No. 11 Jacks host No. 6 UNI on Hobo Day

10/21/2009 4:45:00 PM | Football

By: SDSU Sports Info

The South Dakota State University football team begins the second half of the Missouri Valley Foootball Conference schedule Saturday as it hosts the 96th Hobo Day game against Northern Iowa in a matchup of nationally ranked teams.
Kickoff is slated for 2:05 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. The game is scheduled to be televised on Mediacom (Ch. 10) and Midcontinent (Ch. 23) cable systems throughout the Upper Midwest.
UNI, which has been ranked as high as second in the Football Championship Subdivision polls this season, is ranked sixth this week with a 5-2 overall record and 3-1 mark in the MVFC.
The Jackrabbits are co-leaders with Southern Illinois in the Valley Football race with a 4-0 league record. SDSU, which achieved its highest-ever ranking at the FCS level this week at No. 11 in the Sports Network poll, is 5-1 overall. SDSU also is ranked 13th in the FCS Coaches' poll this week.

THE SERIES: Saturday's matchup will mark the 44th meeting between SDSU and UNI on the gridiron. The two squads met regularly from the time the series started in 1935 until UNI (formerly Iowa Teachers College) left the North Central Conference in the late 1970s to join the Division I ranks.
UNI holds a 25-16-2 advantage after winning the last three meetings since the rivalry resumed in 2006, including a 34-20 victory during the 2008 season in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
SDSU's last victory in the series was a 14-7 win at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium in 1979.

ONLINE COVERAGE: Audio and video coverage of Saturday's game is scheduled to be available via subscription service at GoJacks.com, the official website of SDSU athletics. Monthly subscriptions for the Jackrabbit Extra, which includes live audio and video streaming are available for $9.95 per month or $99.95 for an entire year of coverage. An audio-only subscription also is available for $4.95 per month, with programming consisting only of live radio broadcasts.
A league-wide package is available for purchase at www.valley-football.org.
Radio coverage Saturday begins on WNAX 570 AM at 12:30 p.m., with an expanded pre-game show. Steve Imming returns to call the play-by-play, with Tyler Merriam providing color commentary.
Video streaming is scheduled to begin at 1:35 p.m.

JACKRABBIT INSIDER: Throughout the 2009 football season, head coach John Stiegelmeier will be a guest on the “Jackrabbit Insider,” a weekly behind-the-scenes look at South Dakota State University athletics.
The half-hour television show which features interviews with Jackrabbit coaches and student-athletes, airs Sundays at 10:35 p.m., following KSFY ActionNews. The show also can be viewed online at GoJacks.com.
HOBO DAY: Hobo Day, South Dakota State University's annual homecoming celebration, dates back to 1912. Saturday's game is the 96th Hobo Day game as no game was played in 1918 due to World War I and the 1943 game was played between two Army special training teams.
Overall, SDSU is 55-35-5 on Hobo Day. The Jackrabbits had their five-game Hobo Day winning streak snapped last season as SDSU dropped a 46-44, triple-overtime thriller to McNeese State (La.) on Oct. 4, 2008. However, the Jackrabbits have won 10 of their last 13 Hobo Day games.
SDSU has never faced Northern Iowa on Hobo Day.

ATTENDANCE UP: The Jackrabbits have drawn an average of 13,496 fans through their first three home games, with two more regular season games remaining at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium this season.
SDSU is on pace to break the single-season average attendance record of 11,218 set in 2007, when the Jackrabbits won the Great West Football Conference championship.
Ten of the last 15 games played at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium have drawn crowds of more than 10,000 fans, including all seven games played in September over the last three seasons.

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: The South Dakota State University football team has enjoyed a home-field advantage at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium since making the move to the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Since joining the FCS ranks at the start of the 2004 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a 24-6 mark at CAS. Lights were installed at CAS prior to the 2001 season and SDSU has turned in a 20-5 record in home night games.

CAPTAINS: Leading the Jackrabbit football team on the field and in the locker room are five senior captains:
• Danny Batten, defensive end, Gilbert, Ariz.;
• Glen Fox, wide receiver, Fairfax, Iowa;
• Chris Johnson, linebacker, Council Bluffs, Iowa;
• Nate Koskovich, offensive lineman, Kingsley, Iowa; and
• Jimmy Rogers, linebacker, Chandler, Ariz.

