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Jun. 30—VERMILLION, S.D. — For the University of South Dakota football defense, replacing production is only part of the challenge heading into the 2026 season. Replacing leadership may be an even taller task.
With veteran playmakers gone at every level of the defense, a new group of Coyotes are being asked to become the leaders of a unit looking to take the next step this fall after finishing with the fifth-ranked defense in the Missouri Valley Football Conference a season ago.
The Coyotes were solid defensively in stretches last fall, but there were areas that left room for growth. USD finished with just 12 interceptions, ranking sixth in the MVFC, while its 18 sacks were second-to-last in the conference. Those numbers help illustrate two specific needs heading into fall camp, which is generating more pressure up front and creating more takeaways in the secondary. And it all starts up front.
USD lost its top pass rusher in Caden Crawford, who transferred to Iowa State after earning second-team all-MVFC honors during his lone season in Vermillion. Crawford led the Coyotes in both sacks and tackles for loss, production that will not be easy to replace. The Coyotes also graduated veteran defensive tackle Mosai Newsom, a steady presence in the middle of the defensive front since arriving in 2023. Newsom wasn't just productive on the field, but he was voted a team captain before last season's opener at Iowa State and became one of the leaders not only on the defense but the team.
Fortunately for USD, two experienced returners are positioned to lead the way. Defensive end Nathan Laperi returns after making an immediate impact in his first season with the Coyotes following his transfer from North Texas. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks, while adding 5.5 tackles for loss during his sophomore campaign.
With Crawford gone, Laperi now becomes the team's top pass rusher. His ability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks will be critical if USD hopes to improve one of the conference's least productive pass rushes.
On the inside, senior defensive tackle Chris Dixon provides production, experience and leadership. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound veteran enjoyed his best season of his career in 2025, recording 69 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. While defensive tackles rarely get attention for flashy statistics, Dixon's ability to take on blockers while remaining productive against the run makes him one of the anchors and leaders of the defensive front.
The linebacker room also enters the season with significant turnover but still possesses experienced players capable of taking on larger leadership roles.
Junior Gabriel Hardman headlines the returning group after starting every game last season. Hardman finished third on the team in tackles and enters 2026 as the lone returning linebacker who held a full-time starting role throughout last season. His consistency and familiarity with the defense makes him a natural candidate to become the leader of the unit.
Senior Nyle Dickel also figures to play a major role despite his different responsibilities. Used primarily as an edge defender while also lining up as an outside linebacker, Dickel totaled 57 tackles, four tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries in 2025. His versatility allows defensive coordinator Billy Kirch to move him around, and he'll once again be relied upon to create disruption while providing veteran leadership.
Another experienced voice returning at linebacker is senior Wade Abrams. Abrams started six games last season while recording 49 tackles, and, perhaps more importantly, was voted a defensive team captain before the 2025 season. His leadership has already been recognized inside the locker room, and he'll now be counted on to help stabilize a linebacker corps replacing multiple starters.
One newcomer who could quickly become a major contributor and leader at linebacker is University of Maryland transfer Neeo Avery. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound junior appeared in just 12 games over three seasons with the Terrapins but arrives in Vermillion with size and Power Four experience. If Avery can capitalize on the opportunity, he could develop into one of the defense's biggest difference-makers while adding another experienced leader to the linebacker room.
USD will need those players to step up after losing two of last season's top producers. Inside linebacker Nate Ewell graduated after leading the Coyotes with 98 total tackles and earning all-MVFC honorable mention recognition. Outside linebacker Matt Walsh also graduated after finishing with 81 total tackles and two interceptions, both ranking among the team's top four in their respective categories.
Replacing nearly 180 combined tackles won't be easy, making leadership and production from Hardman, Dickel, Abrams, and potentially Avery, all the more important.
The secondary faces perhaps the biggest transition of any position group. If USD hopes to increase its takeaway numbers this season, it must do so without several key contributors and leaders from last year's defensive backfield.
Cornerback Mikey Munn, who earned first-team all-MVFC honors after leading the team in both interceptions and pass breakups, transferred to Rutgers University alongside former Coyote head coach Travis Johansen, who now serves as the Scarlet Knights' defensive coordinator. That leaves sophomore cornerback R.J. Stewart as the leader of the cornerback room.
Stewart impressed during his freshman season, finishing second on the team in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (7). His combination of ball skills and added experience gives the Coyotes a dependable player on the outside despite still being early in his collegiate career.
At safety, the Coyotes will rely heavily on veteran leadership. Senior Tim White returns after missing all of last season due to injury. Despite not appearing in a game, White was voted one of the team's defensive captains before the season began, showing the respect he has within the program. Now healthy, he'll have an opportunity to pair his leadership with production during his final season.
Junior Jaden Brown is another player expected to take on a larger role at safety, while Iowa transfer Kael Kolarik brings additional experience after arriving from the Hawkeyes. Entering his senior season at safety, Kolarik could quickly become one of the veteran voices in a revamped defensive backfield. The Coyotes will need all three players to fill the spots of safeties DeJuan Lewis and Roman Tillmon.
Tillmon transferred to Boise State after a standout sophomore season that included 94 tackles, second-most on the team, along with six pass breakups, which sat No. 3 on the team. His production, combined with Lewis' graduation, leaves USD searching for two new starting safeties entering 2026.
The Coyotes have the pieces to improve upon last season's fifth-place defensive finish in the Valley. But whether they can increase their sack totals, force more turnovers and develop new leaders across every level of the defense may ultimately determine how high they climb in the conference standings and FCS rankings this fall.
