5 Best South Dakota State NFL Players
South Dakota State went from a Division II program to back to back FCS national champions, and the NFL noticed. These five Jackrabbits are ranked on what they did in Brookings, from record setting tight ends to the most clutch kicker the sport has ever seen.
1. Dallas Goedert
Tight End · 2014 to 2017
Goedert caught 92 passes for 1,293 yards as a junior and followed it with another 1,100 yard season, numbers tight ends simply do not put up. He was a two time All American and a Payton Award finalist, and his one handed catches made national highlight shows. Philadelphia took him in the second round in 2018.
2. Adam Vinatieri
Kicker · 1991 to 1994
Before he became the most famous clutch kicker in NFL history, Vinatieri handled kicking, punting, and kickoffs for the Jackrabbits. He was an All North Central Conference selection with a leg that stood out at any level. He went undrafted, then made two of the biggest kicks the Super Bowl has ever seen.
3. Tucker Kraft
Tight End · 2019 to 2022
Kraft picked up where Goedert left off, blocking like a sixth lineman and running away from linebackers. He was an All American who averaged over 14 yards a catch and helped push SDSU to the national title game. Green Bay drafted him in the third round in 2023.
4. Zach Zenner
Running Back · 2011 to 2014
Zenner became the first player in Division I history with three straight 2,000 yard rushing seasons. He finished with over 6,500 career yards and ran through contact on nearly every carry. He was also an academic All American who later signed with Detroit as an undrafted free agent and stuck.
5. Pierre Strong Jr.
Running Back · 2018 to 2021
Strong averaged more than seven yards a carry for his career and ran for 1,686 yards as a senior. He had a home run gear that showed up on outside zone and screens, plus real value as a receiver. New England took him in the fourth round in 2022.
Tough Calls
Mark Gronowski, Isaiah Davis, Mason Stahl, and Christian Rozeboom all belong in a longer conversation, and Gronowski's Walter Payton Award and two national titles make him hard to leave off. The five above leaned on statistical dominance and draft impact.
What Brookings Does Well
SDSU develops linemen and tight ends better than most programs at any level, and it shows in how ready their skill players are as blockers. The Jackrabbits play a physical Missouri Valley schedule that mirrors the pro game. Players arrive in NFL camps already used to real technique coaching.
Test Yourself on South Dakota State Players
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