VALLEY PREVIEW: The South Dakota State University football team was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference race, in a preseason poll announced in conjunction with the league's annual media day in July.
Defending co-champions Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois were voted as the top two teams. UNI garnered 26 of the 36 first-place votes to finish with 314 points, followed by SIU with nine first-place votes and 281 points. The Jackrabbits tallied 231 points, while North Dakota State picked up one first-place vote and 206 points to finish fourth in the poll.
Rounding out the poll were: Western Illinois, 174 points; Youngstown State, 171 points; Missouri State, 111 points; Illinois State, 90 points , and Indiana State, 42 points. The poll was tabulated on votes by league coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.
Individually, five SDSU players were named to the all-Missouri Valley Preseason Team. Seniors Danny Batten and Jimmy Rogers were honored on the defensive side of the ball, while junior running back Kyle Minett and senior wide receiver Glen Fox represented the offense. Kicker Peter Reifenrath completed the Jackrabbit contingent.
A defensive end from Gilbert, Ariz., Batten was a first-team all-MVC selection during the 2008 season, during which he recorded 75 tackles, including team bests with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. Batten also has received second-team preseason All-America honors from the Sports Network and has been named to the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Rogers, a linebacker from Chandler, Ariz., has led the team in tackles each of the past two seasons, including 93 in 2008, when he earned second-team all-conference honors.
Minett, a Ruthton, Minn., native, was a dual threat in the backfield for the Jackrabbits in 2008, leading the team with 1,289 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while adding 44 receptions for 415 yards and four scores. Six times Minett topped the 100-yard mark in earning second-team all-MVFC recognition last season.
Fox is the team's top returning wide receiver, recording 66 receptions for 792 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008. The Fairfax, Iowa, native was a second-team all-conference pick last season.
Reifenrath was a pleasant surprise for the Jackrabbits in 2008, earning second-team all-MVFC recognition after converting 16-of-22 field goal attempts. A junior from Decorah, Iowa, Reifenrath was 5-of-7 on field goals 40 yards or longer en route to 84 total points.

RABBITS RANKED: For the third year in a row, South Dakota State appeared in the preseason national rankings for the Football Championship Subdivision.
The Jackrabbits began the season ranked 22nd in the Sports Network poll and 23rd in the preseason poll conducted by the Football Championship Subdivision coaches. SDSU has since achieved its highest ranking in a national poll, climbing to 11th in the Sports Network poll and 13th in the FCS Coaches' poll.
SDSU's previous high-water mark was 12th in September 2008.
Last season, SDSU was 19th in the Sports Network preseason poll and 20th in the coaches' poll. The Jackrabbits climbed to their highest FCS ranking — 12th — before falling to Northern Iowa in late September.

VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Playing a ranked opponent is nothing new for the Jackrabbit football team, which has taken on some of the nation's elite FCS programs since moving up from Division I at the start of the 2004 season.
In its five-plus seasons at the FCS level, SDSU has played 26 games against ranked opponents and compiled an 8-18 overall record.
The Oct. 3 game at Cal Poly marked the first time the Jackrabbits faced a ranked opponent this season.

SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA: For the second week in a row, the University of Northern Iowa football team will play a ranked Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent.
The Panthers lost a 27-20 home decision last week against then-No. 5 Southern Illinois, dropping UNI out of a three-way tie for first place in the league standings.
The UNI offense has been led this season by senior quarterback and Walter Payton Award candidate Pat Grace. The Sioux City native has twice been honored as a league player of the week and leads the nine-team MVFC in total offense with an average of 261.86 yards per game. Grace has completed 63.9 percent (108-of-169) of his passes for 1,689 yards, while throwing 17 touchdown passes against three interceptions.
Grace also ranks fourth on the team with 144 yards rushing, and shares the team lead with four rushing touchdowns.
The high-powered UNI offense, which is averaging a league-best 38.7 points per game, features five different receivers who have hauled in 13 or more receptions. D.J. Hord leads the way with 27 recptions for 466 yards and five touchdowns, followed by converted quarterback D.P. Eyman with 24 catches for 398 yards and three scores.
Jarred Herring possesses big-play ability as he is averaging 22.9 yards on 15 receptions. Herring also averages 25.7 yards on kickoff returns and has an 88-yard kickoff return to his credit this season.
Tight end Schuylar Oordt has contributed 13 receptions and four touchdowns, with Maurice Turner also collecting 13 receptions.
The tandem of Derrick Law and Carlos Anderson pace the running game. Law, who gained 123 yards on 20 carries last week against Southern Illinois, leads the squad with 546 yards this season, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Anderson has added 344 yards.
The Panthers employ an experienced offensive line whose starting unit is made up entirely of seniors, including all-league performer Austin Howard. As a unit, the UNI offensive line has allowed only seven sacks all season.
Defensively, the Panthers rank just behind SDSU in scoring defense, allowing a measly 13.1 points per game.
Buck Buchanan Award nominee James Ruffin has posted a league-leading seven sacks and has 9.5 tackles for loss among his 30 stops.
Strong safety Jamar Thompson leads the team with 53 tackles, while Sioux Falls native Josh Mahoney is second with 52 tackles from his linebacker position. Fellow linebacker Elijah Hodge has contributed 51 tackles.
L.J. Fort and Quentin Scott each have two of the Panthers' seven team interceptions.
On special teams, senior kicker Billy Hallgren has made 9-of-12 field goal attempts and converted all 31 point-after touchdown attempts. All of Hallgren's misses on field goals have been from more than 40 yards.
Freshman punter Kyle Bernard is averaging 40.2 yards per boot and has landed four of his 20 attempts inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
The Panthers have gotten off to quick starts this season, outscoring the opposition 163-26 in the first halves of their seven games, including a 101-13 advantage in the second quarter.
One potential pitfall for the Panthers is that they are the second-most penalized team in the Missouri Valley Football Conference after being flagged an average of 8.1 times per game for 72.7 yards.

