Jackrabbit Depth Entering Summer 2021

I think I have emotionally recovered from the National Championship game and I'm ready to look ahead to the fall.  This is a rundown of who is on the roster and at which position.  This isn't a depth chart per-say as I have no idea how those who weren't on the active-gameday roster and depth chart are regarded and have progressed in the weight room. 

A few general takeaways... this team is loaded.  There is a great mix of experience, talent, and youth up and down this roster.  Just because someone held a certain spot on the depth chart this spring doesn't mean that will retain their role in the fall.  There is competition everywhere and I can't remember a time that the Jackrabbit roster had this much talent.  The NCAA's decision to not count this past season towards a year of eligibility is a blessing and curse.  For a blessing, it gave live reps to new players without "burning" a year.  For a curse, it really created a logjam for playing time; hence the reason you saw a smaller recruiting class last winter and why you have also seen so many names in the transfer portal (nation wide, not the Jacks).  With this much competition at EVERY position group, there will be roster departures in the future... it will happen so don't panic when it does.  This program is not built on one player and I fully trust the coaches to ensure that the players who belong on the field make it there.  

The Jacks suffered five significant injuries in the spring (Gronowski, Gibbs, Lee V,  Williamson, and Mueller).  These guys will likely miss the fall season or at least a large portion of it.  From the spring, the Jacks add All-American long snapper Bradey Sorenson and Oklahoma State grad transfer Landon Wolf.  Both should provide a spark for their respective areas. 

Finally, this list is not set.  There will undoubtedly be departures and there may be further additions.  Grades, life, family, playing time, job opportunities, COVID, etc... The list goes on and on for reasons a player might not return.  This is just a projection as of May 31st, 2021 (updated on 6/4/21). 

*Returning Starter

# All-American

Offense

Quarterback

• Keaton Heide (6-3, 195) So
• Chris Oladokun (6-2, 205) G-Sr
• Rudy Voss (6-3, 200) Fr-2
• Cade Rice (6-3, 205) Fr
• Jon Bell (6-2, 180) Fr
• *Mark Gronowski (6-3, 200) Fr-2- Injured
• J'Bore Gibbs (6-3, 230) So- Injured

This group suffered some rotten luck this spring with two significant injuries to the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart.  However, the addition of Oladokun who has played some serious competition at USF and Samford should provide great competition for the returning Keaton Heide.  Heide will now have a full off-season with the expectation that he is the guy. He knows where he needs to improve and I'm sure that he is working as I write this to improve.  Rudy Voss is a VERY intriguing athlete who did a great job on scout offense this spring.  Cade Rice also faced stiff competition in Ohio and may be further along than your typical freshman QB.  

Running Back

• #*Pierre Strong Jr (5-11, 210) Jr
• Isaiah Davis (6-1, 220) Fr-2
• Josh Buri (5'11, 210) Fr
• Amar Johnson (5-11, 180) Fr
• Jefferson Lee, V (5-9, 190) So- Injured

Name a better duo in the FCS.  You're right, there isn't one.  Strong and Davis are a perfect compliment to one another.  Pierre has the ability to make cuts on a dime while Davis's no-nonsense one-cut style was a huge change of pace for defenses.  These two also displayed excellent hands this spring as the pass to the running back returned as a key cog of the offense.  Experienced depth is a concern, with the injury to Lee, but Buri and Johnson are VERY talented and highly regarded recruits who will see the field this fall.  Adding an outside transfer to this group may be really challenging given that person can't expect many carries given the two names in front of him.

Wide Receiver

• *Jaxon Janke (6-2, 210) So
• *Jadon Janke (6-3, 210) So
• *Canyon Bauer (6-0, 195) R-Fr
• Landon Wolf (5-11, 175) G-Sr
• Mason Leighton (5-9, 175) Jr
• Nate Sullivan Jr. (6-2, 175) Fr-2
• A.J. Coons (6-4, 190) Fr-2
• Devon Cole Jr. (5-9, 160) Fr-2
• Stefan Coleman Jr. (6'3, 180) Fr
• Tyler Feldkamp (6'0, 187) Fr
• Michael Paulson (6'3, 185) Fr
• Grahm Goering (6'2, 190) Fr
• Angel Johnson (5'10, 185) Fr

I am very excited to see Wolf added to the mix at this position.  Teammates and coaches raved about his playmaking ability this spring.  With the Janke's taking a huge step forward this spring, I just want to see what adding a receiver of Wolf's ability can do for this offense.  Bauer and Leighton gained valuable reps this spring and now know what the MVFC is about.  I'm excited to see the step forward they take.  The second year freshman and the true freshman are very talented and highly regarded.  I have not checked in with coach Schleusner to see how they are progressing but will this summer. 

