Three Coyotes started their career in Ames, Iowa in a Power 4 program. Enter the transfer portal and the trio of young men have bought into the culture and goals of head coach Bob Nielson and staff, their eyesight on things bigger than themselves and their individual accolades.
 
Aidan Bouman, Tristan Michaud, and Quaron Adams all began their collegiate football careers in the red and gold of Iowa State University, before their paths crossed again among familiar faces in Coyote uniforms.
 
A big reason all three of them landed in Vermillion? Josh Rosenthal.
 
"I got to be a big part of their recruiting process (at Iowa State) for all those guys. Once we saw them in the portal, we all knew it fit what we were looking for in different aspects for our team. It was a no brainer because all these guys are really good people," commented Rosenthal.
 
It starts with people and putting the kids first, something the South Dakota staff emphasizes in the recruiting process. First-year wide receivers coach Matt Vitzthum echoes Rosenthal, "When you find a transfer, it's about finding a guy that's a good fit in the program and one that fits the culture. (The Iowa State transfers), first and foremost, have come in here and bought into the team. It hasn't been about their individual accolades or pasts. They've both come in here and be a really productive member of this team, adding value to the program."
 
Bouman (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.) began his career as a Cyclone, being the first and only school to offer out of high school. Speaking highly of the staff at Iowa State which at the time included current South Dakota Director of Personnel Josh Rosenthal, helped USD land the lefty signal caller upon his entering of the transfer portal.
 
"Once I entered the portal, I heard from (Rosenthal) right away. He was always there for me throughout the recruiting process – and he's still there for me today," said Bouman.
 
Rosenthal was the first to contact Bouman when he entered the portal, pulling on his Iowa State connections and relationships already developed with the quarterback. "It starts with people," noted Rosenthal. "And putting the kids first and it means a lot to me. At the end of the day, you win with people."
 
Though Ames was a great learning experience for Bouman, a member of a Power 4 program, helped him to expand his horizons as a quarterback. But the Minnesota native has not looked back since making his decision to transfer to the University of South Dakota.
 
"I haven't looked back since (coming to South Dakota). This is the place to be and I'm really glad I made the decision to be a Coyote."
 
Entering the bye week of the 2024 season, the quarterback sits one yard away from 5,000 career passing yards, while cracking the top-10 in program history in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.
 
Hailing from Canada, junior wide out Michaud (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) found it challenging to get looks and offers out of high school. He attributes having Iowa State look at him early helped his recruiting process but kept going back to the staff at ISU. He would commit early to Iowa State and embark on his Cyclone journey for the 2021 season, off the heels of the 2020 Covid season.
 
Michaud would also spend two seasons at Iowa State, competing and built some chemistry with Bouman on the scout team during the 2021 season. Michaud would redshirt his first season in Ames (2021) and would appear in the season finale against TCU during the 2022 season. He talks highly of the opportunity to play with and learn from receivers at Iowa State like Mike Rose and Anthony Johnson Jr.
 
"(They) really help you grow as a football player and from there you can look back and see the growth you've made over those couple of years," noted Michaud on working with wide outs at ISU. "These guys helped me grow my football knowledge and skills, just by going against them every day."
 
It was a hard decision for Michaud to enter the transfer portal, he entered it with some nervousness. Mirroring Bouman's experience, in stepped Rosenthal into Michaud's life.
 
"(Rosenthal) was the one who recruited me at Iowa State and we always had a good relationship," said Michaud. "When he reached out, it was a good feeling because I knew I had a place to go."
 
Since joining the team for the 2023 season, Michaud has played in all 21 games as a Coyote and has brought down eight catches for 90 yards.
 
He looks back at everything that happened to him and is thankful for the people he has met in his football journey. The 6-6 wide receiver has no regrets because his journey has led him to the man he is today.
 
Adams (So., Phoenix, Ariz.) also spent his first two collegiate seasons in Ames (2022-23) before transferring to the University of South Dakota.
 
By the time the decision was made to enter the transfer portal, it was a nerve wracking, not knowing what to expect in that process. The common thread continued as Rosenthal was one of the first to also reach out to Adams and get him to see campus at South Dakota.
 
With the connection of Rosenthal and his confidence in Adams as a person and a football player, he came on campus. Before making his decision to transfer to USD, Quaron sat down with, by then, Coyote QB1 and former Cyclone in Bouman. After the discussions with Bouman, Michaud, and the coaching staff; Adams was sold on the vision of USD football.
 
In just his first season in a USD uniform, Adams has proven to be a deep threat in an offense that has seen its explosive play rate increase. He leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in yards per catch going into the Coyote bye week. He's brought down 10 catches for 250 yards with a pair of touchdowns in his first eight games as a Coyote.
 
"I've learned that the dedication of getting up, wanting to be a better version of yourself every day," said Adams. "Being around this group of men, these coaches, they've built that foundation of me becoming a better man in more ways than just football."
 
Now in his first season as wide receivers coach, Vitzthum has been instrumental in creating a culture in the USD wide receiver room and it has begun to become fruitful on the football field.
 
"The coolest thing about coaching receivers is that diversity in backgrounds and personalities," said Vitzthum. "That's one of the best thing about football in general is when you can combine a group of human beings that are vastly different, but we're all striving to accomplish one goal and on one mission – that's what I love about coaching football."
 
The transfers have become what Coach Nielson and staff have worked to build up in the program.
 
"It starts with Coach Nielson and it bleeds down to everyone else on staff. We all have the same goal, the same expectation, and we're all speaking the same language. It's a true team here, it makes it easy when everyone is on the same page." (Rosenthal)
 
The journey – and story – continues for the Iowa State transfers and the 2024 Coyotes with a lot more yet to be written.