LAST MEETING: Eighth-ranked Northern Iowa used a balanced offensive attack to pull away from SDSU, 34-20, in a battle of ranked teams Sept. 20, 2008 at the UNI-Dome.
UNI amassed 433 yards of total offense in the game, gaining 233 on the ground and 200 through the air. Quarterback Pat Grace accounted for 284 yards, completing 12-of-20 passes for 200 yards and rushing 12 times for another 84 yards.
The Jackrabbits scored on the opening drive of the game, converting two third-and-long plays during their 11-play, 43-yard drive before a 42-yard field goal by Peter Reifenrath.
On UNI's first possession, Chris Johnson intercepted Pat Grace's first pass attempt of the game and returned it 10 yards to the SDSU 44. However, the Jackrabbit drive would stall and UNI began to shift the momentum in its favor.
The Panthers got on the board on their next possession as Grace found Johnny Gray behind the Jackrabbit defense for an 18-yard touchdown.
UNI controlled the battle for field position the remainder of the first half, pinning SDSU deep inside its own territory on three different occasions with punts by Brook Black.
After the Jackrabbits were forced to punt from their own end zone, the Panthers added their second touchdown in the final minute of the half. Taking over at midfield with 50 seconds remaining, UNI moved 50 yards on five plays, capping the 36-second drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by Grace to put the Panthers ahead 14-3 at the half.
SDSU was held to minus-1 yard rushing in the first half after allowing four sacks.
The Jackrabbits tallied the first points of the second half, as well, cutting the UNI lead to 14-6 on a 21-yard field goal by Reifenrath.
After the Jackrabbits were held on their next offensive possession, the Panthers again put points on the board. Following a 38-yard punt return by Gray, Grace hit tight end Ryan Mahaffey down the middle for a 33-yard touchdown.
SDSU countered with a nine-play, 73-yard drive, culminating when Ryan Berry hooked up with Glen Fox for an 8-yard scored.
UNI began to pull away early in the fourth quarter. On the first play of the quarter, Gray took an end around 19 yards for a touchdown. Grace added a 4-yard run midway through the quarter for a 34-13 advantage.
With the Jackrabbits down three scores, the SDSU passing game was effective. The Jackrabbits moved 74 yards on 10 plays, capping the drive with a 2-yard Kyle Minett run.
The Jackrabbits appeared on the verge of making it a one-score game in the closing minutes, but JaRon Harris was stripped of the ball at the UNI 8, ending any hopes of a comeback.
Berry ended the night 32-of-53 passing for 375 yards, setting career highs in all three passing categories. Harris caught a career-best nine balls for 120 yards and Fox added six catches for 102 yards. Minett tallied seven receptions for 59 yards and posted a team-best 36 yards on 14 carries as the Jackrabbit running game was stifled throughout the game.
Corey Lewis led UNI with 95 yards on 18 carries. Gray led the receiving corps for the Panthers with six catches for 77 yards.
Defensively, SDSU was led by Jimmy Rogers and Danny Batten with seven tackles each. Batten also recorded a sack. UNI's Josh Mahoney led all players with 11 tackles.

