USD embraces QB battle and key returns ahead of season
· Yahoo Sports
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota football is coming off its third consecutive 10-win season with new faces in the locker room.
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All-American quarterback Aidan Bouman graduated following the 2025 season, leaving the coyotes deciding between Nevan Cremascoli, Austyn Modrzewski, and Jackson Proctor for the starting signal-caller spot.
“We’re going to head into fall camp with that competition still being wide open,” head coach Matt Vitzthum said. “I believe we have three great candidates to play that position for us. More importantly, I feel like we have a coaching staff and a surrounding cast that are going to support that guy, whoever we choose to put in there.”
“I feel like they all throw a great ball,” Wide receiver Tysen Boze said. “They’re all mobile, more than our past quarterback, which he still was an amazing quarterback but this year will be exciting to see our quarterbacks actually use legs a lot more than they have in the past.”
Another key piece to the Coyotes offensive scheme will be Charles Pierre Jr. The running back was sidelined for the 2025 season with a knee injury and is slated to return this year.
“He definitely is a machine, he’s a hard worker,” Boze said. “He’s been working his butt off to get back healthy so I feel like as a receiver he’s going to make our jobs easier. Obviously, teams are going to obviously load the box and try to stop the run game.”
“He’s excited to wake those people back up and make sure they know who Charles Pierre is to start the season so definitely a luxury we’re lucky to have,” Vitzthum said.
Any question marks about the Coyotes offense is expected to be anchored by a deep, consistent defense.
“I think we have a very physical defense,” defensive lineman Nathan Laperi said. “That’s the way we play. That’s the way we’re coached. We’ve got two very solid, hard hitting linebackers in the middle and I think we’re also very deep at every position.”
South Dakota comes into the year ranked fifth in the MVFC preseason poll.
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