JACKS FACT -While there are players from 13 states on the 2002 SDSU roster, 75 are from South Dakota (48) and Minnesota (27).
DEFENSE Eight positions have returning starters, and there is also some depth among the lettermen. Line - hit the hardest by graduation with the loss of Matt Peterson and Matt Anderson. The returning starters are end Bo Johnston (6-5, 250, Sr.) and nose tackle Shane Delbridge (6-3, 285, Jr.). In addition, tackle Derek DeGreest (6-4, 275, So.), tackle Josh Stephan (6-2, 285, Jr.) and end Joey Abell (6-5, 210, So.) each started at least one game last year. DeGeest and Stephan will battle for Anderson’s spot while Abell is the front runner to replace Peterson at the rush end. Andy Lueth (6-3, 265, Jr.) is a letterman at end. A pair of redshirt freshmen also show up on the depth chart, Travis Ahrens (6-1, 240) at nose and Gabe Koenigsfeld (6-4, 235) at end. Linebacker - more experience and more depth than any position on the team, particularly if Kyle Haroldson comes back healthy. Haroldson led the team in tackles in 2000, but played just two games before being injured last year and was granted medical hardship status by the conference. He had 84 tackles in 2000 and has played in 31 games with 160 tackles for his career. Even without Haroldson, the Jacks return all four starters at the three positions Brandon Thiesse (6-2, 217, Sr.), Jeff Schultz (62, 245, Sr.), Chris Coauette (6-3, 210, So.), and Phil Oksness (6-2, 225, Sr.). Schultz and Coauette are at the middle position with Oksness and Haroldson at the Will spot. Haroldson, Thiesse, Schultz and Oksness are all three-year lettermen. Thiesse has played in 31 games with 110 tackles, Schultz 29 games with 143 tackles and Oksness 29 games with 119 tackles. And there’s also a senior non-letterman on the depth chart, Matt Fritze (6-2, 230). Secondary - graduation claimed Casey Hillman, who as a three-year starter at one corner. But the Jacks have players with starting ‘02 JACKRABBIT FOOTBALL
new. Kevin Brown and Cory Blalark are proven talents. Redshirt freshmen Chris Molitor and Richard Mapp will also get some chances. Punter - Jason Langland finished third in Division II last year and is back for his fourth season. He averaged 43.6 yards on 46 tries last year and was honorable mention all-conference. for career, has 139 attempts with a 39.4 average. Kicker - probably the biggest question on the team. The Jacks literally went through tryouts in spring ball, but also signed two recruits, JC transfer Keith Witt (Long Beach CC in California) and Andy Pick (Norfolk, NE). Among those who return, Mike Murphy (RS Fr) has the strongest leg while Heath Clifton (RS Fr) may be SPECIAL TEAMS the most accurate field goal kicker but has limitSnappers - long snapper Jesse Ranek and short snap- ed range. per Nate Scheuer are both gone. Top candidates after spring ball were Joey Abell Year Date Opponent on long snaps and Blake 2002 October 5 North Dakota Seeds, a defensive lineman 2003 September 27 Nebraska - Omaha (6-3, 290) who transferred from Black Hills 2004 October 9 North Dakota State State. 2005 October 29 St. Cloud State Holder - Kris Garry graduated and is now 2006 October 7 North Dakota a graduate assistant coach. Top candidate to 2007 October 27 MSU - Mankato replace him is wide receiver Jeff Hesse. Returns - this will be a mixture of old and experience at all four positions: Joe Ford (5-10, 179, Sr.) and Kevin Brown (5-8, 185, Jr.) at corners, Justin Landis (6-1, 210, Jr.) at tight safety and Scott Connot (6-2, 200, Jr.) at strong safety. There’s also some depth with lettermen Frank Blalark (5-8, 180, Sr.) at corner, Rodney Francois (5-10, 195, Jr.) at strong safety and Matt Pollock (5-10, 180, Jr.) at tight safety. Among the redshirt freshmen who may be in the picture is Hank McCall (5-11, 180).
