JACKRABBITS INK 33 PREP STANDOUTS

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Photo by: SDSU Athletics

12/3/2025 10:48:00 AM | Football

South Dakota State head football coach Dan Jackson announced Wednesday the signings of 27 high school standouts.

"I'm fired up about this group. I think we really hit a home run at all positions by adding some big-time talent, but also some depth," said Jackson, who is completing his first season as head coach. "These are some young men who really love South Dakota State football, who know what it's all about and they want to be the ones to take it further."

The signees include:

Cale Buntz, 6-5, 215, defensive end, Platte City, Missouri (Platte County H.S.);
Teague Cantrall, 6-5, 235, tight end, Altoona, Iowa (Southeast Polk H.S.);
Braylin Dieken-Keahey, 6-3, 280, offensive lineman, Ankeny, Iowa (Ankeny Centennial H.S.)
Noah Dietel, 6-8, 305, offensive lineman, Darwin, Minnesota (Litchfield H.S.);
Michael Farr III, 5-11, 190, safety, Racine, Wisconsin (J.I. Case H.S.):
Jovan Green Jr., 6-2, 190, wide receiver, Dolton, Illinois (Brother Rice H.S.);
Kaden Harney, 6-3, 195, quarterback, Osseo, Minnesota (Maple Grove H.S.);
Connor Heiderman, 6-4, 265, defensive tackle, Norfolk, Nebraska (Battle Creek H.S.);
Brayden Hoben, 6-5, 225, tight end, Bondurant, Iowa (Grand View Christian School);
Robert Hunter, 6-0, 185, cornerback, Denver, Colorado (Hutchinson (Kan.) H.S.);
Elias Janssen, 6-3, 245, defensive tackle, Appleton, Wisconsin (Kimberly H.S.);
David Joiner, 6-2, 160, wide receiver, Bettendorf, Iowa (Davenport North H.S.);
Sawyer Josewski, 6-5, 235, tight end, Rogers, Minnesota (Rogers H.S.);
Grant Kuhlmann, 6-6, 250, defensive end, Lincoln, Nebraska (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.);
Gavin McLaren, 6-2, 250, fullback/tight end, Atlantic, Iowa (Atlantic H.S.);
Harrison Mullens, 6-1, 175, wide receiver, Pella, Iowa (Pella H.S.);
Jayden Noel, 6-1, 190, cornerback, O'Fallon, Missouri (Fort Zumwalt North H.S.);
Kayden Oakland, 6-4, 230, defensive end, Faribault, Minnesota (Northfield H.S.);
Weston Rowe, 6-6, 290, offensive lineman, Jackson, Minnesota (Jackson County Central H.S.);
Jay'Veon Scott, 6-3, 215, running back, St. Louis, Missouri (Lift For Life Academy);
Bergan Tetzlaff, 6-5, 235, defensive end, Brookings, South Dakota (Brookings H.S.);
Alex Uchtman, 6-1, 190, wide receiver, Elkhorn, Nebraska (Elkhorn North H.S.);
Dominick Walters, 6-0, 205, linebacker, Franklin, Wisconsin (Franklin H.S.);
Emeir White, 5-11, 185, cornerback, Orland Park, Illinois (Brother Rice H.S.);
Grant Wilkinson, 6-9, 305, offensive lineman, De Smet, South Dakota (De Smet H.S.);
Amari Williams, 6-0, 180, safety, Florissant, Missouri (De Smet Jesuit H.S.);
Jhace Woods, 6-2, 195, wide receiver, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Washington H.S.).

"We love developing talent and our commitment to high school players sets us up really well for the future," Jackson said. "Now we get to go coach and mold them into what we want."

Following is a closer look at the Jackrabbits' signees:

CALE BUNTZ
Buntz earned first-team all-district honors as a junior for a Platte County High School squad that won a Class 5 state championship in 2024 ... has helped lead his team back to the state title game in 2025 by recording double digits in sacks ... a member of the National Honor Society, he plans to major in mechanical engineering ... father, Luke, played collegiately at Northwest Missouri State

TEAGUE CANTRALL
Cantrall was a key contributor for the Southeast Polk High School team that won a Class 5A state championship in 2024 and also turned in a solid campaign as a senior ... earned second-team all-state recognition in 2025 after catching 22 passes for 293 yards (13.3 ypc) and 5 touchdowns ... intends to major in business economics

BRAYLIN DIEKEN-KEAHEY
Dieken-Keahey blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher each of his three seasons as a starter at Ankeny Centennial High School ... team qualified for state playoffs each season ... earned first-team all-district recognition as both a junior and senior, while moving up to a second-team all-state selection in 2025 ... plans to major in psychology

