While the Jackrabbit football team wrapped up its playing season just over a week ago defeating the Montana Grizzlies 23-3 in the FCS title game, the FCS football news cycle hasn’t closed just yet.
Much has been said of the transactions and announcements that have started to trickle out in the aftermath of Frisco as the team shifts its focus to bringing their 29-game winning streak into the 2024 season.
Coaching staff changes
The biggest piece of news that we have gotten so far this offseason has been the departure of offensive coordinator, and former Jackrabbit quarterback, Zach Lujan who is taking the same position at Big Ten program Northwestern.
Lujan confirmed his decision Sunday when he changed his profile picture on X, formerly known as Twitter, to a version of the Wildcat’s logo.
He joins David Braun, a former North Dakota State defensive coordinator and current Wildcat head coach.
This will be the first full season of this staff’s permanent status after Braun’s interim tag which was given to him following a hazing scandal that caused longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald to be let go, was lifted.
Lujan will take over the offense for a team that went 8-5 and beat Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2020.
South Dakota State announced Ryan Olson as his replacement Monday with a post on X.
Olson, who took over as offensive line coach for current Idaho Head Coach Jason Eck, started his career with South Dakota State coaching the team’s tight ends in the 2020-21 spring season.
The Jacks also added the coaching talents of former North Dakota offensive coordinator Danny Freund. The former UND quarterback has overseen the Fighting Hawks offense for the past five seasons and has coached the team for the last 13 seasons.
Freund’s will be co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. It is unclear at this time, but he could be the one calling plays come August.
Roster changes
On the student-athlete side of things, much was made of this title run being the last few games for the group dubbed the ‘Tremendous 10.’ The group consists of sixth-year seniors Dyshawn Gales, Garret Greenfield, Zach Heins, Jadon Janke, Jaxon Janke, Mason McCormick, Michael Morgan, Cade Terveer, Ryan Van Marel and Saiveon Williamson. All of which have played their final game in Yellow and Blue.
Add that roster to the other seniors on the roster, the Jackrabbits will be saying goodbye to an amazing group of football players, a few who could take their talents to the next level.
Greenfield, McCormick and Jason Freeman have announced they are declaring for the NFL Draft coming up April 25 through April 27 and Isaiah Stalbird had the opportunity to take part in the Hula Bowl on Sunday.
Greenfield, the Janke twins, Heins, and McCormick have all received invitations to take part in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Isaiah Davis accepted his invitation to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl instead of the East-West Shrine Bowl.
The quarterback situation is also something to watch. Mark Gronowski, the Walter Payton Award winner, has two years of eligibility left and will have opportunities to take his play to the FCS as a graduate transfer. Much of the future of this Jackrabbit team may hang on to his decision, but it is not a decision that has been made yet.
Schedule preview
The Jacks will look to win a third championship in a row next season playing in what is widely regarded as the toughest conference in the Football Championship Subdivision.
No year is a cakewalk, and next year will be even tougher than usual.
They will have their season opener at Big 12 opponent and perennial Bowl team, Oklahoma State who ended the season ranked No. 16 in The Associated Press Top-25 after finishing 10-4 and beating Texas A&M 31-23 in the TaxAct Texas Bowl.
After that, the Jackrabbits will host Incarnate Word and Augustana before traveling to Hammond, Louisiana and Southeastern Louisiana State to round out non conference play.
They will then kick off a Missouri Valley Football schedule that consists of road trips to Northern Iowa, North Dakota State, North Dakota and Missouri State.
North Dakota State went through a coaching change following their semifinal exit at the hands of Montana that saw Matt Entz leave Fargo to be the linebackers coach at USC in their first year in the Big Ten. Tim Polasek, a former offensive coordinator at Wyoming, will take over.
South Dakota is coming off their best season yet at the Division I level breaking out of the gates with a 10-win season reaching the Quarterfinals losing to the Bison 45-17.
The top teams in the Big Sky Conference will be right there and there may be one or two surprise teams as the season unfolds.
The Jacks will hope to continue their streak of 12 seasons straight with a playoff appearance and hope to add one more championship game appearance to their resume.
2024 South Dakota State Football Schedule
@ Oklahoma State, Saturday, Aug. 31, TBA, Stillwater, Okla.
v. Incarnate Word, Saturday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m., Brookings
v. Augustana, Saturday, Sept. 14, 6 p.m., Brookings
@ Southeastern Louisiana, Saturday, Sept. 21, TBA, Hammond, La.
@ Northern Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 5, TBA, Cedar Falls, Iowa
v. Youngstown State*, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m., Brookings
@ North Dakota State**, Saturday, Oct. 19, TBA, Fargo, N.D.
v. South Dakota***, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2 p.m., Brookings
v. Murray State, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m., Brookings
@ North Dakota, Saturday, Nov. 9, TBA, Grand Forks, N.D.
v. Southern Illinois, Saturday, 2 p.m., Brookings
@ Missouri State, Saturday, Nov. 23, TBA, Springfield, Mo.
Transactions (As of Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024)
OC Zach Lujan hired to Northwestern to become OC
Promoted OL Coach Ryan Olson to OC
Hired UND’s Danny Freund to become offensive assistant