Future Hobo Day Dates - 2002-2007
Jackrabbit Pre-Season Two-Deep OFFENSE LT - 72 ** BEN STUDER, 6-6, 311, Jr., Wesley, IA 60 Jeff Davis, 6-5, 290, So., Milbank, SD LG - 71 ** ANDY WAGSTROM, 6-5, 310, Jr., Faribault, MN 77 Taylor Murray, 6-3, 295, RS Fr., Cambridge, MN OC - 79 * TOM HIGBEE, 6-3, 295, So., Brooklyn Center, MN 74 Craig O’Hearn, 6-3, 250, So., Champlin Park, MN RG - 73 * Michael Suhn, 6-3, 285, So., Ree Heights, SD 62 Aaron Winterfeld, 6-3, 280, So., Sioux Center, IA RT - 69 *** BEN FAST, 6-5, 305, Sr., Mountain Lake, MN 78 John Leader, 6-4, 335, RS Fr., Crofton, NE TE - 83 * Adam Threadgold, 6-3, 260, Jr., Madison, SD 86 Ryan Lowry, 6-6, 260, So., Woodbury, MN XB - 1 * Solomon Johnson, 6-1, 170, So., St. Petersburg, FL 2 * Nick Wilson, 6-1, 200, Sr., Denver, CO ZB - 85 * Jeff Hesse, 6-5, 215, Jr., Plymouth, MN 80 Josh Davis, 6-0, 163, RS Fr., Omaha, NE HB - 85 * Jeff Hesse, 6-5, 215, Jr., Plymouth, MN 80 Josh Davis, 6-0, 163, RS Fr., Omaha, NE QB - 3 ** DAN FJELDHEIM, 6-3, 219, Sr.,Watertown, SD 5 Brad Nelson, 6-5, 205, So., Winona, MN RB - 36 *** Scott Nedved, 6-1, 222, Sr., Yankton, SD 25 James O’Neill, 6-1, 205, Jr., Tuthill, SD FB - 31 ** Craig Martinmaas, 6-0, 210, Sr., Faulkton, SD 38 Jake Erickson, 5-10, 225, RS Fr., Beresford, SD 49 Greg Peitz, 6-3, 240, So., Crofton, SD
DEFENSE E - 99 *** BO JOHNSTON, 6-5, 250, Sr., Aberdeen, SD 98 * Andy Lueth, 6-3, 265, Jr., Humboldt, SD NT - 94 ** SHANE DELBRIDGE, 6-3, 285, Sr., Union Center, SD 56 Travis Ahrens, 6-1, 240,RS Fr., Jackson, MN DT - 57 * Josh Stephan, 6-2, 285, Jr., Blaine, MN 93 * Derek DeGeest, 6-4, 275, So., Harrisburg, SD E - 44 * Joey Abell, 6-5, 210, So., Brooklyn Park, MN 91 Gabe Koenigsfeld, 6-4, 235, RS Fr., Marble Rock, IA OLB - 47 *** BRANDON THIESSE, 6-2, 217, Sr., Fairmont, MN 45 Matt Fritze, 6-2, 230, Sr., Apple Valley, MN MLB- 32 *** JEFF SCHULTZ, 6-2, 245, Sr., Freeman, SD 52 * CHRIS COAUETTE, 6-3, 210, So., Crookston, MN OLB - 33 *** PHIL OKSNESS, 6-2, 225, Sr., Luverne, MN 46 *** KYLE HAROLDSON, 6-0, 220, Sr., Bruce, SD CB - 20 ** KEVIN BROWN, 5-8, 185, Jr., Commerce City, CO 21 Hank McCall, 5-11, 180, RS Fr., Algona, IA CB - 12 ** Joe Ford, 5-10, 179, Sr., Brandon, SD 11 * Frank Blalark, 5-8, 180, Sr., Las Vegas, NV TS - 18 ** JUSTIN LANDIS, 6-1, 210, Jr., Colman, SD 22 * Matt Pollock, 5-10, 180, Jr., Clark, SD SS - 23 * SCOTT CONNOT, 6-2, 200, Jr., Spencer, NE 10 ** Rodney Francois, 5-10, 195, Jr., Naple, FL Names in CAPs are returning starters
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