Three-headed QB battle set to define spring football for USD

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Mar. 11—VERMILLION, S.D. — For the first time in four seasons, the most important position on the field for the University of South Dakota football team is wide open.

As spring practices approach next week, the Coyotes enter unfamiliar territory following the graduation of longtime starting quarterback Aidan Bouman. After taking over midway through the 2022 season, Bouman provided stability and consistency under center for the past four seasons, leaving little doubt about who would lead the offense each fall.

Now, that certainty is gone. First-year head coach Matt Vitzthum — who spent last season as the team's quarterbacks coach — inherits a three-man battle that will shape the trajectory of the 2026 season. Senior Nevan Cremascoli, freshman Austyn Modrzewski, and transfer senior Jackson Proctor will each get their opportunity this spring to prove they can lead the Coyotes' offense.

And according to Vitzthum, the competition is completely open.

"I truly believe we have three guys that can really do a lot of great things for us," Vitzthum said. "I also believe that competition brings out the best in people, so I am excited to see that competition heat up when we start playing some ball. It's going to be tight. There is no front-runner. It is an even race, and I am excited to see them go to battle."

Of the three quarterbacks, senior Nevan Cremascoli may feel the most comfortable stepping into the role. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound signal caller has spent the last two seasons in the Coyotes' program backing up Bouman. Though his opportunities were limited, he gained valuable experience working within the offense and learning the system.

Cremascoli appeared in five games last season and completed one pass for three yards. A year earlier, he saw action in 12 of 14 games as the backup quarterback, finishing 2-of-5 passing for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Both completions went for scores, including a 67-yard strike. His athleticism also flashed on the ground, rushing 11 times for 133 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 74-yard run.

Before arriving in Vermillion, Cremascoli spent two seasons at Northern Illinois. As a freshman in 2022, he appeared in four games and eventually started the final three contests of the season for the Huskies, throwing for 600 yards and five touchdowns. He redshirted in 2023 before transferring to South Dakota ahead of the 2024 season.

The mobility Cremascoli offers could add a new element to the Coyotes' offense after Bouman operated primarily as a pocket passer. If experience, mobility and familiarity with the offense become deciding factors, Cremascoli could have an early edge.

"Nevan is a really mature leader and a guy that has been around a couple of different college programs," Vitzthum said. "He probably feels the most comfortable in the huddle because he has the age and the time with our group. He has the ability to move around a little bit, too."

While Cremascoli brings experience, Austyn Modrzewski potentially represents the future of the position.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound freshman arrived at USD last season with one of the most decorated high school careers in the program's recent recruiting history. A native of Littleton, Colorado, Modrzewski was ranked the No. 3 incoming freshman quarterback in the FCS by Hero Sports ahead of the 2025 season.

At Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Modrzewski put together a staggering career, throwing for nearly 12,000 yards and 147 touchdowns. He was a two-time Gatorade state football player of the year in Colorado and a three-time offensive player of the year. His senior season alone featured more than 3,400 passing yards and 57 touchdowns while completing 73.4% of his passes.

Though still early in his development, Modrzewski's upside makes him a compelling candidate in the quarterback battle at USD. The physical tools are there — a tall frame, strong arm and the ability to extend plays. The challenge now is translating that production to the college level.

"Austyn is obviously a young man that we think very highly of that has a lot of talent when it comes to his legs and his arm," Vitzthum said. "For him, it's the little things. He's trying to put some of those pieces together right now, running the huddle, running the team, the snap count, the play calls and those things. But I am really excited about him and his future at USD."

The newest member of the quarterback room might also be the most experienced. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior Jackson Proctor arrives in Vermillion after four seasons at Dartmouth, which plays FCS football. The native of Kent, Washington, built a solid career in the Ivy League, appearing in games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons before taking on a larger role in 2024.

During that 2024 campaign, Proctor threw for 1,564 yards while completing 68% of his passes. He added 13 touchdowns to just three interceptions, while helping guide Dartmouth to an 8-2 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Ivy League play.

Earlier in his career, Proctor showcased dual-threat ability, as well. In 2023, he led Dartmouth in passing with 716 yards and added 168 rushing yards, finishing with four passing touchdowns and four rushing scores. After spending the 2025 season at Northern Illinois without using a year of eligibility due to an NCAA waiver, Proctor entered the transfer portal and ultimately landed at South Dakota for one more opportunity to start.

Adjusting to a new program and offensive system will be part of his challenge this spring.

"Jackson is just really trying to embrace the new environment, a new offense, a new coordinator and a new quarterbacks coach," Vitzthum said. "He is just adjusting to the new, so I think his growth will probably take a little bit longer but each guy can bring a different dynamic to our offense."

The quarterback battle will also unfold under the guidance of a new position coach. With Vitzthum moving into the head coaching role, he recently hired Heath Parling as the program's quarterbacks coach on March 3. The two share a strong connection dating back to their time together at Grand Valley State in Michigan at the Division II level, where Vitzthum served as offensive coordinator during Parling's playing career in his final two seasons.

Parling brings a wide range of coaching experience to the role. Most recently, he spent the last four seasons at Upper Iowa University, a Division II program, including the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Peacocks. Prior to that, he served as an offensive graduate assistant in a pair of FBS programs at Miami (Ohio) in 2018-19 and Colorado State in 2020-21, working closely with quarterbacks and wide receivers.

Vitzthum believes Parling's background and leadership will be invaluable in shaping the competition this spring, leading into the fall.

"I actually coached Heath, so we have that dynamic a little bit with one another and we have a great relationship," Vitzthum said. "He has been around some really great places, and has had a lot of success. Early on here, I have stepped back and let him assess the situation and not really fill his head with any preconceived thoughts or opinions. I know those guys are going to be in great hands with Heath. He is a tremendous leader, tremendous coach and we're looking forward to that group kind of gelling together."

Spring practices will only be the first step in determining who ultimately replaces Bouman as the Coyotes' starting quarterback. The competition will likely extend through summer workouts and into fall camp.

But the foundation of that decision begins now. With three quarterbacks bringing different skill sets and backgrounds to the competition, the Coyotes' spring practices promise to be one of the most compelling storylines of the offseason in Vermillion. And by the time the fall season arrives, one of them will have proven he is ready to lead the next chapter of South Dakota football.

"For me, the big thing will be consistency," Vitzthum said. "Who can play the most consistently and can put our team in a position to be successful and not lose us football games? We don't need that guy to go out and win us games. We need that guy to be 1/11 of the offense and do his job. And the guy that can consistently do that the most will be the guy that will wind up being the starter."

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