KEY DATES

• Early Signing Period: Wed., December 3 through Fri., Dec. 5, 2025
• Transfer Portal Open: Fri., January 2 to Fri., January 16, 2026
  • [Prospective transfers can only enter the portal during this period but sign anytime after]
• Traditional Signing Period: Begins Wed., February 4, 2026

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FRESHMEN SIGNEES

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Head Coach Travis Johansen on the signing class of 2026:
“National Signing Day may be the most important day of the year. It’s the start of another chapter in Coyote football, and we welcome future champions and graduates we will develop in the program. This class is special. Not only is there exceptional talent top to bottom, but excellent students and mature young men of high character that will excel in the years to come. A special thank you to Josh Rosenthal and our entire staff for the work to identify great young men and families that fit our program. Coyote Nation, please welcome 20+ new Coyote families to the great state of South Dakota! Go Yotes!”

JAHAN ABUBAKAR // RB // 6-0 // 190 // Manhattan, Ill. // Lincoln-Way West H.S.
The 6-0, 190 running back out of the state of Illinois will join the Coyote running back room after 2024 and 2025 All-Conference accolades for the Warriors at Lincoln-Way West High School. He had 1,100 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns in his senior season.
 
The son of Muhammed Abubakar and Angelique Stegall, Jahan plans to study business at USD after being named to the academic honor roll in high school. Abubakar also wrestled and ran track at Lincoln-Way West.

MAXWELL CLARK // LB // 6-2 // 220 // Omaha, Neb. // Omaha North H.S.
Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, Clark will join the Coyote linebacker room in 2026 out of Omaha North High School. A three-time varsity letterwinner and the 2024 All-Nebraska and Defensive Player of the Year joins the South Dakota squad after 105 tackles and five sacks in his senior season at Omaha North. He comes to South Dakota after holding the Omaha North H.S. recorded for most career tackles (300), making it to the state semifinals in 2024.
 
Clark plans to study business at South Dakota, following in the footsteps of his uncle Joe Clark who attended USD. His uncle played football for the Yotes and his dad, Brian, played football at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Clark is the son of Brian Clark and Randi Bibins.

MASON CLAUS // LB // 6-2 // 205 // Keokuk, Iowa // Keokuk H.S.
A linebacker out of Keokuk, Iowa, Mason Claus will join the Coyote defense next season. The 6-2, 205 backer is a three-time First Team All-District performer and Defensive MVP out of Keokuk High School, coached by former Hawkeye Marvin McNutt.
 
In his senior season for the Chiefs, he posted 71.5 tackles with 13 being for a loss. HE also had five sacks, forced a fumble. Offensively, he recorded 29 receptions for 562 yards and five touchdowns at a clip of 19.4 yards per reception.
 
Claus not only excels on the gridiron but also in the classroom. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the president of the Student Council at Keokuk H.S. He’s also been named the Student of the Semester. The son of John and Julie Claus, he plans to study accounting at South Dakota.

COOPER CRAWFORD // TE // 6-7 // 215 // Piper, Kan. // Piper H.S.
Cooper Crawford is set to join his brother Caden Crawford (DL) at South Dakota next year as a 6-7, 215 tight end out of Piper, Kansas. He had 17 receptions for 194 yards with three touchdown receptions in his senior season at Piper High School for head coach Cole Orrick.
 
A four-sport athlete at Piper H.S., Cooper plans to study business administration at South Dakota and is the son of Lynn and Tasha Crawford.

DUSTIN COCHRAN // OL // 6-5 // 280 // Wichita, Kan. // Wichita Northwest H.S.
Cochran, a 6-5, 280 offensive lineman, signed with South Dakota out of Wichita Northwest High School, the same high school as Yote running back L.J. Phillips Jr.

In his high school career, Cochran was named a First and Second Team GWAL performer. This past season (2025), the Grizzlies compiled a 10-2 record with Cochran credited with 50+ pancakes on the year. Wichita Northwest won the 2025 GWAL championship and was 2025 regional champions.

Cochran, the son of Scott and Lesley Cochran, also played basketball and golfed in high school. He plans to study business administration at USD.

ARAF EVANS JR. // DB // 6-0 // 190 // Omaha, Neb. // Millard North H.S.
Omaha native Araf Evans will join the Coyotes next season to bolster the Coyote secondary. The 6-0, 190 safety was a four-year varsity letterwinner and an Honorable Mention All-State performer at Millard North High School. He posted 74 tackles, three interceptions, four tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, and forced two fumbles in his senior season with the Mustangs.
 
The son of Araf and Stephanie Evans, Araf plans to study business administration at South Dakota.