TOP-10 DEFENSE: South Dakota State enters Saturday's game leading the Division I Football Championship Subdivision in scoring defense, and also leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in four other categories.
The Jackrabbits have allowed an average of only 12.33 points in its first six games of the season. SDSU has outscored the opposition by a 55-3 margin in the third quarters of games in 2009.
In addition, SDSU leads the MVFC in rushing defense (89 yards per game), pass efficiency defense (91.56), total defense (266.8) and sacks (2.67 per game).
While ranking third nationally in pass efficiency defense, the Jackrabbits also rank in a tie for eighth with 11 interceptions.

THIRD-DOWN EFFICIENCY: A key to the Jackrabbits' success on offense this season has been the team's ability to convert on third down.
Through five games, SDSU has converted 43.04 percent (34-of-79) of its third-down attempts, ranking 26th in the Football Championship Subdivision. Three of the five touchdowns the Jackrabbits scored Sept. 26 at Illinois State came on third-down plays, including Kyle Minett's 64-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter on a third-and-13 play. Minett's first touchdown of the game, an 11-yard run in the second quarter, was set up by SDSU converting on third-and-8 and third-and-9 earlier in the drive.
All three of the Jackrabbits' touchdowns at Missouri State came on third down, including a 23-yard pass from Thomas O'Brien to Saunders Montague on a third-and-16 play in the first quarter.

LIMITING MISTAKES: The Jackrabbits enter Saturday's matchup against Northern Iowa as the least-penalized team in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
SDSU has committed only 25 penalties this season — an average of 4.17 per game — to rank fourth in the Footbal Championship Subdivision for fewest penalties. In addition, the Jackrabbits rank 10th for fewest penalty yards with an average of 40.67 yards per game.
The Jackrabbits also have won the turnover battle so far this season, recording six more takeaways than their opponents, 12-6. SDSU has not turned the ball over offensively in the last two games, after committing a season-high three turnovers in its lone loss of the season, Oct. 3 at Cal Poly.

BATTEN ON BUCHANAN LIST: South Dakota State University defensive end Danny Batten remains on the watch list for the Division I Football Championship Subdivision's top defensive player.
A senior from Gilbert, Ariz., Batten was one of 20 players to be considered on the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented by the Sports Network. The watch list will be revised again in November before the final ballot is announced.
Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night before the NCAA Division I championship game. The Walter Payton Award and the Eddie Robinson Award will also be presented that evening.
Batten stepped into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2006 and has started 38 of the 39 games he has played. He earned honorable mention All-America recognition each of the past two seasons while earning first-team all-Great West Football Conference honors in 2007 and first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades in 2008. Batten ranked fourth on the team with 75 total tackles in 2008 and led the team with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.
He currently ranks in a tie for third on the team with 40 tackles, while leading the squad with 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Besides being named to the preseason Buchanan watch list, Batten has been chosen as a second-team preseason All-American by both the Sports Network and College Sporting News.

FOX TOPS CENTURY MARK: Senior wide receiver Glen Fox reached a career milestone in the Sept. 19 game against Indiana State as he recorded the 100th reception of his career.
By recording a team-best 31 receptions through the first six games, Fox has moved into seventh place on the Jackrabbit career receptions chart with 121. He needs six receptions to tie Dennis Thomas (127 receptions from 1982-85) for sixth place and seven catches to match Darren Baartman's fifth-place total 128 receptions from 1988-91.
Fox played in the Jackrabbit secondary and on special teams during his freshman season in 2006.

STEFFENS STEP UP: The Jackrabbits have received solid contributions in the first half of the season from brothers and Mount Vernon natives Mike and Jake Steffen.
Mike Steffen posted career highs with 98 receiving yards — on four receptions — and two touchdowns from his wide receiver position in the season opener against Georgia Southern. Both of his touchdowns came in the third quarter, covering four and 62 yards. The 62-yard scoring play was the longest reception of his career. He added five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown Sept. 19 versus Indiana State, then posted seven catches for 90 yards at Illinois State last week. He currently leads the team in touchdown receptions with three and in receiving yards with 455 on 24 catches, an average of 19 yards per catch.
Jake Steffen made his first career start against Georgia Southern and contributed four tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. He also was credited with two quarterback hurries. He currently ranks second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and is third with two sacks, despite missing the last two games due to a knee injury.

