Jackrabbit Football All-Decade Team

Yes, we are well into the new year/decade but our debate has been fierce in creating an All-Decade Jackrabbit football team.  The challenges of creating this team were what to do with the players at the beginning and the end of the decade who may only have a year or two of stats to go on or what do we do with those players who only splashed for one year?  Further complicating matters was the consistent improvement of the Jackrabbit team as a whole and the level of competition they are facing week in and week out.  So with all of those factors, the Splitting Hares Podcast team of Ben Pierson, Brendan Luedtke, Kyle Sheehan, and Dallas Clarksean created our list of who the team should be.  All are welcome to their opinions!  Special thanks to Mitchell McLain who keeps an unbelievable database of Jackrabbit football statistics and information. 

Offense

Quarterback

Taryn Christion (2015-2018)

44 games started, 59.70% completion rate, 11,535 yards passing, 104 TD, 2,197 rushing yards, 26 rush TD

Honorable Mention: Austin Sumner (2011-2014)

The Jacks have been blessed to have had so much stability at the QB position in the last decade.  The transition from Sumner to Lujon to Christion was something that few teams get to enjoy.  When Sumner graduated I think many thought we would never see his level of talent again.  Christion quickly re-wrote all of the record books and graduated as one of the top quarterbacks in FCS history, let alone, South Dakota State. 

  

Running Back 

Zach Zenner (2011-2014)

43 games started, 6,590 rushing yards, 6 ypc average, 61 TD, 95 receptions, 909 yards, 8 TD

Pierre Strong (2017-Current)

10 games started, 2,134 yards, 8.2 ypc average, 19 TD, 20 receptions, 253 yards, 2 TD

Honorable Mention: Brady Mengarelli (2013-2017)

Zenner gave Jackrabbit fans thrills for four years with his one cut and go style of running.  Most fans have a favorite memory of Zenner but mine is the playoff game in the snow at Montana State.  Strong makes the list for what he has done already in his brief time at SDSU.  Mengarelli was an excellent all-purpose player for the Jacks and was a weapon in both the pass and run game.  

Fullback

Kane Louscher (2013-2016)

11 games started, 4 receptions for 41 yards and 1 TD

Honorable Mention: Luke Sellers (2015-2019)

This was a first really tough decision.  Both were excellent at their job and the offense was productive behind each of them leading the way.  Louscher gets the nod as he was a 2x second-team all-conference performer.

Wide Receiver

Jake Wieneke (2013-2017)

53 games started, 288 receptions, 5,157 yards, 59 TD, 3 rushing attempts, 135 yards, 1 TD

Cade Johnson (2016-Current) 

29 games started, 162 receptions, 2,872 yards, 28 TD, 11 rushing attempts, 156 yards, 2 kick return TD and a career average of 26.7 yards per return

Jason Schneider (2011-2014)

27 games started, 175 receptions, 2,404 yards, 20 TD 

Honorable Mention: Dale Moss (2011), Aaron Rollin (2008-2012)

The debate between Schneider and Moss was a good one!  Moss's one year in the program was incredible but the 4-year contribution of Schneider was just too impactful.  Wieneke and Johnson felt like no brainers and the statistics obviously back that up.  The numbers that Jake put up in his four years as a starter will be hard to beat for future Jackrabbits.

Tight End

Dallas Goedert (2013-2017)

198 receptions, 2,988 yards, 21 TD

Honorable Mention: Colin Cochart (2006-2010), Cam Jones (2011-2015)

Goedert's junior season may be one of the greatest seasons EVER in the history of Jackrabbit football.  His ability to make the spectacular catch seem ordinary is something we'll be talking about forever.  Watching him succeed now in the NFL is a true pleasure. Cochart had a nice NFL career and Jones likely would have joined them in the NFL if leg injuries hadn't sapped his elite athleticism.

Offensive Line

Jacob Ohnesorge (2013-2017)

53 games started, 1st Team All-American

Bryan Witzmann (2010-2013)

49 games started, 2x-2nd Team All-American

Trevor Greger (2010-2014)

43 games started, 1st team All-MVFC

Tiano Pupungatoa (2014-2017)

38 games started, 3rd Team All-American

Ryan McKnight (2006-2010)

29 games started, 2nd team All-American

Honorable Mention: Charlie Harmon (2013-2017), Matt Clark 2015-2016, 2019), and Will Castle (2009-2012)

The Jacks have had some very good "hogs" over the years.  These 5, 8 if you count the HM, would provide some great protection and could create HUGE running lanes.  Again, the continuity these guys provided in the lineup for multiple years is impressive.  McKnight's senior year is all that counted for this decade but that lone year resulted in a training camp invite with the Bengals.  

