ST. LOUIS—South Dakota has a program-record six players on the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team announced Monday. The two teams, comprised of 61 individuals, were selected by the conference’s head coaches, sports information directors and members of the media.
Junior punter Brady Schutt (1st team), senior quarterback Austin Simmons (2nd team), senior defensive end Darin Greenfield (2nd team), junior linebacker Jack Cochrane (2nd team), junior wide receiver Caleb Vander Esch (2nd team) and junior tight end Brett Samson (2nd team) represent the Coyotes on the team. In addition, junior offensive lineman Mason Scheidegger, junior place-kicker Mason Lorber and junior safety Elijah Reed earned honorable mention.
Greenfield of Sheldon, Iowa, is the Coyotes’ first three-time all-Valley honoree. The two-time all-American is the program’s all-time leader in tackles-for-loss with 52.0. He also ranks third all-time in sacks with 24.0. Greenfield led USD with 5.0 sacks and had 11.0 tackles-for-loss this season to go with 43 tackles. He also forced a fumble and led USD with seven quarterback hurries.
Schutt of Orange City, Iowa, is the Coyotes’ third first-team all-conference punter since 2011. He finished the regular season as the nation’s fourth-leading punter with a Valley-best 45.1-yard average. He had 19 punts of 50 yards or more with a long of 62. Schutt and the Coyotes led the Valley and ranked seventh nationally in net punting with a 40.1-yard average.