NOAH DIETEL
Dietel was named conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and was an all-section honoree as a senior at Litchfield High School ... also was an all-league honoree as a junior ... selected to play in the 2025 Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game ... comes from an athletic family that includes brothers Dominic and Jacob, who have competed in both track and field and football for Minnesota State, Mankato and Wisconsin-Stout, respectively ... in addition, his mother, Angela, was inducted into the MSU Mankato Athletics Hall of Fame after a standout softball career ... plans to major in exercise science

MICHAEL FARR III
Michael earned all-conference honors three times and was a two-time all-state selection at J.I. Case High School ... named conference Offensive Player of the Year after averaging 9 receptions, 103 yards and 2 touchdowns per game ... also played on the defensive side of the ball, averaging 8.5 tackles per game ... Honor Roll student throughout high school career … will pursue a degree in sport and recreation management

JOVAN GREEN JR.
Green earned honorable mention all-conference accolades for a Brother Rice High School team that has advanced to the Illinois Class 7A state championship game ... has caught 41 passes for 528 yards and 6 touchdowns heading into title game ... father played basketball at Alabama A&M ... planning to major in sport and recreation management

KADEN HARNEY
Harney accounted for nearly 5,000 yards on total offense during a career at Maple Grove High School in which he earned first-team all-conference honors as both a junior and senior ... selected to play in the 2025 Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game ... threw for 4,200 yards and 46 touchdowns, while also tallying 715 rushing yards and 20 scores ... team won Class 6A state championship his junior season ... team captain ... academic all-state honoree ... recognized on A Honor Roll throughout high school … intends to major in business economics

CONNOR HEIDERMAN
Heiderman earned all-state recognition as a junior, when he totaled 45 tackles and 5 sacks over 10 games for Battle Creek High School ... nearly matched those totals in 2025, when he averaged 4.1 tackles per game and notched 3.5 sacks ... has yet to declare a major

BRAYDEN HOBEN
Hoben helped lead Grand View Christian School to its first-ever 11-man playoff appearance during his senior season ... earned first-team all-state honors as a tight end and was District Offensive MVP after totaling 718 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in 2025 ... also played on defense and was credited with 42 solo tackles and 17 tackles for loss ... earned all-district recognition for first time as a junior ... member of the Class 2A Academic All-State squad ... also competes in basketball ... his father, Brett, played basketball at the University of Dubuque … plans to pursue a major in business economics

ROBERT HUNTER
Hunter played in all three phases of the game for two seasons at Hutchinson High School (Kan.) ... played quarterback, cornerback and punter at the prep level, but is expected to play on the defensive side of the ball at the collegiate level ... set the school record for career passing touchdowns with 25 ... threw for 1,182 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, while adding 574 yards and 6 scores on the ground ... also played one season of football at Wichita East High School, where he broke up six passes in only three games in the secondary ... has also competed in basketball and track ... Honor Roll student who plans to major in business economics

ELIAS JANSSEN
Janssen was a force up front for the highly successful Kimberly High School football program ... earned all-state recognition in 2025 after being named conference Defensive Lineman of the Year ... totaled 31 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, while adding a pair of forced fumbles and an interception ... intends to major in construction management

DAVID JOINER
Joiner made the most of his lone season of high school football by earning first-team all-conference and second-team all-state honors at Davenport North High School ... averaged 22 yards per catch and 114 receiving yards per game, totaling 803 yards in seven games ... set single-game school record with 321 receiving yards on nine catches in first game ... also has played basketball

SAWYER JOSEWSKI
Josewski was both a prolific pass catcher and potent run blocker during a standout prep career at Rogers High School ... earned first-team all-conference honors three consecutive seasons and earned all-district recognition in both 2024 and 2025 ... caught 48 passes for 512 yards his senior season and was credited with 50-plus pancake blocks ... three-time academic all-district selection (2023, 2024, 2025) ... intends to major in business economics with an emphasis in finance

GRANT KUHLMANN
Kuhlmann wreaked havoc in opposing backfields en route to earning first-team all-district honors three consecutive seasons ... played first two seasons of high school ball for the Wilber Clatonia program before moving on to Lincoln Lutheran for his junior and senior campaigns ... was an honorable mention all-state selection as both a sophomore and junior ... over his final two seasons, registered a combined 62 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in only 12 games ... added 20 receptions and four touchdowns on the offensive end and blocked three kicks on special teams ... also has been a two-time all-conference pick in basketball and placed fifth in the discus at the 2025 state track and field meet … pre-law and business economics major