MINETT LEADS RUNNING GAME: Junior Kyle Minett is again handling the bulk of the duties at running back for South Dakota State this season.
Last season, Minett earned second-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors after ranking second in the league with 1,289 yards rushing — an average of 107.4 yards per game. His rushing total was the sixth highest in school history and the most by a Jackrabbit at the FCS level.
After tallying 694 yards in the first six games of the 2009 season, Minett enters this weekend with 2,459 career rushing yards. He cracked the Jackrabbit top 10 for career rushing Sept. 26 at Illinois State, and has since moved into seventh place after passing Rick Wegher (2,293 yards from 1981-84) Oct. 10 at Missouri State. Minett needs 140 yards to pass Darwin Gonnerman (2,598 yards from 1966-68) to take over sixth place.
Minett has posted 11 career 100-yard games, after rushing for a season-best 164 yards on a career-high 34 carries Oct. 17 against North Dakota State. He currently ranks fifth in the Football Championship Subdivision with an average of 115.7 yards per game.
In addition, Minett posted the third-highest point total in school history with 112, scoring 18 touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions in 2008. Four of his touchdowns came through the air, ranking third on the team with 44 receptions for 415 yards.
He has scored 36 career touchdowns — 29 rushing and seven receiving — and has a streak of 11 consecutive games in which he has scored a touchdown. He scored two touchdowns last week against North Dakota State, moving him into third place on the FCS charts for scoring this season with an average of 11 points per game.
The Ruthton, Minn., native led the team with an average of 6.2 yards per carry in 2007, and ranked second in yards gained with 476. He was named the Outstanding Player of the Beef Bowl as he racked up 134 yards on 11 carries and added a 40-yard touchdown reception in a 38-3 victory over Texas State.

CRAWFORD AT THE HELM: Senior Ryan Crawford made a successful first career start in the Sept. 12 season opener against Georgia Southern, completing 15-of-21 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Crawford's totals for completions and attempts matched his career totals entering the season.
The Outstanding Player of the 43rd Annual Beef Bowl, Crawford completed 21-of-27 passes for a career-high 239 yards and two touchdowns in the Sept. 19 game versus Indiana State. He went 70 pass attempts before throwing his first collegiate interception, which came on his first attempt of the fourth quarter against the Sycamores.
Crawford currently has a passing efficiency rating of 157.51 to rank seventh in the Football Championship Subdivision this season. He has completed 67.4 percent of his passes this season and 68.2 percent for his career.
Crawford, who suffered a knee injury at Cal Poly and missed the Missouri State and North Dakota State games, is expected to return this season. Redshirt freshman Thomas O'Brien is the scheduled starter Saturday against Northern Iowa.
A senior from Oro Valley, Ariz., Crawford entered fall camp as the quarterback with the most experience in a Jackrabbit uniform. During the 2008 season, Crawford played in six games and completed 14-of-20 passes — 70 percent — for 106 yards and one touchdown. His most extensive playing time came in the season finale at North Dakota State as he stepped in for an injured Ryan Berry and completed 10-of-13 passes for 50 yards and a score.
Junior transfer Lee Mondol and freshman Mike Whittier also were in competition for the starting nod in fall camp.

O'BRIEN BACKS UP: Redshirt freshman Thomas O'Brien has helped lead the Jackrabbits to victories in each of his first two career starts while playing in place of an injured Ryan Crawford.
In wins over Missouri State and North Dakota State, O'Brien has completed a combined 27-of-42 passes — 64.3 percent — for 330 yards and two touchdowns. His best outing was a 14-of-21, 211-yard performance with two touchdowns at Missouri State on Oct. 10.
O'Brien did not throw an interception in either start and his quarterback efficiency rating was 146.00.

TOP TACKLERS RETURN: An experienced Jackrabbit defense returns its top eight tacklers from a year ago. The top three tacklers are the team's starters at linebacker: Jimmy Rogers (93 tackles), Chris Johnson (82 tackles) and Derek Domino (80 tackles).
Also returning are defensive end Danny Batten (75 tackles), linebacker Isaiah Jackson (63), safety Conrad Kjerstad (51) and cornerbacks Cole Brodie (47) and General Parnell (45).

OH, DOMINO: Junior linebacker Derek Domino has emerged as the team's leading tackler in recent weeks.
A junior from Spring Lake Park, Minn., Domino has tallied 49 tackles so far this season and has recorded three games with double figures for tackles. Domino has notched a career-high 12 tackles in consecutive weeks, helping the Jackrabbits to league victories over Missouri State and North Dakota State.
In addition, Domino shares the team lead with three interceptions. He picked off two passes Oct. 17 against North Dakota State, returning his first interception of the game 16 yards for a touchdown.
Last season, Domino returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown in the Hobo Day game against McNeese State (La.).

