DWU football opens spring practice with competition, youth leading new season

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Mar. 21—MITCHELL — Spring football has arrived for Dakota Wesleyan University, even if Mother Nature tried to delay the start.

After originally planning to open spring practice earlier in the week, the Tigers were forced to push their first official practice to Thursday, March 19, due to snow in the Mitchell area. The brief delay did little to spoil the anticipation surrounding a program entering a pivotal stretch of development under head coach Alex Kretzschmar.

Dakota Wesleyan's latest recruiting class, announced Feb. 4, included 30 signees — 28 high school prospects and two college football transfers.

And with a mix of key departures, returning production, and a sizable incoming recruiting class, DWU football begins spring ball with both opportunity and uncertainty across multiple position groups. And for Kretzschmar, spring practice is less about immediate results and more about long-term growth.

"This is a big time for those freshmen and sophomores that maybe got a little bit of playing time, or maybe they didn't get any playing time but they have been developing and working their way to potentially earn a job come this fall," Kretzschmar said. "Spring ball is when they can show how much they have developed, and how they can handle the playbook a little bit better. I am excited to see that unfold these next few weeks."

That evaluation becomes even more important considering the roster changes the Tigers experienced following last season, particularly on defense and at key offensive skill positions.

One of the most intriguing position battles heading into spring is at linebacker, where Dakota Wesleyan must replace two of its top producers from a year ago. Grayson Hanson, who led the team with 97 tackles, and Joseph Van Overschelde, who added 70 tackles, both graduated, leaving a couple of holes in the middle of the defense.

The Tigers brought in two transfer additions at linebacker and are expected to immediately compete for playing time — the only two transfers out of the 30 new DWU football signings. Reed Rus, a former Mount Vernon/Plankinton standout who spent three seasons at the University of South Dakota, arrives as a 6-foot-4 edge linebacker with college experience. He's joined by Tayden Nave, a former Sioux Falls Roosevelt all-state selection who played two seasons at Northern State University.

Those newcomers join a returning core that includes senior Brodey Ballinger — 63 tackles last season — and Jestin Bayer, who recorded 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore a season ago.

"I am excited about our linebacking group," Kretzschmar said. "We added two transfers that we're really excited about in Reed and Tayden. And then, we have a really good core of young guys already on the roster, as well. There's going to be some competition for openings at the linebacker positions because we had some pretty good ones that finished up their playing careers last fall."

With at least four viable contributors, linebacker could become one of the deepest and most competitive units on the roster — a key factor for a defense looking to take a step forward from giving up 30.1 points per game, which ranked No. 7 in the Great Plains Athletics Conference last season.

Beyond linebacker, DWU enters spring with major questions in the secondary after graduating several experienced contributors. Mikey Hart, Landon Ruesink — a first-team all-conference selection — and Ja'Dyn McGary all departed, leaving a group of younger players to step into expanded roles.

Trevor Sladky headlines that unit after a breakout sophomore season in which he led the team with four interceptions and totaled 75 tackles, earning all-conference honors. He'll be joined by Ashton Munsell, who appeared in all 11 games last year, and Jackson Jarding, who saw action in six contests.

Kretzschmar indicated that although the defensive secondary's questions need to be answered, the offensive and defensive lines will be under close evaluation this spring.

"The group that we need to continue to develop, as is for pretty much every team in the country, is the offensive and defensive lines, and those two groups are always a big deal for us," Kretzschmar said. "We have some good players in this recruiting class that we are excited about, and we hope to get a few more commits here pretty soon. But those two positions are ones that need to continue to keep developing for us to be successful."

Offensively, much of the Tigers' ceiling will depend on the continued development of quarterback Jed Jenson. The Rapid City Stevens prospect is coming off his first season as a starter in his sophomore season with DWU, appearing in 10 games and throwing for 1,977 yards with 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while completing 56.8% of his passes.

"As far as the quarterback position goes, Jed Jenson has been working really hard this offseason," Kretzschmar said. "We are excited to see how he develops as we go through spring ball, and getting himself ready for his second year. He is the front runner when it comes to who is going to be the starter or whatnot. But we also have some young guys that we're excited about that are definitely pushing him and making sure he's not comfortable."

The Tigers also face significant turnover at the offensive skill positions. Wide receiver Cole Holden, the team's top target and a first-team all-conference selection, graduated after posting 888 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Tight end Nolan Dvorak and running backs Koby Kayser, who had a team-high 300 rushing yards, and Lane Darrow also moved on. As a team, DWU was last in the conference in rushing yards per game at 59.5, plus the lowest number of rushing touchdowns (3).

Despite those losses, the Tigers return a solid group of skill players. Senior Steven Christion, who had 420 receiving yards and four touchdowns at wide recever a season ago is expected to take on a larger role, while juniors Caleb Kilbridge — 418 receiving yards and four touchdowns — and Cruise Vaughn and sophomore Sean DeBlieck provide depth and experience.

At tight end, Chase McGillivary looks to improve after recording 15 receptions, 144 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman. In the backfield, opportunities are wide open. Gus Scott, a sophomore from Brandon Valley, and junior Kaden Froehlich are among the players expected to compete for more carries, according to Kretzschmar.

"On the offensive side, really all skill positions, we have some experience returning but we also have some young guys that are working into some new roles," Kretzschmar said. "I am excited to see how they put themselves in a position to get better this spring ball and then set themselves up for a successful fall."

As the Tigers work through spring practice, the focus extends beyond depth charts and position battles. Establishing leadership, accountability and team chemistry remains just as critical for Kretzschmar. With a roster that blends experienced returners and young talent, how the group develops over the next several weeks could shape expectations heading into the fall season.

"The biggest thing we have been preaching to the guys throughout this second semester is that this is their team, and what they want out of next season is directly correlated to how they handle their business each day," Kretzschmar said. "The teams that are most successful are the ones that play the hardest for each other, and the only way that happens is if you know them really well and have a relationship with them. They need to take control of this team, and want to be out there if we want to be a good football team this fall."

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos