South Dakota football held its annual media day Tuesday which included a morning practice, 1-on-1 interviews with players and coaches, and a tour of the renovated west side of the DakotaDome.
You can listen to head coach
Bob Nielson's press conference in its entirety by clicking on the video link above. Headlines and a few insights on the happenings are listed below:
Special Teams First
Most coaches during media day press conferences start by running through their offensive personnel, flipping to the defensive side and concluding with special teams. Not this year. Nielson made it a point to begin the discussion with his specialists and for good reason. Punter
Brady Schutt and long snapper
Dalton Godfrey are two of the best at their positions, and
Mason Lorber was the highest scoring kicker in Valley play back in 2019. Nielson also introduced Iowa State transfer
Eddie Ogamba and hinted their might be a spot for his strong leg on the kickoff team.
Run Game
Running the football and stopping the run are two keys any coach will throw out during a media day press conference, and that was no different Tuesday. But Nielson got specific when he talked about the improvement he needs and is getting along the offensive line. The Coyotes return all five starters and freshmen
Colton Harberts and
Joey Lombard (who are actually in their third year) were singled out for depth as was junior
Austin Wallace (who is actually in his fifth year), who has 15 career starts. Defensively, Nielson mentioned more 4-3 personnel groupings to aid run support.
RBG
Coach Nielson spoke of a committee approach to his group of running backs eager to take the carries vacated by
Kai Henry. Returners
Travis Theis, Mike Mansaray and
Shomari Lawrence have shown promise in the past. Newcomers
Antonio Outler and
Nate Thomas look the part as well. Henry has taken 45 percent of the team's carries the past three seasons. Expect an even more balanced distribution in 2021.
Freshmen?
There are 65 freshmen listed on the Coyotes' roster, and while the label fits from an eligibility standpoint, the number of "freshmen" is a tad inflated. There are 16 Coyotes listed as redshirt freshmen who are starting their third season. There are 29 listed as freshmen who are starting their second season. That leaves 20 "true" freshmen on the roster.
On the other side of the coin, there are eight seniors who are starting their sixth season of college football.
DeValon Whitcomb is starting his seventh!
Headlines
Experienced USD football team welcome return to normalcy - Barry Poe, Sioux City Journal
Veteran linebackers to lead Coyote defense - Bailey Zubke, Yankton Press & Dakotan
USD offensive attack looks to build off several returning starters - Tanner Castora, KELO
Coyotes off to a good start in fall camp - Mark Ovenden, Dakota News Now
South Dakota freshman quarterback Carson Camp building off solid year one - KCAU-TV
Large offensive load carried by experienced freshmen - Argus Leader