Defense

Defensive Line

Kellen Soulek (2013-2017)

37 games started, 144 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 2 INT, 12 QBH

Cole Langer (2013-2016)

43 games started, 167 tackles, 23  tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 14 QBH 

Ryan Earith (2015-2019)

48 games started, 154 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, 10 PBU, 16 QBH

Doug Peete (2009-2013)

32 games started, 168 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 1 INT, 11 PBU, 13 QBH 

Honorable Mention: Andy Mink (2008-2012) and  Chase Douglas (2010-2013)

Really a tough decision on these six guys.  You could argue for any of them and I don't think you would find too much disagreement.  We viewed Soulek and Langer as locks on the interior.  One has to wonder how good Langer could have been if he had had a year to develop and hadn't been rushed onto the field as a true freshman.  

Linebacker

Christian Rozeboom (2015-2019)

53 games started, 475 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 8 INT, 24 PBU, 7 QBH, 6 FR, 8 FF

TJ Lally (2011-2015)

53 games started, 415 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 2 INT, 14 PBU, 9 QBH, 5 FR, 3 FF

Jesse Bobbit (2013-2016)

38 games started, 306 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 14 PBU, 4 QB

Honorable Mention: Derek Domino (2006-2010) and Logan Backhaus (2016-Current)

Again, the Jacks have been blessed with some great linebackers over the years, especially on the inside.  The transition from Mike Lien to TJ Lally, to Christian Rozeboom is damn impressive!  I think the argument for the 3rd spot could be made for any of the other three.  Bobbit was great in big games, Domino made some eye-popping plays his senior year that resulted to a few years on the Broncos practice squad, and Backhaus showed a knack for finding the ball in his first three years as a Jack.  

Defensive Backs

Winston Wright (2010-2013)

40 games started, 186 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 8 INT, 24 PBU, 6 FR, 5 FF, 2 TD

Cole Brodie (2007-2010)

35 games started,189 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 7 INT, 16 PBU, 2 FF, 2 TD 

Jordan Brown (2014-2018)

41 games started, 148 tackles, 6 TFL, 8 INT, 62 PBU, 4 FF

Jimmie Forsythe (2011-2015)

34 games started, 143 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 sack, 6 INT, 35 PBU,   

Honorable Mention: JeRyan Butler (2011-2015), Nick Mears (2012-2016) and Brandon Snyder (2018)

Yes, we went with four cornerbacks. I think that speaks more to the EXCELLENT corners the Jacks have had in the last decade than to who has played safety.  Cole Brodie and Brandon Snyder both only had one year in the decade but they left a mark on the program.  Any recruit who signs their national letter of intent late is a "Cole Brodie' scholarship player according to many of the diehard fans.  Conrad Kjerstad would have made this list if he hadn't suffered a career-ending injury.   

Special Teams

Kicker

Justin Syrovatka (2011-2014)

76.4% on field goals (55/72), 98.1% on XP (153/156)

Honorable Mention: Chase Vinatieri (2016-2019)

Punter

Brady Hale (2015-2018)

40.3 avg,  79 inside the 20

Honorable Mention: Ethan Sawyer (2011-2014)

Long Snapper

Brady Sorenson (2017-Current)

Honorable Mention: Thayer Trenhaile (2013-2016)

Kick Return

Cade Johnson (2016- Current)

19 attempts, 26.7 avg, 2 TD

Honorable Mention: Cole Brodie (2007-2010)

Punt Return

JeRyan Butler (2011-2015)

30 attempts, 9.2 avg, 1 TD

Honorable Mention: Cole Brodie (2007-2010)

Specialist

Preston Tetzlaff (2016-Present)

Honorable Mention: RC Kilgore (2010-2013), Dalton Cox (2014-2018), Dallas Brown (2012-2016)

What are your thoughts, who made the list but shouldn't have?  Who should have made it?  Anyone on the current roster that you think we missed or anyone from the early part of the decade?

Go Jacks!

Matt, Kyle, Brendan, Ben, and Dallas