Continue reading...
With veteran playmakers gone at every level of the defense, a new group of Coyotes are being asked to become the leaders of a unit looking to take the next step this fall after finishing with the fifth-ranked defense in the Missouri Valley Football Conference a season ago.
The Coyotes were solid defensively in stretches last fall, but there were areas that left room for growth. USD finished with just 12 interceptions, ranking sixth in the MVFC, while its 18 sacks were second-to-last in the conference. Those numbers help illustrate two specific needs heading into fall camp, which is generating more pressure up front and creating more takeaways in the secondary. And it all starts up front.
USD lost its top pass rusher in Caden Crawford, who transferred to Iowa State after earning second-team all-MVFC honors during his lone season in Vermillion. Crawford led the Coyotes in both sacks and tackles for loss, production that will not be easy to replace. The Coyotes also graduated veteran defensive tackle Mosai Newsom, a steady presence in the middle of the defensive front since arriving in 2023. Newsom wasn't just productive on the field, but he was voted a team captain before last season's opener at Iowa State and became one of the leaders not only on the defense but the team.
Fortunately for USD, two experienced returners are positioned to lead the way. Defensive end Nathan Laperi returns after making an immediate impact in his first season with the Coyotes following his transfer from North Texas. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks, while adding 5.5 tackles for loss during his sophomore campaign.
With Crawford gone, Laperi now becomes the team's top pass rusher. His ability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks will be critical if USD hopes to improve one of the conference's least productive pass rushes.
On the inside, senior defensive tackle Chris Dixon provides production, experience and leadership. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound veteran enjoyed his best season of his career in 2025, recording 69 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. While defensive tackles rarely get attention for flashy statistics, Dixon's ability to take on blockers while remaining productive against the run makes him one of the anchors and leaders of the defensive front.
The linebacker room also enters the season with significant turnover but still possesses experienced players capable of taking on larger leadership roles.
Junior Gabriel Hardman headlines the returning group after starting every game last season. Hardman finished third on the team in tackles and enters 2026 as the lone returning linebacker who held a full-time starting role throughout last season. His consistency and familiarity with the defense makes him a natural candidate to become the leader of the unit.
Senior Nyle Dickel also figures to play a major role despite his different responsibilities. Used primarily as an edge defender while also lining up as an outside linebacker, Dickel totaled 57 tackles, four tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries in 2025. His versatility allows defensive coordinator Billy Kirch to move him around, and he'll once again be relied upon to create disruption while providing veteran leadership.
Another experienced voice returning at linebacker is senior Wade Abrams. Abrams started six games last season while recording 49 tackles, and, perhaps more importantly, was voted a defensive team captain before the 2025 season. His leadership has already been recognized inside the locker room, and he'll now be counted on to help stabilize a linebacker corps replacing multiple starters.
One newcomer who could quickly become a major contributor and leader at linebacker is University of Maryland transfer Neeo Avery. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound junior appeared in just 12 games over three seasons with the Terrapins but arrives in Vermillion with size and Power Four experience. If Avery can capitalize on the opportunity, he could develop into one of the defense's biggest difference-makers while adding another experienced leader to the linebacker room.
USD will need those players to step up after losing two of last season's top producers. Inside linebacker Nate Ewell graduated after leading the Coyotes with 98 total tackles and earning all-MVFC honorable mention recognition. Outside linebacker Matt Walsh also graduated after finishing with 81 total tackles and two interceptions, both ranking among the team's top four in their respective categories.
Replacing nearly 180 combined tackles won't be easy, making leadership and production from Hardman, Dickel, Abrams, and potentially Avery, all the more important.
The secondary faces perhaps the biggest transition of any position group. If USD hopes to increase its takeaway numbers this season, it must do so without several key contributors and leaders from last year's defensive backfield.
Cornerback Mikey Munn, who earned first-team all-MVFC honors after leading the team in both interceptions and pass breakups, transferred to Rutgers University alongside former Coyote head coach Travis Johansen, who now serves as the Scarlet Knights' defensive coordinator. That leaves sophomore cornerback R.J. Stewart as the leader of the cornerback room.
Stewart impressed during his freshman season, finishing second on the team in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (7). His combination of ball skills and added experience gives the Coyotes a dependable player on the outside despite still being early in his collegiate career.
At safety, the Coyotes will rely heavily on veteran leadership. Senior Tim White returns after missing all of last season due to injury. Despite not appearing in a game, White was voted one of the team's defensive captains before the season began, showing the respect he has within the program. Now healthy, he'll have an opportunity to pair his leadership with production during his final season.
Junior Jaden Brown is another player expected to take on a larger role at safety, while Iowa transfer Kael Kolarik brings additional experience after arriving from the Hawkeyes. Entering his senior season at safety, Kolarik could quickly become one of the veteran voices in a revamped defensive backfield. The Coyotes will need all three players to fill the spots of safeties DeJuan Lewis and Roman Tillmon.
Tillmon transferred to Boise State after a standout sophomore season that included 94 tackles, second-most on the team, along with six pass breakups, which sat No. 3 on the team. His production, combined with Lewis' graduation, leaves USD searching for two new starting safeties entering 2026.
The Coyotes have the pieces to improve upon last season's fifth-place defensive finish in the Valley. But whether they can increase their sack totals, force more turnovers and develop new leaders across every level of the defense may ultimately determine how high they climb in the conference standings and FCS rankings this fall.
Continue reading...
