Tag: Jaxon Janke

South Dakota State Jackrabbits return talented offensive core that could have scouts flocking to Brookings

South Dakota State won the FCS championship in 2022 and have some viable NFL prospects returning to Brookings for 2023

The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits will begin their title defense on Thursday in Brookings against Western Oregon.

It will also mark the first game for head coach Jimmy Rogers. Last year’s defensive coordinator takes over for John Stiegelmeier and will benefit from a strong core of offensive players returning from last year’s championship team.

This past April, the Jackrabbits had one offensive player selected from the National Championship team. When the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around the Jackrabbits could have up to six offensive players hear their names get called during draft weekend.

Isaiah Davis, RB

During his first season as a full-time starter, Davis rushed for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a well-built running back who refuses to go down on initial contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Davis racked up 938 yards after contact. The former Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year showcases good vision and scoots through the hole with outstanding burst.

Jaxon Janke, WR

The Madison, South Dakota native is a detailed route runner. Janke has vice grips for hands, only dropping one pass last season on 88 targets. The SDSU wide receiver has hauled in 132 receptions for 2,033 yards and 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Along with what he brings to the table on offense, Janke brings special teams value as a return specialist. He enters his final season at Brookings with a 12.2 punt return average and one punt return touchdown.

Jadon Janke, WR

Janke, like his twin brother, is going to be a fan-favorite of special teams coordinators. He brings value as a return specialist and has also played on punt and kickoff coverage units. During his career at Brookings, he’s averaged 11.4 yards per punt return, with one touchdown and 19.3 yards per kick return. He has strong hands, with a little wiggle after the catch. 

Zach Heins, TE

Heins is nowhere near the same level of athlete as his former running mate, Tucker Kraft. What he lacks in pure athleticism, he makes up for with his size (6-7, 260). He’s strong at the point of attack as a blocker and does an adequate job of keeping his legs driving to drive defenders downfield. He finished last season with career highs in receptions (29) and yards (347) to go along with four touchdowns. With Kraft no longer in the picture, SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski could look to target his big-bodied tight end over the middle of the field more frequently this fall.

Garrett Greenfield, OT

Greenfield enters his final season at SDSU with 24 career starts at right tackle and 16 at left tackle, starting 15 games at left tackle last season. The 30-game starter has light feet as a pass blocker and showcases the lateral quickness to mirror edge rushers. He has the easy athleticism to climb to the second level without laboring. After giving up two sacks against Iowa and UC Davis to start last season, Greenfield gave up zero sacks and just eight pressures during the final 13 games. 

Mason McCormick, OL

Maybe one of the most seasoned interior linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCormick has started 42 games at left guard for the Jackrabbits. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native is smooth in pass protection and has strong hands. He showcases good quickness and erases defenders at the second level.

 

Iowa Football week 1 opponent offense outlook: South Dakota State Jackrabbits

The Hawkeyes host South Dakota State in week one. Here is an offensive outlook for what the Jackrabbits will try to do and who to watch.

Welcome to week one! The 2022 college football season is finally upon us and it kicks off for the Iowa Hawkeyes as they host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

There is no shortage of hype surrounding the Jackrabbits as we enter the season. They advanced to the semifinals last year in the FCS playoffs. They get their quarterback, Mark Gronowski, back from injury. They return their top target at wide receiver and they have a proven running back. Let’s get into our outlook of the Jackrabbits’ offense.

The Jackrabbits averaged 36 points per game last season to go along with 212 yards rushing per game and 229 yards passing per game. They are balanced and they do what they do very well. Managing the game is an area they also did well in. They averaged over 31 minutes in time of possession, which would have been good enough to be in the top-30 in FBS in that statistical category.

Mark Gronowski, QB

Mark Gronowski retakes his spot at the helm of the offense after missing last season due to injury. During his 10-game campaign in the 2020 season, he was a dangerous dual-threat quarterback with 1,565 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air to go with 577 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns. Gronowski can hurt a defense both ways.

Jaxon Janke, WR

The top receiver for the Jackrabbits, Jaxon Janke, is also returning. The senior exploded last year posting a stat-line of 72 catches for 1,176 yards and five touchdowns. He is expected to be Gronowski’s No. 1 target this fall. With 16.3 yards per catch, Janke can hurt a team down the field with his size at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. He will have size on nearly all of the Hawkeyes’ cornerbacks and be a great week one test.

Tucker Kraft, TE

The Hawkeyes are not the only team in this game with a current tight end that will be jumping to the NFL next spring. Tight end, Tucker Kraft, had 65 receptions for 773 yards and six touchdowns. Albeit against FCS competition, all of those numbers topped Sam LaPorta’s career highs. Kraft is 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, and, once he gets the ball in his hands, it takes a handful to bring him down.

Isaiah Davis, RB

In the backfield, the lion’s share of the snaps should go to Isaiah Davis, a junior running back. Davis has not been the lead back yet in his career, but in his two seasons he has still contributed 1,519 yards and 17 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Davis is not afraid to be a bruiser and will give the Hawkeyes’ defense all they can handle meeting him in the hole.

While they reside in the FCS, South Dakota State is no slouch and will be looking to come into Kinnick Stadium and make a statement on Saturday. The Jackrabbits don’t just want to hang around, they truly believe they can upset the Hawkeyes. For Iowa, the defense should be ready to take on these individuals and slow them down to start the season off on the right foot.

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Iowa Hawkeyes 2022 schedule breakdown: South Dakota State

With spring in the rearview, Hawkeyes Wire takes a look at the opponents on Iowa’s 2022 schedule. Up first? South Dakota State in week one.

It was a strange season for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2021. There was a six-week stretch where all of Iowa City believed that they would be playing on the national stage in the College Football Playoff.

They just beat No. 4 Penn State and had one of their highest-ever USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll rankings at No. 2. Then, everything came crashing down with crushing defeats at the hands of unranked Purdue and Wisconsin.

It was a far cry from the team that took down three ranked opponents, and while they would go on another hot streak to make it to the Big Ten championship game, let’s just say that didn’t go well.

Overall, when you take out the sting of getting destroyed 42-3 by a determined Michigan squad on national television with the conference championship on the line, it was a successful season for the Hawkeyes. They finished 10-4 (one of the losses in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl against Kentucky, 20-17) and once again established themselves as one of the Big Ten’s elite. They did lose some key players including center Tyler Linderbaum who was a first-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

On paper, the first-week matchup at home seems like the perfect tune-up game for a home encounter with rival Iowa State the following week. They’re playing an FCS opponent. That should be easy, right? Not so fast.

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits should not be ignored at all. They are a strong team that is returning a lot of key players, and should not be taken lightly. Here are five players to watch out for in week one against South Dakota State.