News

Digging Into USD's Two-Deep

9/1/2015 3:35 PM

Jay Elsen  | @ElsenMidco

After nearly a month of fall practice, University of South Dakota head coach Joe Glenn finally released his team’s first official two deep on Tuesday. The Coyotes are scheduled to kick off the 2015 season this Saturday, Sept. 5 at Kansas State.
 Quarterback
#2 Ryan Saeger, 6-4, 220, Jr.
  • Appeared in 6 Games (4 starts) in 2014. Completed 54%, 660 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT…44 rush, 184 yds, 4 TD. selected as one of four team captains.
#5 Brian Woodward, 6-3, 200, RFr.
  • Redshirted in 2014. Threw for 1,258 yards and 11 touchdowns during senior season at Brophy College Prep (Ariz.). Coaches say he has shown significant improvement over the past year.
Running Back
#21 Trevor Bouma, 5-11, 210, Jr.
  • Rushed for nearly 1,300 yards (4.8 avg), 6 TDs in first two seasons despite missing double digit games due to injury. selected as one of four team captains.
#14 Michael Frederick, 5-10, 165, Fr.
  • Attitude and ability has impressed coaches throughout fall camp.
Fullback
#41 Drew Potter, 6-3, 250, Jr.
  • Could see more touches in the running game after 8 rush, 103 yard effort in 2014 season finale at South Dakota State. 
#30 Taylor Lambert, 5-10, 235, So.
  • Named Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year in 2014. Converted to fullback in the spring of 2015. 
Wide Receiver
#1 Riley Donovan, 6-1, 185, Jr.
  • Finished second on the team in catches (38) and receiving yards in 2014. Has averaged 15.2 yards per catch in first two seasons. 
#84 Danny Rambo, 5-10, 160, Fr.
  • Another young guy with a great attitude. Younger brother of Buffalo Bills SS Bacarri Rambo. Could also help out in return game.  
Wide Receiver
#11 Eric Shufford, 5-11, 195, Sr.
  • Named team MVP in 2014 after leading the Coyotes in catches (53), receiving yards (699), and receiving touchdowns (5). Selected as one of four team captains. 
#13 Nick Meyer, 5-11, 195, Sr.
  • Recorded 9 catches in 9 games for USD last season. 
Tight End
#80 Aaron Ramsey, 6-3, 230, So. –OR-
  • Exploded onto the scene in 2014, averaging nearly 19 yards per catch in USD’s first six games before a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. 
#83 Ethan Fenchel, 6-4, 240, RFr.
  • Redshirted in 2014. Also competes in track and field at USD. 
Left Tackle
#76 Nick Jensen, 6-6, 285, RFr.
  • Vermillion native originally joined team as a walk-on. 
#64 Stetson Dagel, 6-5, 280, So.
  • Started the final 5 games of 2014 at right tackle. 
Left Guard
#62 Nile Banks, 6-5, 305, Jr.
  • One of 7 Coyotes who started all 12 games (11 at LG, 1 at LT) in 2014. Named MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week following team’s win over nationally-ranked Northern Arizona. 
#51 Sam McLeran, 6-3, 310, So.
  • Started 7 of the first 8 games at century before suffering  season-ending shoulder injury. Moved to guard after experiencing more issues with the same shoulder. 
Center
#70 Thomas McGuire, 6-4, 280, Sr.
  • Graduate transfer. Started 24 games at Elon University (N.C.) the past two seasons. 
#68 Mike Meinert, 6-3, 285, Jr.
  • Appeared in 6 games in 2014. Made his first collegiate start against Northern Arizona. 
Right Guard
#78 Ed Kennedy, 6-4, 285, So.
  • Played in two games in 2014. Made first collegiate start at left guard in season finale at South Dakota State 
#51 Sam McLeran, 6-3, 310, So.
Right Tackle
#65 Derek Chancellor, 6-5, 305, Sr.
  • The team’s most experienced offensive lineman with 26 career starts. Missed the final five games in 2014 with a leg injury. 
#77 Tanner Anderson, 6-5, 285, RFr.
  • Competed for the job at left tackle throughout fall camp.
Defensive End
#45 Colin Mertlik, 6-2, 230, Jr.
  • One of 25 Coyotes to appear in all 12 games in 2014. Played on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. Earned his first collegiate sack against eventual FCS runner-up Illinois State.
#18 Jake Leohr, 6-2, 245, So.
  • Appeared in 8 games as a true freshman. Returned a fumble 46 yards for a touchdown in win over William Penn.Defensive Tackle
#94 Drew Iddings, 6-6, 285, Sr.
  • Moves to the inside after playing the last three season at defensive end. Has recorded 22.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks for his career. 
#90 Jon Maag, 6-4, 265, Jr.
  • Started 4 games in 2014, including the season opener at Oregon. 
Defensive Tackle
#56 Nick Jacobs, 6-4, 280, Sr. –OR-
