ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Celebrating the conference's 40^th season in 2024, the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) has announced a 40-Year Anniversary Team. South Dakota had four former football athletes named to the teams: one offensive player, one defensive player, and a pair of punters.
 
The 40-Year Anniversary team was split into position groups including quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, place kickers, defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, and punters.
 
JJ Galbreath, tight end (2021-24)
Concluding his South Dakota career as one of the best tight ends in program history, Galbreath helped bring the Coyote football program to new heights with trips to the FCS Quarterfinals (2023) and Semifinals (2024) in his three FCS Playoff appearances in the red and white.
 
A two-time (2023-24) All-MVFC tight end, Galbreath was instrumental for Bouman on the receiving game. His breakout season came in 2023 when he posted single-season bests in receptions (35), receiving yards (579), and receiving touchdowns (5). Despite battling injuries and missing four games his senior season (2024), Galbreath still put up nearly 500 receiving yards (469) with four touchdown grabs, landing him First Team All-Valley honors.
 
2024 proved to be a breakout season for Galbreath, despite missing four games due to injury, as he still sat third on the team with his 469 receiving yards (32 receptions) and was tied-for-second on the team with his four receiving touchdowns. His two touchdowns against UC Davis in the FCS Quarterfinals was a career-best and helped advance the Yotes to the program's first-ever FCS Semifinal appearance.
 
Galbreath ended his career with 1,355 receiving yards (93 receptions) with 12 touchdowns. His 80-yard touchdown catch against Southern Illinois in 2024 also proved to be his longest catch of his career, as he went on to earn First Team (AP), Third Team (Phil Steele) All-America accolades his senior season.
 
Myles Harden, defensive back (2020-23)
A three-time MVFC All-Conference performer (2020-21, 2022-23), First Team All-American (2024), and a seventh round NFL draft pick (2024); Harden's career as a Coyote helped propel the Johansen-led defense into its new era.
 
His senior season was one for the record books, as Harden was nearly named a unanimous First Team All-American defensive back (AFCA, STATS Perform, Phil Steele). Played a key role in a secondary that finished 18^th in the FCS in passing defense, while sitting fifth on the team in tackles (58). He sat tied for the team lead with seven pass break-ups, including a four PBU game against No. 10-ranked Southern Illinois.
 
The Miami Gardens, Florida native, he made an immediate impact on the field in the Covid-affected 2020-21 season. Named Honorable Mention All-Conference, he was also a MVFC All-Newcomer Team honoree.
 
In his Coyote career, Harden had six interceptions and 26 pass break-ups. He recorded a single-season-best nine pass break-ups in both 2020-21 and 2022. Finishing his career with nearly 150 tackles (143) at his cornerback position with 12.5 tackles for loss. He forced five fumbles, with four in 2022; and recorded four fumble recoveries.
 
Harden is the lone selection to the team in the NFL, finishing his first season with the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
 
Brady Schutt, punter (2017-21)
The three-time All-Conference punter, Schutt earned a pair of Second Team honors (2020-21, 2021) and a First Team recognition in 2019.
 
A native of Orange City, Iowa, he was a redshirt freshman on the first-ever FCS Playoff team (2017) that advanced to the Second Round. A senior on the 2021 team that hosted a playoff game in the DakotaDome, he sat tenth in the in the FCS with a 44.2 punting average on the season with nine punts pinned inside the 20-yard line.
 
The 2020-21 season reduced by COVID saw a finalist for the prestigious NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
 
Schutt etched his name in the South Dakota record books with the program records in both punting yards in a career (11,352) and average yards per punt (43.2).
 
Miles Bergner, punter (2013-16)
Donning the red and white from 2013-16, Bergner is the first Coyote – playing days wise – to be named to the team. He was a two-time All-MVFC selection, earning First Team honors in 2016 and Second Team honors in 2015.
 
Bergner currently holds the South Dakota record for punting average in a season. He had a 47.5 average per punt his senior season in 2016. He also sits second in career punting yards (11,223) and average yards per punt in a career (42.8), sitting just behind Schutt in both categories.
 
ABOUT THE TEAM & VOTING PROCESS
The Missouri Valley Football Conference capped its 40th season with its 14th NCAA Division I FCS title on Jan. 6, 2025. To celebrate the league's 40 years, fans voted for 40 days to recognize the league's all-time best players. More than 2,000 ballots were cast.
 
South Dakota joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference beginning with the 2012 season. To be eligible for the team, the school had to be full league members during their playing careers.