Normal, Illinois — The South Dakota Coyotes open their football season Saturday at noon on the road to Illinois State.
USD won two of its final three games in 2019 including a 24-21 upset of SDSU in the season finale. The offense returns starters at every position except quarterback where a competition for the top spot has been underway. The defense begins its second year in coordinator Travis Johansen’s 3-4 scheme. The linebackers, behind all-MVFC honoree Jack Cochrane, are expected to be the strength of the unit. The Coyotes return preseason all-American punter Brady Schutt and kicker Mason Lorber, the highest scoring kicker in Valley play by a wide margin a year ago
Illinois State was an FCS quarterfinalist last year behind running back James Robinson and one of the top defenses in the country, but Robinson is in the NFL, quarterback Brady Davis called it a career, and the Redbirds lost their top six tacklers for a variety of reasons. Despite the new roster, expectations remain high as evidenced by a preseason top-10 ranking. Senior offensive tackle Drew Himmelman is an all-Valley performer, and defensive lineman John Ridgeway, linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh and defensive back Charles Woods are preaseason all-Valley picks.
Head Coach Bob Nielson begins his fifth season with South Dakota, and for the first time, he has not announced a starting quarterback ahead of opening week. Chris Streveler and Austin Simmons were two-year starters who finished in the top-four all-time on USD’s career passing list. Streveler averaged 264 yards and threw 54 touchdowns in 23 games. Simmons averaged 264 yards and threw 45 touchdowns in 23 games. The Coyotes have led the Valley in passing in each of the last three seasons.
