BROOKINGS — The South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team signed 21 players for next season Wednesday, including seven South Dakota natives.

Former Brandon Valley standout quarterback Austin Sumner heads the list of locals signing with the Jacks.

Sumner rewrote the record book during a standout career with the Lynx. A three-year starter, Sumner set 14 school records and eight state passing records, including 7,612 career yards and 88 career touchdowns. A two-time all-state selection who was nominated to played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Sumner was selected as South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year and led his team past the Pierre Governors in the second round of the 11AA playoffs last season.

Advertisement

Other South Dakota recruits headed to Brookings include offensive lineman Trevor Greger, of Wagner, offensive lineman Nicholas Purcell, of Rapid City Central, punter Ethan Sawyer, of Brandon Valley, kicker Justin Syrovatka of Sioux Falls Roosevelt, running back Brad Tunge of Hurley-Marion and defensive lineman Eric Tuschen, of Sioux Falls Roosevelt.

Greger anchored an offensive unit that amassed more than 11,000 yards of total offense during his four-year career at Wagner High School. He earned all-Southeast South Dakota honors three times and was an all-state selection each of the past two seasons.

His senior season, Purcell recorded 84 tackles for Rapid City Central, including 13 for loss and two sacks, and also caught five passes in earning all-state honors.

Sawyer handled both the punting and kicking duties at Brandon Valley High School, averaging 40 yards per punt his senior season and setting a school record with a 47-yard field goal. Sawyer also earned all-ESD and honorable mention all-state recognition as a linebacker after leading the team in tackles during both his junior and senior seasons.

Syrovatka earned honorable mention all-state honors as Roosevelt High School won the state championship in 2007, setting a state record with 65 points after touchdowns. A 2009 all-city selection, he finished his prep career by making 12-of-20 field goal attempts.

Tunge ran for 5,699 career rushing yards and 70 touchdowns during his prep career with the Marion and Hurley/Marion football programs. In earning Class 9AA all-state honors the past two seasons, Tunge rushed for 2,197 yards as a junior and 1,494 yards in four fewer games as a senior. Twice he topped the 300-yard mark in a game.

Tuschen anchored the defensive line at Roosevelt High School, setting a school record with 10.5 sacks and added 62 tackles during his senior season. A two-year starter and team captain, Tuschen was an all-Greater Dakota Conference pick.

The University of South Dakota also annouched 19 new recruits Wednesday, with two South Dakota natives among them.

The Coyotes announced the signings of former Rapid City quarterback Brandon Gorsuch, from Arizona Western Community College, and kicker Kevin Robb from St. Thomas More in Rapid City.

Complete USD signings:

Jordan Butler, ath-wr, 5-8, 160, Cheyenne HS, North Las Vegas, Nev.

Marquis Butler, rb, 6-0, 190, Utah State, Los Angeles, Calif.

Brandon Gorsuch, qb, 6-1, 210, Arizona Western CC, Rapid City, S.D.

Kenny Greer, dl, 6-4, 260, Barrington (Ill.) HS.

Kyle Guziec, lb, 6-4, 225, Loyola Academy, Lake Forest, Ill.

Matt Huffer, ol, 6-7, 240, Washington HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Robbie Jelsma, lb, 6-2, 220, Bon Homme HS, Springfield, S.D.

Colton Kunde, ol, 6-5, 285, Lake Forest (Ill.) HS.

Chris Lundy, db, 5-10, 170, Tampa Catholic HS, Tampa, Fla.

Tom Manning, fb, 6-2, 220, Kelly Walsh HS, Casper, Wyo.

Sean Neu, s, 6-3, 190, Columbine HS, Littleton, Colo.

Adam Praska, ol, 6-4, 285, Crestwood HS, Elma, Iowa.

Nick Rawson, ol, 6-5, 275, Milwaukee Marquette HS, Brookfield, Wis.

Kevin Robb, pk, 5-10, 170, St. Thomas More HS, Rapid City, S.D.

Mike Ruiz, wr-cb, 5-9, 160, Dwyer HS, Riviera Beach, Fla.

Chase Salazar, de, 6-5, 235, North HS, Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Andrew Schofield, ol, 6-5, 260, Carl Sandburg HS, Orland Park, Ill.

Aaron Swift, db, 5-9, 175, Eaglecrest HS, Aurora, Colo.

Terrance Terry, wr, 5-10, 190, Barrington (Ill.) HS.

Complete SDSU signings:

Zacharia Bowers, de, 6-1, 230, Fort Scott (Kan.) CC, Topeka, Kan.

Alex Dominguez, ol, 6-4, 280, Antelope Valley College (Calif.), Ridgecrest, Calif.

Trevor Greger, ol, 6-5, 285, Wagner (S.D.) HS.

Matthew Korus, db, 5-11, 180, St. Francis HS, Humphrey, Neb.

Nick Krings, de, 6-4, 215, St. Francis HS, Humphrey, Neb.

Auston LaBlance, de, 6-3, 230, University Academy, Kansas City, Mo.

Nick Lee, te, 6-5, 220, Blue Earth Area HS, Blue Earth, Minn.

Andrew Mueller, ol, 6-4, 245, Raymore-Peculiar HS, Peculiar, Mo.

Nicholas Purcell, ol, 6-3, 265, Central HS, Rapid City, S.D.

Ethan Sawyer, p, 6-2, 185, Brandon Valley HS, Brandon, S.D.

Jason Schneider, wr, 6-5, 210, Andover (Minn.) HS.

Jack Sherlock, lb, 6-4, 215, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago, Ill.

Alex Smith, ol, 6-4, 240, Phoenix Pinnacle HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dijon Starr, dl, 6-2, 260, Blaine HS, New Brighton, Minn.

Austin Sumner, qb, 6-5, 215, Brandon Valley HS, Brandon, S.D.

Justin Syrovatka, pk, 5-9, 170, Roosevelt HS, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Jordan Thomas, qb, 6-2, 195, Santa Ana College (Calif.), Anaheim, Calif.

Brad Tunge, rb, 5-11, 205, Hurley/Marion HS, Monroe, S.D.

Eric Tuschen, dl, 6-5, 230, Roosevelt HS, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Dom Wright, wr, 6-0, 175, Blue Springs South HS, Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Zachary Zenner, rb, 6-0, 210, Eagan (Minn.) HS.