Sixteen players from co-champion South Dakota State were recognized on the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team, including standout quarterback Mark Gronowski, who earned his fourth selection.
Among the Jackrabbits, nine players received first-team honors—five on defense and four on offense. The selections were made by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors, and a select panel of media.
Leading the defense were the team’s top two tacklers, linebackers Adam Bock and Caleb Francl. Bock, a graduate student from Solon, Iowa, captured his third first-team all-MVFC award after recording a team-high 75 tackles and eight tackles for loss in the regular season. He also shared the team lead with three sacks and added an interception and a fumble recovery.
Francl, a senior from Grand Island, Nebraska, ranked second on the team with 64 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and a sack, while also breaking up four passes. The Jackrabbits’ defense has been impressive, allowing only 12.4 points per game.
The secondary also featured first-team honorees with safety Tucker Large making the cut again and cornerback Dalys Beanum moving up from honorable mention after two seasons. Large, a junior from Sioux Falls, missed part of the season but made an impact upon his return with 19 tackles, two interceptions, and four pass breakups. Beanum, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska, recorded 37 tackles, an interception, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble while excelling in punt returns, averaging 12.1 yards and scoring on an 88-yard return.
Joining the defensive accolades was senior defensive tackle Jarod DePriest from Trivoli, Illinois, who contributed 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks over 12 starts, along with forcing two fumbles.
On the offensive side, the first team features linemen Evan Beerntsen and Gus Miller, who were instrumental in SDSU averaging 36.6 points and 441.9 yards per game. Beerntsen, a three-year starter from De Pere, Wisconsin, was recognized after being an honorable mention last season. Miller, a Brookings native, anchored a line that allowed only six sacks and led the FCS in fewest tackles for loss allowed.
Backfield stars Amar Johnson and Angel Johnson also secured first-team honors. Amar, a senior from O’Fallon, Missouri, led the Jackrabbits with 910 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while Angel, a junior from Viborg, stepped up in the all-purpose role, averaging 104.3 total yards per game.
Gronowski, who secured a spot on the all-MVFC Second Team, had an impressive season, completing 61.8% of his passes for 2,190 yards and 17 touchdowns, with only one interception in eight league games. He rushed for 309 yards and five touchdowns, boasting a starting quarterback record of 47-5.
Gronowski’s top receiving target, sophomore Griffin Wilde, also earned second-team honors, leading the team with 56 receptions, 900 yards, and 8 touchdowns.
The Jackrabbit secondary featured two more second-team players, safety Colby Huerter and cornerback Colby Humphrey. Despite missing four games, Huerter had 44 tackles and an interception, while Humphrey, a graduate transfer, made significant contributions with 27 total tackles and an interception.
Matthew Durrance was among the honorable mention recipients as a key defensive back, recording 51 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
Honorable mentions also went to defensive lineman Kobe Clayborne and punter Hunter Dustman, with Clayborne totaling 24 tackles and Dustman averaging 43.1 yards per punt.
South Dakota State secured the MVFC’s automatic playoff bid for the third consecutive year, finishing the regular season with a 10-2 overall record and a 7-1 mark in league play. The third-seeded Jackrabbits will host Montana in the postseason opener on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2024 MVFC All-Newcomer Team on Tuesda
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