VERMILLION, S.D. — As football season inches closer, five Coyotes were named to the Phil Steele All-MVFC teams heading into the 2026 season, the magazine publication announced Monday.
 
First 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 FCS Football Central and Phil Steele. He's also been named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List and the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl Watch List entering the season.
 
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.
 
First Team – Brayden White, kickoff return
Last season, true freshman wide out Brayden White opened eyes in the kick return game. He was one of two Coyotes to have 10+ kickoff returns and have north of 300 return yards. He had 10 returns for 301 yards (30.1 yards per return) with a long of 69 yards and three returns on the season of 30+ yards.
 
First Team – Gabe 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.
 
First Team – RJ Stewart, defensive back
Moving into a starting role at corner in 2025, then redshirt freshman RJ Stewart proved to be a lock down corner opposite of Munn in the Coyote pass defense. He sat second on the team in pass break-ups with seven, while having three interceptions to his name on the year.
 
The corner also recorded 58 tackles on the season with three tackles for loss heading into his second season as a starter in the Coyote secondary.
 
Second Team – Chris Dixon, defensive line
After waiting his turn for two seasons in a loaded Coyote defensive line room, senior Chris Dixon exploded onto the scene last season, moving into a starting role for the Coyotes in the interior of the defensive line to be named a Second Team Preseason All-American this season.
 
Starting all 15 games in his first season as a starter, Dixon sat seventh on the team with his 69 tackles along with four tackles for loss. He also led the defensive line unit with four pass break-ups to go along with three quarterback hurries to his name.
 
The native Canadian hit a season-best eight tackles three times last season (Iowa State, Lamar, and Northern Iowa).