South Dakota State University Athletics
Hall of Fame — Josh Ranek
1/31/2018 3:56:00 PM | General
Graduated: 2002
Inducted: 2017
Ranek more than doubled the previous Jackrabbit record for career rushing during his standout career from 1997-2001.
In 44 career games, Ranek ran for a school-record 6,794 yards, topping the 100-yard mark 30 times and tallying 200-plus yards in a game 13 times as he averaged 154.4 yards per contest. He rushed for a career-high and then-school-record 291 yards against St. Cloud State in the 1999 season finale.
Ranek continues to hold 10 school records for rushing, scoring and all-purpose yardage.
The Tyndall native was honored on All-America teams in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He led the North Central Conference in rushing each of his three All-America seasons and finished as the conference's all-time leading rusher with 5,257 yards in league games.
Ranek gained 1,881 yards in 1998 and broke his own school record with 2,055 yards a year later. After being slowed by injury in 2000, Ranek capped his career by being named one of three finalists for the 2001 Harlon Hill Award as the top player in NCAA Division II, along with being selected as the NCC Most Valuable Back. He racked up 1,804 rushing yards and added another 509 yards through the air on 39 receptions during his senior season, finishing his career with 69 total touchdowns.
Ranek also was a three-time academic all-NCC selection and was named to the Verizon Academic All-America Team in 2001.
Following his collegiate career, Ranek played six seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Renegades (2002-05), Hamilton TigerCats (2006) and Saskatchewan RoughRiders (2007). He posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for Ottawa from 2003-05, earning CFL East All-Star recognition each season. Ranek finished his professional career with 4,377 rushing yards and another 2,506 yards receiving.
Inducted: 2017
Ranek more than doubled the previous Jackrabbit record for career rushing during his standout career from 1997-2001.
In 44 career games, Ranek ran for a school-record 6,794 yards, topping the 100-yard mark 30 times and tallying 200-plus yards in a game 13 times as he averaged 154.4 yards per contest. He rushed for a career-high and then-school-record 291 yards against St. Cloud State in the 1999 season finale.
Ranek continues to hold 10 school records for rushing, scoring and all-purpose yardage.
The Tyndall native was honored on All-America teams in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He led the North Central Conference in rushing each of his three All-America seasons and finished as the conference's all-time leading rusher with 5,257 yards in league games.
Ranek gained 1,881 yards in 1998 and broke his own school record with 2,055 yards a year later. After being slowed by injury in 2000, Ranek capped his career by being named one of three finalists for the 2001 Harlon Hill Award as the top player in NCAA Division II, along with being selected as the NCC Most Valuable Back. He racked up 1,804 rushing yards and added another 509 yards through the air on 39 receptions during his senior season, finishing his career with 69 total touchdowns.
Ranek also was a three-time academic all-NCC selection and was named to the Verizon Academic All-America Team in 2001.
Following his collegiate career, Ranek played six seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Renegades (2002-05), Hamilton TigerCats (2006) and Saskatchewan RoughRiders (2007). He posted three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for Ottawa from 2003-05, earning CFL East All-Star recognition each season. Ranek finished his professional career with 4,377 rushing yards and another 2,506 yards receiving.
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