JAKE GAU // OL // 6-8 // 310 // Eden Prairie, Minn. // Eden Prairie H.S.
An offensive lineman hailing from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Jake Gau and his offensive line unit for head coach Mike Grant at Eden Prairie H.S. did not allow a sack this season and was voted the best offensive line in the state of Minnesota. Gau was named an All-District and All-State honoree this season.
 
The son of Bob Gau and Amanda Wichern, Jake plans to study business at USD. His brother, Zack Gau, plays football at Morningside University (Iowa).

JESIAH GOOCH // LB // 6-2 // 210 // Hillsboro, Kan. // Hillsboro H.S.
Jesiah Gooch is set to join the Coyotes next fall as a First Team All-League linebacker and running back at Hillsboro High School for head coach Demetrius Cox. He posted 119 tackles in his senior season this past year with 11 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
 
The three-sport athlete at Hillsboro H.S. also plays basketball and runs track, holding the Hillsboro H.S. school record for the 4x1. The son of Jeremy and Kasey Gooch, Jesiah plans to study kinesiology at South Dakota. Both his dad and uncle played football at Friends University (Kan.).

PATRICK GREISEN // QB // 6-2 // 200 / De Pere, Wis. // West De Pere H.S.
Patrick Greisen will join the South Dakota quarterback room next season after throwing for nearly 8,000 career yards at West De Pere High School for head coach Chris Greisen. Greisen is a 3-star prospect (247Sports.com) and the No. 22-ranked recruit out of the state of Wisconsin. 
 
The two-time Conference Player of the Year and All-State quarterback, Greisen led the Phantoms to a state title and was named the 2025 Co-Offensive State Player of the Year after 3,864 yards with 49 touchdowns, completing nearly 70% of his passes on the season.
 
His storied high school careers ends with 529 completions for 7,990 yards. He threw for the most touchdowns in a career in Wisconsin state history (102), while having the most 400+ passing yard games in Wisconsin state history (6). In both his seasons as the starting quarterback, he led the state in both passing yards and touchdowns and was the first Wisconsin high school quarterback to have consecutive seasons with 40+ touchdowns and 3,500+ passing yards.
 
The son of Chris and Shannon Greisen, he intends to study business at the University of South Dakota. His father, Chris, played quarterback at DII Northwest Missouri State and his uncle played linebacker at the University of Wisconsin.

JOEY HARDY // DL // 6-3 // 245 // Sergeant Bluff, Iowa // Sergeant Bluff-Luton H.S.
Joey Hardy joins the Coyotes on the defensive line for the 2026 season out of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. The two-time All-State linebacker posted 37 tackles with eight for loss in his senior season at Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School for head coach Justin Smith. He also recorded 1.5 sacks and three pass break-ups.
 
Hardy is the son of Joe and Stacie Hardy and plans to study business at South Dakota. His dad, Joe, played football at Augustana (S.D.).

LEVI HARRIS // DB // 5-11 // 180 // Elk River, Minn. // Elk River H.S.
Hailing from the state of Minnesota, Levi Harris joins the South Dakota secondary as a defensive back out of Elk River High School. He was a four-year letterwinner, two-time All-Conference athlete and three-time state champion at Elk River H.S. for head coach Steve Hamilton.
 
His senior season saw him excel on both sides of the football with 1,000+ yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns, while having 42 tackles and two interceptions. In his career at Elk River, he had nearly 2,000 yards rushing (1,794) with 37 rushing scores. That goes along with 81 career tackles, three interceptions.
 
Harris is also a three-sport athlete at Elk River, also playing basketball and running track. He also has a top-3 time in the state of Minnesota in the 4x1, winning the 2025 4x1 state title.
 
The son of Jon Harris and Marie Servaty, and step-father Ryan Servaty, Hariis plans to study business at South Dakota. His dad, Jon, played football at Bethel University (Minn.).

JAMICHAEL HILL // DB // 6-2 // 180 // Orlando, Fla. // Evans H.S.
Jamichael Hill is set to join the Yotes in 2026 out of Orlando, Florida. The 6-2, 180 defensive back recorded a pair of pass break-ups and a pair of tackles his senior season. The two-sport athlete out of Evans High School also played basketball for the Trojans and was named to the academic honor roll. Hill is a 3-star prospect (247Sports.com) out of the state of Florida.
 
Hill is the son of Robert Hill and Gwen Fleetwood and plans to study marketing at South Dakota.

DJ HOWARD // WR // 6-0 // 180 // Lakeland, Fla. // Lakeland Christian H.S.

JAYVEON KELLY // OL // 6-7 // 290 // Bloomington, Minn. // Kennedy H.S.
An Offensive Lineman of the Year, All-District and Conference Lineman of the Year honoree in Jayveon Kelly has signed with South Dakota. Out of Bloomington, Minnesota, Kelly played football and track at Kennedy High School.
 
