Concerns have been raised regarding potential and confirmed transfers from the South Dakota State University football team, drawing attention from an NFL player and a former head coach.
The most notable transfer is quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has not yet announced his new destination as of Thursday. This transfer news follows the announcement made by Jimmy Rogers on December 28, stating he would leave SDSU for the head coaching position at Washington State.
The transfer portal facilitates player movement between schools. When a student-athlete notifies their current school’s compliance officer, their name is entered into the NCAA transfer portal.
SDSU has recently hired Dan Jackson as the new head coach. For fall sports, players have a 30-day window at the end of the season and another in spring to enter the portal. They can also withdraw their names from the list if they choose.
It’s common for players to transfer when a head coach departs, a trend the NCAA acknowledged in October. They note that athletes whose head coach leaves are granted an extra 30-day transfer window starting the day after the coach’s exit.
The situation at SDSU, however, has caught the eye of some prominent figures. Former SDSU head football coach John Stiegelmeier shared on social media that he appreciated past players reaching out to current students, encouraging them to remain with the program and continue to build the football team.
Reports suggest that some confirmed and potential transfers may be heading to Washington State, especially following Rogers’ announcement on December 28, Gronowski’s on December 29, and receiver Griffin Wilde’s intention to transfer that same day. Running back Angel Johnson and kicker Jack Stevens have also entered the portal.
Washington State is currently competing in a revamped PAC-12 conference as an FBS school. Speculation surrounds Gronowski and Wilde potentially following Rogers to Washington State, especially after starting quarterback John Mateer and a backup recently announced their departures. Backup quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, however, indicated he would be returning. The Sporting News ranked Mateer as the top available player as of December 29.
The Tennessee Volunteers are reportedly interested in Johnson, who is coached by former South Dakotan Josh Huepel. Stevens is related to Iowa Hawkeye kicker Drew Stevens.
SDSU graduate and current Green Bay Packer Tucker Kraft commented on the importance of players remaining with the Jackrabbit program, expressing pride in Coach Rogers while emphasizing the need for continuity within the team.
Kraft’s posts also insinuated that Rogers and some of his staff may be recruiting players to transfer, indicating that while he had opportunities to leave for financial reasons, the same coaches who once encouraged him to stay are now pushing players to leave.
Rogers reportedly earned 310,000annuallyatSDSU,whilehisnewsalaryatWashingtonStateisexpectedtobearound 1.57 million per year. Washington State announced on December 28 that he had agreed in principle to a five-year contract.
Football players may be seeking transfers to enhance their Name Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, whether by moving to a larger Division I program or a smaller one with better NIL options. Reports from The Forum, a North Dakota news outlet, suggest that the number of potential transfers from SDSU could be as high as 26.
Additionally, SDSU isn’t the only team facing player losses in the portal, as not all players entering the transfer portal end up transferring. Athlon Sports and 247 Sports have noted that Washington State has 32 players currently in the transfer portal.
FCS football players often do not find new schools quickly after entering the portal. According to the NCAA, 48% of FCS players who transferred in 2023 enrolled at a new NCAA institution, while 45% were still exploring options or had left the sport, and 7% chose to stay at their current school.
SDSU swiftly appointed Dan Jackson as the new head coach, following Rogers’ departure. Jackson had previously served as the defensive coordinator at Idaho, where the head coach, Jason Eck, left for New Mexico on December 14. New Mexico’s new head coach, Thomas Ford, was announced shortly after on December 18, having previously been an assistant at Idaho. According to reports, Eck will earn 1.5millioninhisfirstseasonatNewMexico,withannualsalaryincreasesof 50,000 over the five-year contract.
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