GAVIN McLAREN
McLaren earned second-team all-state recognition as a fullback his senior season and was a three-time all-district honoree in football ... rushed 82 times for 550 yards (6.7 ypc) and 8 touchdowns in 2025 ... for his career, averaged 7.3 yards per carry in racking up 1,835 yards and 22 touchdowns ... four-sport athlete at Atlantic High School ... has averaged double figures in scoring in basketball each of the past two seasons, qualified for the state track and field meet in the shot put in both 2024 and 2025, as well as posted a .366 batting average in baseball as a junior ... Honor Roll student throughout high school and an Academic Letter Award recipient in 2025 ... plans to major in exercise science

HARRISON MULLENS
Mullens received first-team all-district accolades during both his junior and senior seasons at Pella High School ... combined for 73 receptions, 1,011 yards and 15 touchdowns between the 2024 and 2025 campaigns ... Honor Roll student throughout his high school career ... his grandfather, Kenneth Mullens, was a ninth-round draft choice of the New York Giants in 1977 ... intends to pursue a degree in sports medicine or psychology

JAYDEN NOEL
Noel registered 29 tackles and broke up 20 passes for Fort Zumwalt North High School ... also scored seven touchdowns ... earned all-conference honors in 2024 and was an all-state performer in track and field as a junior .... four-time all-academic honoree ... intends to pursue a degree in business economics

KAYDEN OAKLAND
Oakland earned all-district honors in back-to-back seasons (2024, 2025), while also being named District Defensive Lineman of the Year and District Defensive Player of the year as a senior ... racked up 28 tackles for loss and 8 sacks during his senior season ... added 29 catches for 450 yards and 6 touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball in 2025 ... career totals include 45 tackles for loss and 13 sacks ... ranks fifth in career receptions at Northfield High School and 10th in sacks ... father, Justin, played football at Bemidji State and his mother, Nikki, competed in volleyball at Wartburg … has yet to declare a major

WESTON ROWE
Rowe earned consecutive first-team all-state awards after helping lead Jackson County Central to back-to-back state championships in 2024 and 2025 ... team compiled a 50-2 record during his time in the lineup ... also selected to play in the 2025 Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game ... a member of the National Honor Society, he plans to major in civil engineering

JAY'VEON SCOTT
Scott earned first-team all-metro honors in 2025 after rushing for 18 touchdowns at Lift For Life Academy ... previously was an all-conference performer while playing wide receiver and defensive back for Chaminade College Prep ... intends to major in philosophy

BERGAN TETZLAFF
Tetzlaff earned all-state recognition three times at Brookings High School ... averaged 11 tackles per game as a defensive end/linebacker his senior season ... also saw action at multiple offensive positions, averaging 77.7 all-purpose yards per game ... follows his father, Kevin, and older brother, Preston, as family members to play football at South Dakota State ... both his father and uncle, Mark, who was a basketball standout, are enshrined in the Jackrabbit Sports Hall of Fame ... majoring in business economics

ALEX UCHTMAN
Uchtman has competed in four sports during a standout career at Elkhorn North High School ... in football, earned all-conference honors as both a junior and senior as he combined for 84 receptions, 1,556 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns ... also totaled 64 tackles, 33 pass breakups and 4 interceptions on the defensive side of the ball ... three-time state medalist in track and field ... honorable mention all-state in baseball as a sophomore and a letterman in basketball ... also earned academic all-state recognition in both football and track, as well as a member of the National Honor Society ... plans to pursue a degree in architectural engineering or construction management ... his father, Robert, played football at both Nebraska-Omaha and Nebraska-Kearney

DOMINICK WALTERS
Walters was a three-time all-conference selection and two-time conference Defensive Back of the Year (2024, 2025) while playing at Franklin High School ... also was named conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, when he recorded 45 tackles, 5 interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles ... returned four of his five interceptions for touchdowns ... career totals included 234 tackles, 9 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles ... also scored three touchdowns on offense, as well as a punt and kickoff returner in 2025 ... two-time team captain who helped lead his team to three consecutive league titles and a state runner-up finish in 2023 ... also has played basketball and baseball at the prep level ... three-time scholar-athlete and a member of the academic all-state team in 2025 … will major in business economics

EMEIR WHITE
White has registered 46 tackles and an interception for a Brother Rice squad that has advanced to the Illinois Class 7A state championship game ... also has been a team leader in track and field during his prep career ... Honor Roll student throughout high school and a member of the National Honor Society ... intends to major in nursing

GRANT WILKINSON
Grant has excelled in three sports at De Smet High School ... three-time all-Dakota Valley Conference performer in football and a two-time all-state selection ... also earned all-state honors in basketball after helping team to state championship in 2023 and runner-up finish in 2024 ... two-time state qualifier in both the shot put and discus during track and field competition ... father, Dan, played football at SDSU and his older brother, Damon, currently is a member of the Jackrabbit men's basketball team ... in addition, his mother, Brittani, played basketball at Augustana and is a member of the school's athletic hall of fame … majoring in agricultural business

