Offense
The South Dakota State offense ranked sixth in the FCS in points per game last year, putting an average of 37 on the scoreboard each outing. Stiegelmeier’s offense averaged 176 yards on the ground and 262 yards through the air, finishing the season squarely among the top 20 offenses in the country.
Brady Mengarelli is one of the biggest losses for the offense. Mengarelli led the team in rushing each of the past three seasons, serving as a dependable yard producer on the ground. Isaac Wallace and Mikey Daniel will get the chance to pick up the bulk of the carries this season, and redshirt freshman Pierre Strong also has the potential to break out in 2018.
Top receiver Jake Wieneke graduated, as did dynamic tight end Dallas Goedert. Replacing the production generated by these two will be critical for the coaching staff. But a deep group of receivers is back in 2018 for the Jackrabbits, and Skyler Cavanaugh will look to take on a bigger role at tight end in his sophomore season.
Focusing on Taryn Christion
In the semifinal loss to James Madison last season, South Dakota State quarterback Taryn Christion had perhaps the worst game of his entire life. Christion turned over the ball nine times, throwing six interceptions and coughing up three fumbles. It was a rough way to end the 2017 season for the junior passer.
Christion returns in 2018 for his senior season already holding the all-time passing yardage record for the Jackrabbits. After earning four starts as a freshman, Christion snagged hold of the starting spot as a sophomore and never looked back. In each of the past two seasons, the Sioux Falls native racked up over 4000 yards of total offense.
The veteran quarterback offers South Dakota State a presence under center that will make the Jackrabbits a favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. After Christion was responsible for generating the fourth-most points in the FCS in 2017, he will need an even bigger encore in 2018.