2017 Spring Practice Schedule and Game

[usdtator]

I know we are all about basketball right now with the SLT coming up, but I am jonesing bad for some Yote college football news, information, anything to do with the football program. 

That being said... Does anyone know when Spring practices begin? We know the Spring Game is Friday, April 21 at 7pm. Would think Spring practice would be starting soon...

Anyone else excited for 2017 Yote football? 

[Yote 53]

I'm more excited for this season than any past season since joining the MVFC.

[Cousin Eddie]

[sportschic]

Spring Practice starts 3/16! 

[usdtator]

Mar 2, 2017 13:22:58 GMT -6 sportschic said:

Spring Practice starts 3/16! 

Welcome to the boards! Always nice to get a female perspective on these forums...

[sdyotefan]

Super excited about spring FB and at the same time Yote BB and T and F!!!

[easmus]

I believe there is an open practice at the Sanford Fieldhouse in SF on 3/18.

I also bet we get the schedule release after SLT this week.

[usdtator]

Mar 4, 2017 9:11:30 GMT -6 easmus said:

I believe there is an open practice at the Sanford Fieldhouse in SF on 3/18.

I also bet we get the schedule release after SLT this week.

Does you or anyone else know what time this practice will be at the Field House?

[usdtator]

www.goyotes.com/news/2017/3/14/spring-football-begins-saturday.aspx?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[usdtator]

Reminder to all football fans not traveling to Iowa tomorrow...!

Saturday, March 18         2-4 p.m. (Sanford Fieldhouse in Sioux Falls) Open practice

[yanktonyote]

I Don't know if anyone else gets these, so I thought I would share.


Dear Coyote Football Alumni
 
Spring Practice is ready to begin and over 85 Coyotes will hit the field for the first of 15 practice days on the afternoon of March 18th in Sioux Falls at the Sanford Fieldhouse.  This practice will be held in conjunction with our high school coach’s clinic held that morning at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. 
 
Our guys have just completed a solid eight week training cycle with several all-time strength records being broken.  Congratulations to the following student athletes: seniors Taylor Lambert and Josh Hale and freshmen Conner Thiele and Michael Girres who became our first four “Iron Yotes” by squatting 525 pounds, bench pressing 310 pounds and cleaning 300 pounds all in the same testing period just before spring break. 
 
We recently secured several future scheduling opportunities for our program that include playing Big Twelve conference members Kansas State, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Kansas from 2018 through 2021.  
While these games will be tremendous challenges they are great ways to showcase our football program on a national stage.  
 
Our Spring Game will be Friday night April 21st and we will hold a special tailgate for parents, Howling Pack members and former players.   The tailgate will include food and have a $5.00 charge.   If you are interested in attending contact Director of Football Operations, David Milke at [e-mail]. 
 
On a personal note, I am recovering from hip surgery and while I will be a bit limited during spring practice I should be cleared for return to full activity in time to hit the road recruiting in May.   
Thanks for all of your support and go Yotes!!
 
Fight South Dakota,
 
 
Bob Nielson
Head Football Coach
University of South Dakota
[phone]

 

[usdtator]

[obc]

Attended the first Spring FB practice in SF and here are my observations:

Practice 1 was just helmets only - so very little contact.

Great to have so many more players on the roster this Spring versus last - the depth will help

Offense:

QBs - This is the best 4 deep USD has ever had at this position since I started following the program 30 years ago. All four can really throw a nice ball short, intermediate, and long. Streveler and Simmons are a strong 1/2 combination. Simmons with the better arm and all around throws - we all saw what Streveler brings to the table last year and he looks like a beast again. I think either one of them could lead this team to the playoffs. Tyler Tsagalis and Brevin Kaiser throw nice balls too - they both were noticeably slower with their release when throwing yesterday. Very impressive unit.

RBs - Mike Fredrick has hit the weight room and training table hard. He has gotten noticeably thicker and appears as quick as always. Good to see. Beyond Mike Fredrick there are several backs all competing for reps. Nate Gunn (although listed at LB on the roster) was spending his practice time at RB. Ben Klett has moved from LB to RB and looks much bigger than his listed 210 pounds on the roster. Klett and Ethan Falaniko both look like they can be solid tough yardage runners - very strong looking. If the staff is planning on using 3-4 RBs next year this will be quite the competition. Obviously there has been talk on this board of a possible BIG10 transfer at the position. Transfers aside, my expectation is this will be a position group short on all-stars, productive group overall with great depth and no meaningful drop-off from 2nd-5th string.