The son of Brian and Jen Kelly, Jayveon is undecided in his intended major at South Dakota.

PARKER MALONEY // OL // 6-7 // 260 // Madelia, Minn. // Saint Peter H.S.
Two-time All-District and team lineman of the year honoree Parker Maloney will join the offensive line room in 2026. The Madelia, Minnesota native was named an All-Star South team nominee this season and was on an Saints team that went 7-2 this season with Maloney recoded 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss, while not allowing a sack on the offensive line.
 
Also a basketball player and track athlete at Saint Peter High School, Maloney is also a All-Conference honorable mention basketball athlete. The son of Matt and Christi Maloney is a National Honor Society member and plans to study business at USD.

CALEB OFFNER // OL // 6-6 // 290 // Wayne, Neb. // Falls City H.S.
Offensive lineman Caleb Offner joins the Yotes next season out of Falls City High School in Wayne, Nebraska.
 
Offner is a three-sport athlete at Falls City H.S., also playing basketball and a track team member. He’s the son of Andrew Offner and plans to study accounting at South Dakota.

COURTNEY RIVERS // RB // 5-9 // 190 // St. Louis, Mo. // Christian Brothers College H.S.
Running back prospect out of St. Louis, Courtney Rivers ran for 746 yards with 13 touchdowns in his senior season at Christian Brothers Christian High School for head coach Scott Pingel.
 
Rivers also ran track in high school and is the son of Rapheal and Carmenita Rivers. He plans to study Health Science at South Dakota.

ZION ROBERSON // DB // 6-3 // 180 // Palmetto, Fla. // Palmetto H.S.
Florida prospect Zion Roberson heads to Vermillion after winning the district and county championships at Palmetto (Fla.) High School under head coach Eric Sanders. The Defensive MVP posted 58 tackles, eight pass break-ups, three interceptions, and seven tackles for loss.

The 6-3, 185 defensive back so ran track and played basketball at Palmetto High School. Zion is the son of Fredrick and Lesley Roberson and intends on studying business management at USD.

DEONGELO WILLIAMS // OL // 6-4 // 260 // Wichita, Kan. // Wichita Northwest H.S.
Another offensive line product out of Wichita Northwest H.S. (Wichita, Kan.) with the signing of Deongelo Williams. The two-time All-League First Team offensive lineman and three-year starter played for Steve Martin at Wichita Northwest and was on a offensive line for a team that went 11-2 this past season.
 
The son of Lisa Love, Deongelo plans to study business at USD.

MASON WYDRA // DB // 5-11 // 170 // Harrisburg, Pa. // Central Dauphin H.S.
Hailing from the state of Pennsylvania, Mason Wydra signs with the Coyotes after a storied career at Central Dauphin High School. The 5-11, 170 safety had five career pick-sixes. This past season, Wydra recorded 79 tackles and three interceptions.
 
Wydra also wrestled at Central Dauphin H.S., being named an All-American wrestler. The son of Bill and Angela Wydra, he plans to study business innovation and entrepreneurship at USD.

Athletes listed alphabetical by last name

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TRANSFERS

NEEO AVERY // LB // 6-4 // 275 // Glen Burnie, Md. // University of Maryland
Spent three seasons at the University of Maryland (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... appeared in 12 games (2024-25) in his two seasons at Maryland ... had four tackles and two TFLs.

HARRISON BRUN // DB // 6-1 // 205 // Buffalo, Minn. // University of Minnesota
Spent two seasons at the University of Minnesota (2024-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2024) ... played in four games as a redshirt freshman (2025) with his collegiate debut coming agsinst Northwestern State.

ETHAN CARRIER // DB // 6-1 // 200 // Detroit Lakes, Minn. // University of Minnesota
Spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... did not see any game action as a Gopher.

BRYCE COHOON // WR // 6-2 // 200 // Wichita, Kan. / University of Kansas
Spent three seasons at the University of Kansas (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... played in four games his first full season at KU in 2024 ... played in all 12 games in 2025, primarily on special teams. 

KEVIN DODARD // DB // 5-11 // 180 // Fort Worth, Texas // Lafayette College
Spent two seasons at Lafayette College (Pa.) (2024-25) ... saw game action in 20 career games at Lafayette with 53 career tackles ... played in eight games as a true freshman in 2024 with one tackle on the season ... played in all 12 games in 2025 with 52 total tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss ... also had a pair of interceptions and 11 pass break-ups on the season.

ZION FONUA // LB // 6-0 // 245 // Euless, Texas / Abilene Christian
Transferring from Abilene Christian after one season (2025) ... prior to ACU, spent the 2024 season at Eastern Michigan ... his first two collegiate seasons spent at Tyler College (Texas) in 2022-23, utilizing his redshirt season in 2022.

