5 Best South Dakota NFL Players
The Coyotes have quietly produced NFL champions for seventy years, from the old Baltimore Colts dynasty to the modern Chiefs. These five South Dakota players are ranked on their college careers in Vermillion, not on what came after.
1. Stefan Logan
Running Back · 2003 to 2006
Logan is the all time leading rusher in South Dakota history and did it at 5 foot 6, which tells you how hard he was to find behind a line. He was a threat every time he touched the ball, on handoffs and returns alike. That return skill is what got him onto NFL rosters in Pittsburgh and Detroit.
2. Matt Chatham
Linebacker · 1994 to 1998
Chatham was a productive, physical linebacker for the Coyotes who played bigger than his recruiting profile. He went undrafted and turned special teams work into three Super Bowl rings with New England. Few Division II defenders have ever had a longer or more useful pro run.
3. Ordell Braase
Defensive End · 1951 to 1953
Braase was a two way lineman in Vermillion in an era when that was expected, and he was tough enough to make it stick. He went on to three NFL championships with the Baltimore Colts and played in the 1958 title game, the one that changed pro football. He remains the most decorated Coyote of the early era.
4. Tom Compton
Offensive Tackle · 2008 to 2011
Compton anchored the Coyote line as the program moved up to FCS and the Missouri Valley, one of the toughest jumps in the sport. He was long, athletic, and steady in pass protection against far bigger rosters. Washington drafted him in the sixth round in 2012 and he played nearly a decade.
5. Chris Streveler
Quarterback · 2016 to 2017
Streveler transferred in and immediately gave South Dakota a dual threat starter, throwing and running for big numbers in the Valley. He was fearless as a runner and consistently kept broken plays alive. He won a Grey Cup in Winnipeg before landing with the Cardinals and Jets.
Names Left Off
Jack Cochrane, Kameron Cline, Jamel White, Tyler Starr, and Myles Harden all have arguments, and Cochrane owns two Super Bowl rings of his own. This list weighted college production and program impact most heavily.
Why the Coyotes Get Overlooked
South Dakota moved from Division II to FCS in 2008 and had to rebuild against a brutal Missouri Valley schedule. That transition hid a lot of good players for a decade. Scouts have caught up, and the Coyotes now put draftable prospects on tape almost every year.
Test Yourself on South Dakota Players
Reading about them is one thing. Naming them on sight is another. CollegeGuessr shows you an NFL player and asks which college he came from. Build a streak, post your score on the Big Board, and see how your football knowledge holds up.