VERMILLION, S.D. — A pair of Coyotes, running back Charles Pierre Jr. and linebacker Gabriel Hardman, have been named Preseason All-American selection by FCS Stats Perform, it was announced on Monday morning.
 
Second Team - Charles Pierre Jr., running back
After missing most of 2025 with an injury, the 2024 All-American running back is primed to make his return to the gridiron in 2026 while being named a Second Team Preseason All-American by STATS Perform.
 
The First Team All-MVFC back was the first Coyote in the Division I FCS era to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, hitting the mark with his season-high 173 yards in the win at North Dakota (Nov. 16, 2024). He ran for 1,244 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season in South Dakota's two-back system that saw both him and Theis each rush for 1,000 yards.
 
Entering the 2026 campaign, Pierre Jr. sits fourth in the FCS era in career 100-yard rushing games with six. Four of those 100-yard rushing games for him have come in front of the home crowd at the DakotaDome.
 
Additionally, he sits sixth all-time in the FCS era in career rushing yards (1,716) and looks to become the sixth Division I FCS era Coyote to rush for 2,000+ career yards. He sits fifth in rushing touchdowns at 21, closing in on second-best in 2026 (26, Noah Shepard).
 
Third Team – Gabriel Hardman, linebacker
Hardman stepped into a starting role last season under first-year linebackers coach Will Finley and has been named a Third Team Preseason All-American by FCS STATS Perform entering 2026. The junior enters this season playing in all 29 games the last two seasons for South Dakota, aimed to take a bigger role in the linebacker room this season.
 
The Florida native started 13 games at linebacker in his sophomore season, ending the season with five-straight starts. He finished the 2025 campaign as one of three Coyotes with 90+ tackles, which sat third on the team with his 90. He also recorded a pair of sacks along with five tackles for loss.
 
Hardman posted a pair of season- and career-best nine tackle games last year against Northern Colorado (Sept. 13) and at Montana (Dec. 13).
 
The junior enters this season with 119 tackles with the opportunity to crack the South Dakota Division I FCS era top-10 list for career tackles this season. Andrew Gray (2016-18) recorded 221 tackles which sits 10^th in the Division I era for the Coyotes.
 
The season opens with a non-conference clash against Central Connecticut State on August 29 in the DakotaDome. It's Ag Appreciation Day and fans are encouraged to wear black at the season and home opener in the first-ever meeting with the Blue Devils.