VERMILLION, S.D. — The defense enters a new era under the direction of Billy Kirch heading into 2025. Kirch will also work with the defensive "studs," and we sat down to chat with him about his transition to South Dakota and spring ball.
 
2025 STUD LINEBACKERS

• Austin Rosetta (6-2, 225, R-Sr., Shawnee, Kan.)
• Matt Walsh (6-2, 220, R-Sr., Evergreen Park, Ill.)
• Jacob Clark (6-3, 230, Sr., Cinnaminson, N.J.)
• Eric Bell (5-10, 200, R-Fr., North Port, Fla.)

Transition to USD
"I think it's been a great transition. It helps when you're surrounded by great people and getting into a program here at USD that has a proud tradition of developing guys into great players and great men. The philosophy of defense we run here is very similar to the philosophy I ran at Northwestern, and I've taken I upon myself to learn the terminology the guys know here."
 
Spring Ball Report
"Being new on the scene a couple priorities for me were getting to know the guys on a personal level and find out what motivates them. Finding out what they can do from a skills standpoint and really seeing where they are from a knowledge standpoint in our scheme."
 
"With the studs, it's a unique linebacker position with the skill set those guys need to have and what we ask them to do. In a lot of ways, they need to act as defensive backs but also play on ball. The challenge is for us is developing these guys skill sets where they can play off ball to the field and also on ball on the tight end."
 
Austin Rosetta, redshirt senior
Rosetta has been a special teams player throughout his Coyote career up to this point. He appeared in a pair of games last season.
 
"Austin is a guy that's a lot of fun to be around and to get to know. Currently he's dealing with an injury that sidelined him for the spring season but his ability to understand the game is something that really stands out to me."
 
"He's been in this program a long time now and he has really helped me on getting up to speed in a lot of ways on how things have been in the past. He's also been a real asset to the younger guys."
 
Matt Walsh, redshirt senior
Making appearances in 13 of the 14 contests on special teams, he recorded eight tackles and set a new career best for tackles in a season.
 
"Matt is another guy that has a lot of experience at the stud position. He's got a unique skillset where he's physical enough to play on ball but also cover guys in space. His playmaking ability to make tackles in the open field and getting off blocks has impressed me."
 
"I really appreciate Matt stepping into a leadership role for us this spring."
 
Jacob Clark, senior
Clark transferred into USD last season, appearing in 13 of the 14 games while playing inside linebacker. He picked up his first-career Division I interception in the season-opener against Northern State with a career-best five tackles at Murray State. Heading into 2025, he's transitioning into a stud linebacker role with the Coyotes.
 
"Jacob is a big strong, physical, and athletic kid. A guy who was playing inside linebacker last fall but trying to find ways to use him better and get opportunities for him on the field. The stud linebacker position was new to him this spring, starting from the ground up from a knowledge perspective. I've been impressed with his ability and desire to learn."
 
Eric Bell, redshirt freshman
Completing his first spring, Bell is prepped for his redshirt freshman season and transitioning into the stud linebacker room. He redshirted his true freshman season in 2024.
 
"Eric is experiencing his first spring ball, and he has all the tools needed to play the position. He's getting better every day, I've watched him develop every day and really take coaching. He has a great ability to implement what we want him to do and is a really competitive kid who has a bright future."
 
Heading into the 2025 Season
"The stud position really has to take charge and be able to set our defense. The ability to communicate to the entire defense is critical to get us lined up, a group we need to be able to depend on with playmaking ability."