBS (7)
Roman Tillmon (S) to Boise State
Jacob Arop (OL) to Cal
Larenzo Fenner (WR) to Cincinnati
L.J. Phillips Jr. (RB) to Iowa
Caden Crawford (DL) to Iowa State
Mikey Munn (DB) to Rutgers
Tyler Ebel (P) to Vanderbilt
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Offensive Outlook
South Dakota’s offense loses its starting quarterback, top running back from last season, top two receivers, and five of its top six offensive linemen. The Coyotes return two running backs who earned 2024 All-MVFC honors but missed most of 2025 due to injury.
USD begins life without quarterback Aidan Bouman, who was a 3.5-year starter and holds multiple program passing records. The Yotes have a healthy QB competition between a veteran who knows the system, a promising young prospect, and a transfer with FCS starting experience.
Nevan Cremascoli is a redshirt senior who spent the last two seasons as Bouman’s backup. He was at FBS Northern Illinois in 2022 and 2023, including starting three games in 2022. Austyn Modrzewski is a 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman with high upside. He was a three-star high school recruit and a two-time Gatorade State Football Player of the Year in Colorado, throwing for nearly 12,000 career passing yards at Mountain Vista. Jackson Proctor is a transfer, arriving from Northern Illinois, but spent 2022-24 at FCS Dartmouth. For the Big Green, Proctor went 10-2 as a starter and threw for 2,355 yards (70% completion), 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions while rushing for 617 yards and five scores.
A strong backfield will accompany the new starting QB.
Charles Pierre Jr. returns for his senior season after missing most of last year with an injury. He was a top-tier FCS running back in 2024, averaging 7.4 yards per carry with 1,244 yards and 16 TDs on the ground. Pierre was PFF’s No. 5-graded FCS running back while earning All-MVFC First Team honors and multiple All-American accolades. Keyondray Jones-Logan also returns after being limited to one game last year due to injury. In 2024, Jones-Logan was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection as an all-purpose player. He rushed 36 times for 248 yards and two TDs, caught 22 passes for 92 yards and a score, and returned 10 kicks for 361 yards and two more touchdowns.
Carson Fletcher and Reid Watkins are back as well after being No. 2 and 3 in rushing yards last year. Fletcher totaled 478 yards on the ground, and Watkins added 308.
USD has to replace its top two receivers from last year. Tysen Boze returns, finishing No. 3 last fall with 19 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Tennel Bryant will have more opportunities for explosive plays, catching nine passes for 193 yards (21.4 YPC) last year.
Jesse Miller brings back strong experience at tight end, playing more than 620 snaps and recording 20 catches for 158 yards and a score. Dallas Holmes is back, too. He was limited to eight games last season before an injury sidelined him. Holmes was a 2024 Second Team All-Patriot League performer at Lafayette and looks to replicate that level of play in 2026 with his 6-foot-6 and 250-pound frame.
The offensive line will have a new look, needing to replace five of its top six players. Brock Woolf (6’5″ 290 lbs) is the lone returner, starting 13 games and playing more than 600 snaps. Brendon Crispe (6’9″ 320 lbs) is a candidate to step up after logging about 115 reps last year. A couple of transfers bring in solid experience. Jake Utley (6’6″ 315 lbs) played nearly 480 snaps at FBS UTEP in 2025. Angelo Saroukos (6’4″ 315 lbs) logged 200+ snaps last fall at FCS Portland State.
The Yotes will field a strong backfield in depth and talent. Leaders on the outside need to emerge, while the offensive line will be a scrutinized group tasked with protecting a new starting quarterback and blocking for one of the best running backs in the FCS. And of course, the biggest spotlight will be on the play of who wins that starting QB1 role.
Defensive Outlook
USD returns five of its top 11 tacklers from last season and six of its 14 players who played at least 250 snaps.
Linebacker will be a strength as Gabriel Hardman, Wade Abrams, and Nyle Dickel are back.
Hardman is the most productive returning tackler, finishing No. 3 on the team with 90 stops, including five tackles for loss and two sacks. Dickel totaled 57 tackles, four TFLs, and six quarterback hurries. Abrams added 49 stops and two TFLs.
In the secondary, USD has to replace its top three safeties. However, Tim White, who was named a team captain last year but missed the season due to injury, returns. Cornerback RJ Stewart is also back. Stewart led the defense in snaps last year and was named a Freshman All-American, recording 58 tackles, three TFLs, three interceptions, and seven pass breakups.
Kevin Dodard brings in strong experience at safety via the transfer portal. Last year at FCS Lafayette, he played nearly 600 snaps and had 52 tackles, two interceptions, and 11 pass breakups.
Chris Dixon (6’2″ 310 lbs) leads the way up front. Last year, he played 740+ snaps and totaled 69 tackles, four TFLs, three QB hurries, and four pass breakups. Nathan Laperi (6’3″ 260 lbs) is the most experienced returning defensive end after playing nearly 330 snaps. He recorded 17 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and two QB hurries.
A few transfers look to get into the rotation as d-line depth is key in making deep playoff runs.
John Starman (6’3″ 285 lbs) arrives from FCS Brown. He played around 205 snaps in 2024 and nearly 350 snaps last fall, totaling 32 tackles and 3.5 TFLs in those two seasons. Tyler Sapit (6’2″ 240 lbs) is a D2 addition from Bemidji State, where he was a 2025 All-NSIC North First Team performer with 32 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. Another D2 transfer with strong production is Isaiah Wray (6’5″ 255 lbs). At Concordia-St. Paul, he started 19 games in the last two seasons and totaled 105 tackles, 14 TFLs, and four sacks.
USD is an intriguing team heading into this season. The Yotes have been one of the most consistent FCS programs in recent years as the only team to make three consecutive quarterfinals, including a run to the 2024 semifinals. But with two head coaching changes in two years, how much is the foundation rocking? They hired from within both times, providing stability. This fall, though, is the biggest reloading project during USD’s recent rise toward the top of the FCS.
2026 Preseason Preview Central
South Dakota Football Schedule
8/29 vs CCSU
9/5 at Northern Colorado
9/12 vs Eastern Washington
9/19 at Boise State
9/26 at Youngstown State
10/3 vs Indiana State
10/10 vs Southern Illinois
10/17 at Murray State
10/24 vs North Dakota
10/31 at South Dakota State
11/14 vs Northern Iowa
11/21 at Illinois State
Bold indicates MVFC contests