Tight End

• *Zach Heins (6-7, 260) So
• Blake Kunz (6-5, 255) Jr
• Tucker Kraft (6-5, 250) R-Fr
• Mike Morgan (6-3, 235) So
• Skyler Cavanaugh (6-5, 240) Sr
• Caleb Schauf (6-5, 245) Jr.
• Wyatt Seagren (6-7, 245) Fr-2
• Regan Bollweg (6-3, 215) Fr
• Reece Burckhard (6-8, 235) Fr

This group has me incredibly excited.  This is the best tight end group in the MVFC and it's not even close.  Heins, Kunz, and Kraft were all healthy at the end of the year and all produced. They are all tremendous receivers, hard to tackle, and are GREAT run blockers.  At the point of attack, Heins functions as a 6th offensive lineman.    

Offensive Line

• *Aron Johnson (6-6, 295) Jr
• #*Mason McCormick (6-4, 300) So
• *Wes Genant (6-4, 295) Sr
• *Eagan Lickiss (6-4, 320) Sr
• #*Garret Greenfield (6-6, 295) So
• Bo Donald (6-6, 300) R-Fr
• Edward Miller (6-5, 315) Sr
• Jon Gruetzmacher (6-8, 310) Jr
• Evan Beerntsen (6-4, 285) R-Fr
• Ian Bass (6-4, 285) So
• Jason Titus (6-5, 285) Jr
• Jharett Blooomenrader (6-6, 270) R-Fr
• Alex Westendorf (6-5, 280) R-Fr
• Ethan Vibert (6-4, 290) R-Fr
• Brady Beck (6-8, 280) R-Fr
• Gus Miller (6-3, 265) Fr-2
• Jalen Lee (6-2, 280) Fr-2
• Colby Christensen (6-8, 240) Fr-2
• Adam White (6-4, 250) Fr-2
• Ethan Eilers (6-5, 255) Fr
• Derrick Brown (6-5, 295) Fr
• Ethan Headlee (6-5, 295) Fr

How can you not be excited about what the #605Hogs are running back.  This group paved the way for three players to rush for over 650 yards with a 6.1 YPC average and 20 touchdowns while only giving up 10 sacks! That is just ridiculous production.  This group is experienced but it was the two sophomores who garnered the All-American recognition.  Behind this group is experience but also young talent that is chomping at the bit to see the field.  This is good.  Competition drives improvement.    

Defense

Defensive End

• *Reece Winkelman (6-4, 245) Jr.
• *Quinton Hicks (6-3, 240) So
• Tolu Ogunrinde (6-1, 270) Sr
• Cade Terveer (6-3, 245) So
• Caden Johnson (6-3, 240) R-Fr
• Randy Keumogne (6-3, 220) Fr-2
• Kevin Brenner (6-3, 235) R-Fr
• Zac Wilson (6-3, 220) R-Fr
• Max Baloun (6-6, 225) Fr-2
• Mitch Eichacker (6-4, 225) Fr-2
• Levi Vanden Bos (6-3, 220) Fr
• Wyatt Bray (6-3, 225) Fr
• Noah Jessup (6-5, 22) Fr

The defensive end group was good all year but really turned it on in the playoffs.  The top 6 formed quite a rotation.  They all play with tremendous effort and go all-out when they are on the field because they know they will get a break.  I'm excited to see the jump that Randy K. takes as he is still so young and inexperienced in his football career.  Caden Johnson also impressed me when he saw the field this spring because of his never-stop motor.   

Defensive Tackle

• #*Caleb Sanders (6-1, 280) Jr
• *Xavier Ward (6-2, 285) Sr
• Thomas Stacker (6-4, 285) Sr
• Krockett Krolikowski (6-2, 290) Jr
• Ryan Van Marel (6-4, 285) So
• Jarod DePriest (6-5, 265) R-Fr
• Brandon Lane Jr. (6-2, 245) Fr-2
• Max VanMeter (6-4, 260) Fr-2
• Matthew Borowicz (6-4, 275) So
• Aaron Wolfcale-Holsten (6-2, 285) Fr
• Chandler Carter (6-5, 235) Fr

This group has the ability to dominate.  Caleb Sanders seemed to put it all together this year and finished plays that had slipped out of his grasp in prior seasons.  Ward, Stacker, and Krolikowski have now become the old grizzled vets which is weird because they were all forced to play when they were younger because of the lack of depth.  Van Marel and DePriest saw the field more frequently as the year went on and I think they will be better for it.  Lane and VanMeter are REALLY intriguing prospects.  Both will push to play and got to spend this entire last year getting stronger and used to the physicality of the MVFC.  Redshirting your interior defensive linemen is a huge benefit, I'm excited for their futures. 