AMARI WILLIAMS
Williams earned first-team all-conference recognition as a safety three times at De Smet Jesuit High School ... helped lead team to a Class 6 state championship as a junior ... career totals included 160 tackles, 6 interceptions and a pair of sacks ... also received first-team all-academic honors each of the last three seasons ... planning to major in sport and recreation management

JHACE WOODS
Woods was a three-time all-conference selection and earned all-state recognition twice, including first-team honors as a senior at Washington High School ... caught 22 passes for 433 yards (18.7 ypc) and 8 touchdowns during his senior season ... both his parents played basketball at the collegiate level — father, Rashid, at Purdue and Huron, and his mother, Laura, at Augustana

In addition, Jackson announced the following six prep standouts have been accepted for admission to South Dakota State and plan to further their educations and football careers at SDSU in the fall of 2026:

Micah Bush, 6-1, 185, safety, Hills, Minnesota (Hills-Beaver Creek H.S.);
Mitchell Guthmiller, 6-4, 200, linebacker, Volga, South Dakota (Sioux Valley H.S.);
Tresten Hass, 6-3, 210, quarterback, Seward, Nebraska (Seward H.S.);
Joel Sankoh, 6-0, 185, linebacker, Waukee, Iowa (Dowling Catholic H.S.);
Brady Schroedermeier, 6-3, 190, linebacker/safety, Hurley, South Dakota (Viborg-Hurley H.S.);
Shane Veenhof, 6-0, 175, safety, Madison, South Dakota (Madison H.S.).

MICAH BUSH
Bush excelled on both sides of the ball for a Hills-Beaver Creek High School program that won the 9-man Minnesota state championship in 2025 after a runner-up finish the year before ... two-time team captain ... earned all-state honors as both a junior and senior and was a three-time all-conference performer ... honored during senior campaign on Minnesota Gatorade Football Team, Minnesota Star Tribune Top 25 and Minnesota All-Star Team ... selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Minnesota Mr. Football Award ... career receiving totals included 165 catches for 2,577 yards and 31 touchdowns ... added 14 career interceptions ... member of the A Honor Roll … planning to major in business economics

MITCHELL GUTHMILLER
Guthmiller has excelled in both football and track and field at Sioux Valley High School ... earned all-state honors in football as a senior after rushing for 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 15 receptions for 358 yards and 3 touchdowns ... defensively, recorded 77 tackles ... team reached Class 11B state title game in 2024 ... ran on state champion 3,200-meter relay and runner-up 1,600-meter relay his junior season ... academic all-state selection and a member of the National Honor Society ... intends to major in entrepreneurial studies

TRESTEN HASS
Hass put up prolific numbers as a dual-threat quarterback at Seward High School despite not playing his senior season due to injury ... threw for 1,516 yards and 9 touchdowns as a prep sophomore before tallying 2,736 yards and 27 touchdowns his junior season in 2024 ... also ran for a combined 1,066 yards and 15 touchdowns over those two seasons ... named first-team all-district two times and was a second-team Class B all-state selection as a junior ... played wide receiver as a high school freshman ... Honor Roll student throughout high school ... father, Jeff, played football at Chadron State and his mother, DeAnne, was a volleyball player at Midland University ... intends to major in sport and recreation management

JOEL SANKOH
Sankoh earned all-district honors each of his final two seasons at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa ... helped lead the Maroons to a Class 5A state championship in 2025, when he registered 29 solo tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss ... career totals included 88 tackles (71 solo) and 13.5 tackles for loss … has yet to declare a major

BRADY SCHROEDERMEIER
Schroedermeier did a little bit of everything for the Viborg-Hurley football program his senior season ... was named Corn Belt Conference Most Valuable Player and earned all-state recognition after passing for 1,300 yards, rushing for 987 and recording 73 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense ... is a cousin of current Jackrabbit quarterback Chase Mason … planning to pursue a business economics degree

SHANE VEENHOF
Veenhof earned first-team Class 11A all-state recognition after totaling 1,074 all-purpose yards and scoring 16 touchdowns his senior season at Madison High School ... also tallied four interceptions in a nine-game season ... father, Casey, played indoor football for the Sioux Falls Storm and his mother, Amy, is the head volleyball coach at Dakota State … planning to major in exercise science

ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
South Dakota State has compiled a 9-4 overall record so far during the 2025 season and is making its 14^th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The Jackrabbits won back-to-back FCS national championships in 2022 and 2023 and have reached at least the semifinal round in seven of the last eight seasons.

SDSU plays Saturday at third-seeded Montana in second-round action.

-GoJacks.com-