VERMILLION – South Dakota head football coach Bob Nielson is pleased to announce the addition of five student-athletes to a national letter of intent. Additionally, Nielson announced that five other high school champions have accepted an offer of admission to the University of South Dakota and plan to join the Coyote football program this fall.
The 10 newcomers join 14 student-athletes who joined the Coyotes in December. Wednesday’s signatories are from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado and Georgia. They include six offensive players, three defensive players and one specialist.
“The second signing is an opportunity for us to put the finishing touches on the incoming class of 2023,” said Nielson. “We’ve addressed a couple of positional demands and I’m very excited about the quality of young men we will be joining our roster for next season.”
In screening 24 signers for the class of 2023, South Dakota added at least two players to each position group on both the offensive and defensive sides of football and also added to a special teams room that graduated three seniors. It’s also the first set of signings with new offensive coordinator Josh Davis in charge.
“Having Josh on board in early January has allowed him to be involved in recruiting the offensive players we are bringing in with this group and meeting our position needs going forward,” Nielson said.
The Coyotes are replacing 11 seniors who graduated last season. Nielson said spring football will begin in late March. South Dakota opens the 2023 campaign in Missouri on September 2.
Name Pos. Ht. Weight Hometown High School
Dylan Birge OL 6-2 290 Olathe, Kan. West
Beau Bush QB 6-3 205 Pella, Iowa Pella
Grant Chapman OL 6-5 270 Andover, Minnesota Anoka
Tyler Green DB 6-1 175 Atlanta, Georgia Hillgrove
Sam Holloway P/K 6-3 170 Adel, Iowa ADM
Jase Hovey DB 6-2 215 Louisburg, Kan. Louisburg
Mack Newell TE 6-4 250 Louisburg, Kan. Louisburg
Jack Rons OL 6-4 280 Littleton, Colo. Dakota Ridge
AuVon Sager DE 6-5 240 Minneapolis, Minn. North
George Williams TE 6-4 225 Des Moines, Iowa Roosevelt