JOSHUA GRANT // DB // 6-2 // 190 // Powder Springs, Ga. // McEachern H.S. // Washburn University (Kan.)
A four-year member of the Washburn University football team ... redshirted his first season at Washburn (2022) ... played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman (2023) with 48 tackles, while leading the team with his 33 tackles ... in 2024, played in three games before a season-ending injury ... in 2025, played in 11 games and had 35 tackles with three pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries ... had an 83-yard scoop-and-score to close out the season against Missouri Southern State.

KAMERON HAWKINS // DB // 6-0 // 175 // East Palo Alto, Calif. // Menlo-Atherton H.S. // Foothill College (Calif.)
Played in nine games for Foothill College (Calif.) in 2025, recording 34 tackles ... he had one tackle for loss, along with four pass break-ups ... posted a season-best three pass break-ups in the 29-28 win over Sequoias (Nov. 22).

BROOK HONORE // P // 6-0 // 190 // Manvel, Texas // University of California, Berkley
Transfers to USD after one season at Cal (2025) ... spent the 2024 season at Arkansas State ... started his collegiate career at Texas Tech (2022-23), utilizing his redshirt season in 2022 as a Red Raider ... in 2025 at Cal, had 11 punts for 499 yards with a long of 54 (45.4 yards per punt), had four punts of 50+ yards and two inside the 20. 

KAEL KOLARIK // DB // 6-0 // 210 // Indianola, Iowa / University of Iowa
Spent four seasons at the University of Iowa (2022-25) ... utilized his redshirt in 2022 ... saw action in every game since 2023 (39 games) in those three seasons ... played in 41 total games as a Hawkeye with 13 total tackles.

JACKSON PROCTOR // QB // 6-2 // 210 // Kent, Wash. // Dartmouth College & Northern Illinois University
Spent his first four seasons at Dartmouth College (2021-24) with his collegiate debut coming at Princeton in 2022 ... played in 17 games for the Big Green with 617 yards and five touchdown passes ... spent time at Northern Illinois University but not during a football season.

JAKE RIGGS // OL // 6-3 // 295 // Murfreesboro, Tenn. / UTEP
Spent two seasons at UTEP (2024-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2024) ... participated in three games on the offensive line as a redshirt freshman in 2025 (UT Martin, Sam Houston, and Delaware).

SAM SAME // LB // 6-5 // 225 // Wichita, Kan. / Iowa State University
Three seasons at Iowa State University (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... saw action in three games in 2024, including action against North Dakota, Arkansas State, and against No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl ... did not see game action in 2025 ... a three-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll athlete, plus an Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team (2024).

TYLER SAPIT // DL // 6-2 // 240 // Batavia, Ill. // Bemidji State University (Minn.)
Spent four seasons at Bemidji State University (Minn.) at the Division II level ... used only two years of eligibility at BSU [Redshirt, 2022; Medical Redshirt, 2023] ... named a All-NSIC North First Team All-Conference performer in 2025 after 32 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks ... credited with one forced fumble and six quarterback hurries ... he tallied 51 tackles in his two full seasons at Bemidji State with 6.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

JOHN STARMAN // DL // 6-3 // 285 // Miami, Fla. // Brown University
Spent four seasons at Brown University of the Ivy League (2022-25) ... played in 27 career games as a Bear ... recorded 33 tackles with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs.

ASHER TOMASZEWSKI // DL // 6-4 // 300 // Schererville, Ind. / Kansas State University
Spent three seasons at Kansas State University (2023-25) ... utilized his redshirt in 2023, seeing time as a reserve DL against SEMO and Baylor ... played in eight games in 2024 ... did not see any action in 2025.

JAKE UTLEY // OL // 6-6 // 315 // College Station, Texas / UTEP
Spent three seasons at UTEP (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... played in 17 games as a Miner on the offensive line.

ISAIAH WRAY // DL // 6-5 // 255 // Racine, Wis. // St. Catherine's H.S. // Concordia, St. Paul (Minn.)
Spent three seasons at Concordia, St. Paul (Minn.) at the Division II level and two years as a starter ... in the last two seasons (2024-25), Wray played in 21 games with 19 starts with 105 tackles and 14 TFLs (four sacks) ... this past season (2025), he started all 11 games and had 72 tackles (30 solo) and 7.5 TFls with 1.5 sacks, while forcing one fumble. 

Athletes listed alphabetical by last name

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NOTE: All athletes listed are upon approval from the University of South Dakota Compliance office, according to all applicable by-laws of Article 13 of the NCAA Division I Manual.