Dell Rapids St. Mary's lineman Alexander Lindeman commits to USD football from nine-man ranks

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Apr. 8—DELL RAPIDS, S.D. — For most high school football players, the path to Division I football is paved through the traditional 11-man ranks where exposure and competition are easier to measure.

For Dell Rapids St. Mary's standout Alexander Lindeman, that road looks a little different and much more rare.

On March 26, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound junior offensive and defensive lineman announced his commitment to the University of South Dakota football program as a member of the class of 2027 and before his senior season with the Cardinals. In doing so, Lindeman became just the third offensive lineman since 2016 to commit to USD out of a non-11-man high school football program.

"I was going through the recruiting process and the phone call for the offer from USD kind of came out of nowhere," Lindeman said. "I have been doing all of this work and preparation, but the day just kind of came and I really wasn't prepared for it all. But I am just extremely grateful for this opportunity. They were all for me, and that was what made it an easy decision."

Lindeman's commitment represents a rarity for USD football in recent seasons. In an analysis, since 2016, the Coyotes have signed nine players from non-11-man high school levels, including nine-man, eight-man, and even six-man football, but only two of those were offensive linemen. Lindeman now joins that short list, becoming the first nine-man lineman commit since 2019.

In a sport where offensive line development is often tied to repetition against larger rosters and deeper competition, Lindeman's rise from the nine-man level underscores both his physical tools and his adaptability.

"I never really considered myself a small-town kid, I guess, and we are in the smallest division (9B) but I wasn't trying to prove anything to anybody," Lindeman said. "I just kept my head down, kept working, and kept playing the sport I love. So, I mean, the cards kind of fell in the right places."

Those "right places" included a dominant junior season that culminated in a state championship. Dell Rapids St. Mary's rolled to a 54-6 victory over Avon in the Class 9B title game on Nov. 13 at the DakotaDome — the very field Lindeman will call home at the next level. He was named the game's most outstanding lineman, a fitting honor for a player who anchors the Cardinals on both sides of the ball as a center and defensive end.

"He is a big, strong kid. No matter what level of football you are playing at in high school, when you have that size and strength, that is going to be something that attracts college programs," St. Mary's head football coach Ross Flemmer said. "He also has a great work ethic to go with it. So, when you combine all those things together, that makes him a very attractive collegiate lineman. And anytime a nine-man kid gets an offer to a bigger school like USD, I think it is a big deal for them, big for the program and big for everybody involved."

At USD, Lindeman is projected to play center — the same position he has developed into at St. Mary's under the guidance of his father, Nathan Lindeman, who serves as the team's offensive and defensive line coach.

"He is a very intellectual young man, so having him play center was kind of a no-brainer for me going into his sophomore year," Nathan Lindeman said. "I did that just so he can be the leader of the offensive line out there, make calls, communicate with the other linemen, help them understand their role, because he has the capacity to do it."

That mental approach, combined with his physical presence, is a big reason why South Dakota believes his game will translate to the next level.

"It is kind of rare for a small school kid to get that type of opportunity, but I think Alex is proof that his play style is translatable to the next level," Nathan added. "Playing nine-man football and getting a chance to play 11-man, I think the key component is that (USD) sees that he is very well capable."

The Lindeman family is no stranger to college sports. Nathan played at Southwest Minnesota State from 1996-99, while Alexander's older brother, Gabriel, is currently a defensive end at Northern State, and his sister, Brianna, played college volleyball at Dordt in 2024 before transferring to Dakota State to continue her schooling.

"I am very passionate about those college opportunities, and obviously, my kids have to live with me so I think it bleeds through," Nathan said. "It's really just an opportunity to come of age as a young athlete to test yourself on that. There are a lot of opportunities for kids to get sidetracked on stuff these days, but I think still doing the hard thing puts yourself out there."

For Lindeman, committing early allowed him to lock in that opportunity and focus on one more run with a St. Mary's program that returns significant talent. The Cardinals, who had just three seniors on their 2025 championship roster, are set to bring back six junior offensive starters — including their anchor in the middle.

"I have just become a little bit of an inspiration to those future lineman in my area. So, it means a lot to show them that linemen from Dell Rapids can accomplish big things," Lindeman said.

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