USD Football Ranked 3rd In MVFC Preseason Poll

Posted on July 22, 2024 by - Sports

ST. LOUIS, MO (GoYotes.com) — The University of South Dakota football team was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), the league office announced Monday afternoon. The Coyotes also saw 12 selections to the MVFC Preseason All-Conference teams, highlighted by six of First Team selections.
Wide receiver Carter Bell (Sr., Bettendorf, Iowa) was named a preseason All-MVFC selection as both a wide receiver and a return specialist. On offense, Bell led the team with his 908 receiving yards and was tied for the team lead with five touchdown receptions. Bringing down 52 receptions, he averaged 17.5 yards per catch and had a long for 63 yards. Last season, Bell was voted a Second Team All-Conference honoree.
Senior tight end JJ Galbreath (Arvada, Colo.) also joins Bell on the offensive side of the ball to be named a First Team preseason selection. Galbreath sat second on the team in receptions (36) and yards (579) a season ago, landing him 2023 Honorable Mention All-MVFC honors. He sat tied with Bell for the team lead with his five touchdown receptions, averaging 16.1 yards per catch.
Defensively, the Coyotes saw defensive lineman Nick Gaes (Sr., Alta, Iowa) and defensive backDennis Shorter (Sr., Daytona Beach, Fla.) tabbed preseason First Team performers.
Gaes sat as one of two Coyotes in 2023 to have double-digit tackles for loss on the year, which ranked second on the team with his 10.0. He also sat second on the team with his six sacks plus a team-best seven quarterback hurries. His performance on the gridiron landed him Honorable Mention All-Conference honors.
In the secondary, Shorter sat second on the team with his 97 total tackles, 46 of which proved to be solo. He was credited with six pass break-ups, a mark that sat in a three-way tie for the team lead. Additionally, he was one of seven Coyotes to record an interception on the season, while being named an All-MVFC Honorable Mention performer.
Sophomore place kicker Will Leyland (Jr., Souderton, Pa.) was tabbed as the league’s preseason choice for First Team honors, following his 2023 FCS Football Central Third Team All-American and Second Team All-MVFC honors. He was the only FCS kicker to be perfect on field goals, going 13-for-13 with a career long of 50 yards against South Dakota State.
The league also recognized running back Travis Theis (Sr., Pratt, Kan.), offensive linemenJoe Cotton (So., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Joey Lombard (Sr., Anoka, Minn.), and defensive linemanBlake Holden (Sr., Watertown, S.D.) as second team honorees.
Quarterback Aidan Bouman (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.) and defensive back Shahid Barros (Jr., New Bedford, Mass.) were both named Honorable Mention heading into the 2024 season.
MVFC PRESEASON POLL
Team (First-place votes; points)
2023 Record
  1. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (42; 482)
15-0, 8-0 MVFC; FCS National Champions
  1. North Dakota State Bison (1; 437)
11-4, 5-3 MVFC
  1. South Dakota Coyotes (371)
10-3; 7-1 MVFC
  1. Southern Illinois Salukis (293)
8-5, 4-4 MVFC
  1. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (276)
7-5, 5-3 MVFC
  1. Illinois State Redbirds (264)
6-5, 4-4 MVFC
  1. Youngstown State Penguins (255)
8-5, 5-3 MVFC
  1. Northern Iowa Panthers (227)
6-5, 5-3 MVFC
  1. Missouri State Bears (1; 164)
4-7, 3-5 MVFC
  1. Indiana State Sycamores (68)
1-10, 1-7 MVFC
  1. Murray State Racers (67)
2-9, 1-7 MVFC
The MVFC preseason poll and teams are voted on by the league’s head coaches, athletic communication directors, and select media members.
The 2024 season opens on Thursday, August 29 when the Northern State Wolves comes to visit the DakotaDome.

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