KJERSTAD LEADS SECONDARY: Junior strong safety Conrad Kjerstad recorded the eighth interception of his career Oct. 10 at Missouri State, snaring a pass in the end zone to end a Bear scoring threat. The Wall native also registered six tackles in the game, and was credited with a career-high 11 stops Sept. 26 at Illinois State. He currently stands in a tie for third on the team for tackles with 40.
Kjerstad's eight career interceptions are the most by any current Jackrabbit player. He led the team with four during the 2008 campaign and shares the team lead this season with General Parnell and Derek Domino with three.

KNIPS SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY: South Dakota State University offensive lineman Casey Knips has been named a semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy, officials from the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced earlier this month.
A senior offensive tackle from Adrian, Minn., Knips is in his second season as a regular starter for the nationally ranked Jackrabbits. He is one of 37 players from the Division I Football Championship Subdivision — and one of 154 players from all divisions of college football to be named a semifinalist.
Nominees must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first-team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Formerly the Draddy Trophy, the award was renamed this fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit and a former player and head coach at Columbia University (N.Y.).
The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 29. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship. The Campbell Trophy winner, who will have his scholarship increased to $25,000, will be announced live at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner on December 8 at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
Last season, Jackrabbit quarterback Ryan Berry became the first SDSU player to be named a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class.

COACH STIG: John Stiegelmeier has built the South Dakota State University football team into a consistent winner and a program on the rise in the ranks of the Football Championship Subdivision.
Overall, Coach Stig has led the Jackrabbits to an 80-57 record (.584 winning percentage). SDSU is one win away from its eighth consecutive winning season, a streak that includes all six seasons at the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) level. The Jackrabbits have had a winning record in 10 of his 12 full years as head coach, including five with seven or more victories.
Stiegelmeier, 52, is the 20th head coach for the Jackrabbits. His tenure of 12-plus years as head coach is the second-longest head coaching stint in school history.
The Selby, S.D., native first became acquainted with the Jackrabbit football program as a student assistant under John Gregory during SDSU's only NCAA playoff season in 1979. With the Jackrabbits victory at McNeese State (La.) on Sept. 30, 2006, Stiegelmeier passed Gregory (55-50-3 from 1972-81) for sole possession of second place on the SDSU career wins list.
After graduating from SDSU with degrees in mathematics and physical education, Stiegelmeier enrolled in graduate school at the University of Northern Iowa, where he served on the coaching staff of a Panther squad which posted a 7-4 mark in 1981.
Stiegelmeier coached at Eau Claire (Wis.) North High School from 1981-84, then returned to his home state as defensive coordinator, secondary coach and recruiting coordinator at Northern State University from 1984-87. Northern was 8-3 in his last season with the Wolves and finished fourth in the nation in total defense.
After NSU, Stiegelmeier went back to school, enrolling at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a graduate assistant on the staff headed by Don Morton while working on his doctorate.
Stiegelmeier returned to his alma mater in July 1988, joining Wayne Haensel's Jackrabbit coaching staff as secondary coach and recruiting
coordinator. After Haensel stepped down following the 1990 season, Stiegelmeier was elevated to defensive coordinator by new head coach Mike Daly.
In six seasons as defensive coordinator, Stiegelmeier helped guide the Jackrabbits to a 41-23 record, turning in a winning record in all six seasons, including five seven-win seasons. That track record of success helped Stiegelmeier secure his first head coaching position in December 1996, when he was named Daly's successor.
The Stiegelmeier era opened in style Sept. 13, 1997, as the Jackrabbits recorded a 17-7 victory at UC Davis.

HOMETOWN CONNECTION: SDSU has used the services of home-grown talent the past few seasons.
In 2009, five Jackrabbit players hail from Brookings: senior running back Jordan Paula, junior running back Tyler Duffy, redshirt freshman wide receiver Dan Schmidt, freshman offensive lineman Alex Parker and freshman running back Mason Winterboer.

A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits will make a national television appearance as part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference television package Oct. 31, when they travel to Youngstown State (Ohio). That game is scheduled to be broadcast live on Fox College Sports, and also shown on a tape-delayed basis on Fox Sports Midwest.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:07 p.m. Eastern Time (3:07 p.m. Central) at Stambaugh Stadium on the Youngstown State campus.
SDSU closes out the home portion of its schedule Nov. 7 against Southern Illinois.