Biographical information on each signee (.pdf)

VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota head football coach Bob Nielson is pleased to announce the signing of 13 student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent. In addition, Nielson announced that three other high school standouts have accepted an offer of admissions to the University of South Dakota and plan to join the Coyote football program.

It's a class that came together during a time when a majority of the recruiting cycle was in an NCAA dead period, where coaches weren't permitted to travel off campus and with little opportunity for prospects and parents to visit campus. Still, Nielson and his staff continued their ability to attract players from the state, the region and beyond. Five of the 13 signees hail from Florida.

"Our staff does a great job of identifying young men who fit our environment both athletically and academically," said Nielson. "Having young men who have been successful at USD from those areas, including Florida, has been key. As a result, you're able to go back to those areas. The relationships we have now, and it's a credit to our staff and in particular Phil Ockinga and Abdul Hodge in Florida, that have paid rich dividends for us."

Defensive lineman Earl Miller Jr. and running back Antonio Outler are three-star recruits included from the Sunshine State. Outler joins current Coyotes Jakari and Vincent Starling and Jailen Holman from Coach Al Shipmen's program at Palm Beach Lakes High School. Offensive lineman Sam Kohls is the younger brother of current Coyote Ben Kohls and is one of two signees from South Dakota. Caden Ellingson, an offensive lineman from Tea, is the other South Dakotan.

"I'm excited across this entire recruiting class," said Nielson. "We have outstanding people and outstanding football players who are going to be able to impact our program in an immediate fashion."

The Coyotes enter their first spring season with just 13 seniors and a large group of returners on the roster so Nielson anticipated a smaller class than perhaps other years. That said, he anticipates a few more additions to the 2021 group.

"Your recruiting is never done, and I would guess that we will add two to three more to this class in a combination of freshmen or transfers," said Nielson. "Our players are excited to be headed into a spring season, and with the fact that our retention was so high and that a lot of our seniors plan to return for the fall, we knew numbers would be smaller. At the same time, it's a class that definitely met our priorities and will be a great class for the future of Coyote football."

An alphabetical listing of South Dakota's early signing class follows:
 

2021 South Dakota Football Early Signing Class

 

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown	Previous School	Hudl
Matteo Bonnin	WR	6-3	210	Hudson, Wis.	Hudson	Link
Danny Browdy Jr.	DL	6-4	205	Bushnell, Fla.	South Sumter	Link
Dominic Caggiano	DL	6-4	230	Runnells, Iowa	Southeast Polk	Link
*Nyle Dickel	LB	6-3	220	Minneapolis, Minn.	Washburn	Link
Caden Ellingson	OL	6-7	250	Tea, S.D.	Tea Area	Link
Sam Kohls	OL	6-4	310	Sioux Falls, S.D.	Roosevelt	Link
Makai Lovett	WR	6-2	205	Miami, Fla.	Miami Senior	Link
*Jack Martens	WR	5-11	180	Cumberland, Wis.	Cumberland	Link
Matt Medill	LB	6-4	200	Roca, Neb.	Norris	Link
Earl Miller Jr.	DL	6-4	270	Riviera Beach, Fla.	American Heritage Delray	Link
Antonio Outler	RB	5-10	195	West Palm Beach, Fla.	Palm Beach Lakes	Link
Javion Phelps	WR	6-3	175	Orlando, Fla.	Boone	Link
Gerrit Poncius	OL	6-7	275	Buffalo, Minn.	Buffalo	Link
Hunter Push	OL	6-4	275	Omaha, Neb.	Omaha North	Link
Austin Rosetta	LB	6-4	200	Shawnee, Kan.	De Soto	Link
*Stephen Rusnak	K	6-1	170	Clarkston, Mich.	Clarkston	Link

* - Players have accepted an offer of admissions to the University of South Dakota and plan to join the Coyote football program