WRs - this position group jumped out at me as the strength. Depth and speed. Like the RB position group, there is no clear All-American, but there are several WRs that have tremendous speed and quickness. Alonge Brooks was very vocal and has taken on a leadership position with the team. Alonge Brooks, Riley Donovan, Brandt Van Roekel, Tacari Carpenter- can really stress an opposing defense deep and Randy Baker, Shamar Jackson, Dakariai Allen, Trystn Ducker have tremendous quickness and will be tough match-ups in the slot. Beyond that there were several players that red-shirted last year that look promising. For instance Jack Peery is a nice tall target that appeared to have good hands. With the recruits coming in next year, I anticipate this to be a very productive unit for the Coyotes.

TEs - Luis Peguero and Josh Hale are specimens. Look like they have been camped out in the new weight room and nutrition center. I think they will be crucial blockers and possession receivers for the offense. Being able to effectively block on the edge is crucial for this offense and the screen game - they will be difference makers. Aaron Ramsey will continue to be an explosive threat (not quite as big as Luis and Josh but a bigger threat to stretch pass coverage). Connor Herrmann and Brett Samson also were noticeable yesterday - they are every bit of 6'4'' & 6'3'' respectively and each looks extremely athletic. They are in the Aaron Ramsey mold except they are each a little taller and longer. We are well positioned with this group.

OL - Really hard to tell in an unpadded practice. For what it is worth they pass the eyeball test more than in the past. Can tell they have been working on size and strength this off-season. Mike Bianchi was the #1 center yesterday. He was flanked by Ed Kennedy and Stetson Dagel at guards and Nick Jensen and Tanner Anderson at tackles. The new transfer Cody Jennings is a big boy and has mobility. If he plays close to how he looks he will be a starter. Mason Scheidegger ans Sean Chisholm both look the part and I am anxious to see how they do once live blocking drills happen. Both are big strong looking kids that red-shirted. This along with the DL unit will determine more than any other how far the team can go next year. USD has to be able to give the QB time to distribute the ball to the skill players I highlighted above - if they can do that this team should be able to be one of the top scoring offenses if not the #1 scoring offense in the MVFC IMO.

[obc]

I spent more time at yesterday's practice watching offense.

Here is what jumped out at me regarding the defensive players:

DL - Jake Richardson looks like he also has been living in the weight room -Jake Leohr may be his roomate there. Ethan Roth was not there - heard a rumor he had shoulder surgery, but not sure on that. Headlee and Markert were with the #3 team interior DL. Headlee looks solid and Markert looks like he has improved his body composition and strength since arriving on campus. They should provide some physical depth for the interior. Max Frank (just transferred to USD from WYO) is a fire hydrant type guy. 6 ft and every bit of 290 - I would guess heavier if I had to wager on it. He will be tough to move at the line of scrimmage. Kam Cline looks as athletic, big, and mobile as ever. This unit should be much better next season and needs to be in order to be a contender.

LBs - great to see John Wessel running around at there at ILB. Jim Litrenta looks like a specimen out there as does Alex Coker. Alex Gray was flying around in the coverage drills and looked very mobile. Jake Matthew was there watching but did not practice. Anyone know what his injury is? I have heard so much about that kid, I hope he can practice this Spring and compete for playing time. Transfer Joe Kordus was noticeable out there - quick and thick-bodied guy. I will be surprised if he is not a major contributor next year. Dodi Makwinja also has tremendous speed and looks like a solid-bodied guy.

Corners and Safeties: Much more speed and depth than I have observed in past years. They held their own in 7 on 7 against the offense. Looks like the offense and defense have a good healthy competition going and the players appeared amped up and really fired up to compete and win the drills. Marchalo Judge as we saw last season is small but mighty and he looked good out there. Elijah Reed and Mark Collins are both taller and very smooth looking out there. Danny Rambo and Adam Harris have the potential with their skill and experience to be all-conference level performers. Andrew Gray, Brandon Colpitts, Clay Fisher, and Doug Lewis all look the part at Safety. Phillip Powell red-shirted last year and stood out as I watched drills. I think he will be one to watch.

[sdyotefan]

Thanks obc for the updates!!