The 5 Best South Dakota NFL Players of All Time

Stefan Logan became South Dakota's career rushing leader while also contributing in the return game. At 5-foot-6, the running back built a college résumé defined by production on handoffs and the ability to threaten opponents on returns. His return skills later helped him reach NFL rosters in Pittsburgh and Detroit, providing a professional continuation of one part of his college role.

The rushing record is the strongest reason for Logan's place in this school ranking. It represents cumulative achievement for the Coyotes, rather than a reputation built around one standout season. Returns add breadth to that contribution, but they should not overshadow his primary college position. His professional identity included specialist work; his South Dakota standing rests first on what he accomplished as a running back.

Matt Chatham gave South Dakota productive, physical play at linebacker, establishing his college identity on defense before finding a different route to professional success. His work for the Coyotes exceeded the expectations reflected in his recruiting profile. He entered the NFL undrafted and made special teams an important part of his career, winning three Super Bowl rings with New England.

Chatham's inclusion connects the Coyotes' defensive contribution to a notable professional outcome, but the two roles deserve distinction. At South Dakota, he was a linebacker whose value came through physical, productive defensive play; his later special teams work should not replace that college identity. His ranking is therefore better understood through his overall contribution to the program than through a single peak season or his championship rings alone.

Ordell Braase's South Dakota career belonged to an era when linemen commonly worked on both sides of the ball. A defensive end who also served as an offensive lineman in Vermillion, he carried responsibilities that extended beyond a single defensive assignment. He later won three NFL championships with the Baltimore Colts and appeared in the 1958 championship game.

Braase gives this ranking an important connection to an earlier period of Coyote football. His college significance comes from the breadth of his line duties, not merely the professional championships attached to his name. A two-way role deserves acknowledgment without relabeling his primary position. His case is about that overall contribution and historical place in the program, rather than a statistical peak that defines the entire evaluation.

Tom Compton anchored South Dakota's offensive line during the program's move into FCS football. The offensive tackle combined length and athleticism with steady pass protection, providing an established presence as the Coyotes faced the demands of a changing competitive level. Washington selected him in the sixth round in 2012, and his professional career lasted nearly a decade.

Compton's college ranking rests on the importance of his role during that transition. Pass protection is less easily summarized than rushing or receiving production, but his steadiness gives the evaluation a specific football foundation. His contribution was tied to the line's ongoing work rather than one signature season. The later NFL longevity adds context, while his place in South Dakota's development remains the central school-based argument.

Chris Streveler transferred to South Dakota and immediately supplied a dual-threat starting quarterback. His passing and rushing production gave the Coyotes contributions in both phases of the offense in Missouri Valley play, and he regularly extended broken plays. After his college career, he won a Grey Cup in Winnipeg before reaching the NFL with the Cardinals and Jets.

Streveler's ranking is built around the impact of his relatively brief South Dakota stay rather than long-term accumulation. His running mattered as part of his quarterback role, not as a reason to classify him elsewhere. Combined with his passing, it gives a concrete explanation for his offensive importance. The professional path is notable, but his immediate contribution after transferring is the stronger basis for his place among the Coyotes.