BROOKINGS Yesterday, I previewed the South Dakota State football offense ahead of the start of fall camp next week. Today, I will take a look at the defense.
The Jackrabbits return one starter on defense in Kobe Clayborne on the defensive line. Thats not to say that there arent players on the team that saw snaps last season, but SDSU lost a lot of talent to both graduation and the transfer portal.
SDSU head coach Dan Jackson acknowledged that but also noted that every team in the country is dealing with that and hes excited to see how his team comes together both in fall camp and throughout the season.
I think everybody is a work in progress. I think every team in the country could say that. For us, I think the important thing is that we have high-level talent and great coaching. The value of every rep is going to be so critical for us to build the chemistry that we need. Thats been the secret sauce the last couple of years [at SDSU]. Those kids played with each other for thousands of reps. With football being such a team game, we need to be able to build that cohesion through camp. The fun thing about that is, I think were going to be a team that starts fast but is also going to get better every week, Jackson said.
Over the past three seasons the Jackrabbits have rotated seven, eight or nine guys on the defensive line and that led to SDSU having one of the best defenses in the FCS over that stretch. Jackson said this year will be no different because to be able to meet the standard that theyve set, the Jacks need to have a lot of depth up front.
You look at our defensive line, with Kobe [Clayborne], Reis Kirschenman, Dawson Ripperda and Logan Green, and we also brought in a couple of guys at those positions too, Jackson said. [Having rotational depth] is always going to be the case for us. We need 8-10 guys to play for us on the defensive line.
That doesnt mean equal reps or situational guys in there, but we need to do that for the season that were preparing for. If youre wanting to play through January, I think that was one of the biggest turns for this program, when we decided to sub more on the defensive line. The [starters] are [starters] for a reason and your twos are your twos for a reason and the threes, but I want as many guys on the D line as possible.
SDSU lost its three starting linebackers that were all graduate seniors. Jackson said he isnt worried about that because of the tradition of next man up at the linebacker position. He noted that sophomore Chase Van Tol is ready to be the star of that unit after a strong freshman season and junior Joe Ollman was named a captain earlier this week.
Were proud of the [linebacker] tradition. I mean, coach [Jimmy] Rogers between coaching the linebackers and being the defensive coordinator, and even before that with coach [Jay] Bubock, we have had great linebackers. Im very excited about our linebackers. I think Chase [Van Tol] is one of the most instinctual and talented football players that youre going to see. I love that hes a South Dakota guy as well. And then with Cullen McShane and Joe Ollman and Bryce Johnson and down the line, even some guys weve added, Im excited about that group, Jackson said.
The secondary does not return any starters as well and the only players that saw action from last years team were junior safeties Dontay Johnson and Noah Thompson and sophomore cornerback Myles Taylor. Jackson said the depth in the secondary wasnt there when they had practices in the spring but now he feels good about it after some portal additions.
[The secondary] was one position group that lacked some depth in the spring but it also has been a specialty of mine in the past of coaching and recruiting those guys. Im really excited about Dontay Johnson at safety and he was here a year ago. Im really excited about Koby Bretz who transferred in from Nebraska. From Max Stanard to Noah Thompson to a different number of safeties, Jason Thome [from Colorado Mesa] is a really good player and so is Zayid Aziz [from Georgetown]. So, weve built some depth at safety.
At cornerback, I feel really good there. Myles Taylor is coming back for us and he has game reps. Jayden Oliver is a special talent from Buffalo and there is some depth behind those guys as well.
South Dakota State will open fall camp on July 30, one month before its season opener against Sacramento State at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings on Aug. 30.
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