Linebacker

• #*Logan Backhaus (6-4, 205) Sr
• *Adam Bock (6-1, 210) R-Fr
• Graham Spalding (6-1, 200) R-Fr
• Payton Shafer (6-0, 215) So
• Matt Barnett (6-3, 200) R-Fr
• Kinser Madison (6-2, 210) So
• Thomas Motzko (6-0, 230) R-Fr
• Caleb Francl (6-0, 190) Fr-2
• Isaac Appleget (6-2, 190) Fr-2
• Aaron Kusler (6-2, 205) Fr-2
• Adam Kusler (6-3, 205) Fr-2
• Davion Sterner (6-0, 190) Fr-2
• Cade Reynolds (6-2, 205) Fr
• Matthew Durance (6-2, 200) Fr
• Colby Littleton (6-3, 210) Fr
• Ryan Swoger (6-3, 190) Fr
• Saiveon Williamson (6-1, 210) So- INJURED

The loss of Preston Tetzlaff will be felt from a leadership and production standpoint.  Preston was never the most talented player but he sure busted his butt every time he was on the field.  Spalding and Shafer gained valuable reps this spring and it will be interesting to see who emerges.  Spalding showed how physical he was this spring while Shafer showed tremendous effort on the special teams coverage units.  Backhaus and Bock became a really solid duo and possess speed that is challenging for offensive linemen to get to.  There is lots of young talent that is pushing to play.  Should make everyone in the group better and it should ensure that the Jackrabbit special teams coverage units remain a strength!   

Cornerback

• #*Don Gardner (6-1, 185) Sr
• *DyShawn Gales (5-11, 185) So
• *Malik Lofton (5-10, 190) Jr
• Dalys Beanum (6-1, 165) Fr-2
• Abe Hoskins III (6-2, 175) Fr-2
• Steven Arrell (6-2, 185) Fr-2
• Myles Taylor (6-1, 180) Fr
• Chris Rhodes (6-0, 175) Fr
• Aydan Dautermann (6-2, 185) Fr
• Timothy Croskey (6-0, 170) Fr

Don Gardner has really grown as a player since he first got to Brookings.  He became a special teams star, a good cornerback, and finally a great cornerback this spring.  He is physical in the run game, great at sniffing out wide receiver screens, and is tremendous against big wide receivers.  DyShawn and Malik gained confidence as the year went on and you saw the handsy penalties subside that plagued this duo early in the year. I have no idea what to expect from the three second year players and three true freshmen.  A role on the field is there, they just need to take it. 

Safety

• *Josh Manchigiah (6-0, 210) Jr
• *Michael Griffin II (6-0, 215) Sr
• *Isaiah Stalbird (6-0, 210) So
• *Chase Norblade (6-1, 185) So
• Cale Reeder (6-0, 185) Fr-2
• Daeton McGaughy (6-0, 200) Fr-2
• Colby Huerter (6-1, 190) Fr
• Jaden Crockett (6-0, 170) Fr
• Tucker Large (5-11, 165) Fr

This group ranks right up there as deepest on the team. The top-4 all spent time in the starting lineup and Cale Reeder was on the field in certain sub-packages by the end of the season while McGaughy was a fixture on the special teams units.  Isaiah Stalbird's speed made a difference on the special teams units this year.  I'm not saying he will play right away but Colby Huerter is one of my favorite recruits in the 2021 class.  His range and instincts are tremendous, plus he was playing some great competition down in Texas.   

Special Teams

Kicker

• *Cole Frahm (6-5, 225) Jr
• Corben Mahaffy (5-11, 170) R-Fr
• Hunter Dustman (6-3, 215) Fr-2
• Jack Green (6-1, 185) Fr

Frahm showed off a big leg this spring.  Snapping and holding issues were to blame for most of the place kicking misses.  Mahaffy and Dustman also showed off big legs in warmups.  Again, plenty of competition.  One area that has to be improved is the kicks out of bounds.  It simply can't happen! 

Punter

• *Ben Dinkel (5-10, 22) Jr
• Hunter Dustman (6-3, 215) Fr-2
• Michael Drotzmann (6-3, 195) R-Fr

Ben Dinkel may not have the highest gross punting average in the MVFC but he is one of the best at flipping the field or pinning opponents deep in their own territory.  He is so good!  

Long Snapper

• Bradey Sorenson (6-2, 230) Jr
• Jayden Mueller (6-1, 210) Fr-2- INJURED

Everything that I have been told is that former All-American Bradey Sorenson is returning to the team after opting out this spring due to COVID.  He is reliable and durable and the special teams units should get an instant boost from his return.

Go Jacks!

Matt