  • Missed the first five games of 2014 due to illness. Has started 27 games, recording 9.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in his career.
#55 Sean Bredl, 6-4, 270, Jr.
  • Started all 12 games at defensive end in 2014. Finished with 33 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Recorded first career interception against Northern Arizona.
Defensive End
#17 Andrew Van Ginkel, 6-4, 230, RFr.
  • Possibly the most talked about guy since spring ball. Drawing comparisons to former MVFC Defensive Player of the Year and current Atlanta Falcon, Tyler Starr, in both size and skill set.
#18 Jake Leohr, 6-2, 245, So.
Linebacker
#33 Keyen Lage, 6-3, 235, Sr.
  • Named USD’s Joe Salem Defensive Player of the Year after starting all 12 games and finishing as the team’s fourth-leading tackler (66 tkl, 5.5 tfl) in 2014. Selected as a team captain for the second straight year.
#15 Devon O’Farrell, 5-11, 235, Jr.
  • Appeared in all 12 games in 2014, playing mostly on special teams.
Linebacker
#28 John Wessel, 6-2, 230, Jr.
  • Started all 12 games at inside linebacker in 2014, finishing second on the team in tackles (86) and 18th in the MVFC in tackles per game (7.2). Earned honorable mention All-MVFC honors.
#37 Colin Buscarini, 6-1, 210, Sr.
  • Started the final 11 games at inside linebacker in 2014. Recorded 59 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and 1 sack.
Linebacker
#4 Ryan Hillier, 6-1, 220, Sr.
  • Started 7 games at outside linebacker in 2014. Finished with 31 tackles, including 3.5 for loss.
#20 Alex Coker, 6-1, 215, RFr.
  • Made the move from safety to linebacker in the spring of 2015. 
Cornerback
#26 Chris Tyler, 6-2, 200, Sr.
  • Started 6 games at cornerback in 2014, recording 36 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception. 
#7 Adam Harris, 5-10, 195, So.
  • Appeared in 11 games as a true freshman, playing on special teams and as a reserve safety.  
Free Safety
#8 Tyson Graham, 6-2, 210, Jr.
  • Led the team in tackles (97) in first season since converting from wide receiver. Ranked 7th in the MVFC in tackles per game (8.1). Also notched his first career interception against William Penn. 
#32 Jet Moreland, 6-3, 215, Jr.
  • One of the most vocal leaders on the team. Moves to safety after spending the past two seasons at outside linebacker. Was a first-team All-State selection at Wichita Heights (Kan.) High School. Also competes in track and field at USD.  
Strong Safety
#24 Jacob Warner, 6-0, 200, Jr.
  • Started 11 games at strong safety in 2014, finishing as the team’s third-leading tackler (67). Also ranked 4th on the team with 4 tackles for loss. Recorded his first career interception against Northern Arizona. 
#10 Will Armstead, 5-9, 195, Jr.
  • Played in 10 games as a reserved defensive back in 2014. 
Cornerback
#2 Mike Lilly, 5-9, 165, Sr.
  • Started 7 games at cornerback in 2014, finishing with 52 tackles and five pass breakups. Strong special teams player. Blocked an extra point against Oregon and a punt against Western Illinois. 
#25 Adam Juhl, 5-10, 180, Jr.
  • Began climbing the depth chart thanks to a strong spring. Continued to play well in fall camp.
Punter
#16 Miles Bergner, 6-0, 225, Jr.
  • Ranked second in the MVFC with an average of 41.9 yards per punt. Placed 19 punts inside the opponent’s 20 yard line and six inside the 10.
Placekicker
#16 Miles Bergner, 6-0, 225, Jr.
  • Converted 16 of 17 field goal attempts in 2014, which included a perfect 5-for-5 mark on kicks of 40 yards or more. Saw his program-record string of 18 consecutive made field goals snapped in the 2014 season finale at South Dakota State. Also made 19 of 21 extra points and forced 8 touchbacks on 42 kickoffs. 
#98 Ethan James, 6-0, 200, So.
  • Played in one game as a true freshman following injury to Bergner. Averaged 44.5 yards on two kickoffs.
Holder
#11 Eric Shufford, 5-11, 195, Sr.
Short-snapper
#38 Brandon Godsey, 6-1, 210, So.
Long –snapper
#38 Brandon Godsey, 6-1, 210, So.
  • Named USD’s Harry Gamage Most Valuable Freshman.
Kick Returners
#2 Mike Lilly, 5-9, 165, Sr.
#31 Shamar Jackson, 5-8, 160, Fr.
  • Explosive athlete. A get the ball in his hands and let him go kind of guy. Was a first-team All-State selection at Royal Palm Beach (Fla.) High School.
Punter Returner
#11 Eric Shufford, 5-11, 195, Sr.
  • Averaged 14.8 yards on 23 returns for San Bernardino Valley College (Calif.) in 2013.