South Dakota

Zimmer: A look at South Dakota's long history in the NFL Draft

Published

8 months ago

April 23, 2025

Zimmer: A look at South Dakota's long history in the NFL Draft

GREEN BAY — The last time there wasn’t a single NFL Draft pick from South Dakota was in 2016.

That year’s South Dakota State Jackrabbits team had a handful of players who would eventually make their way to the doorstep of the NFL (some of whom are still playing today), but they were underclassmen. The development of NFL talent within South Dakota’s high school and college programs was just beginning.

Then in 2017, former Sioux Falls Washington star Nate Gerry was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles, and someone from South Dakota has been drafted every year since:

2017
Nate Gerry, LB/S, Sioux Falls Washington (Nebraska), 5th round, Philadelphia

2018
Dallas Goedert, TE, Britton-Hecla, SDSU, 2nd round, Philadelphia

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) reacts after his touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports

2019
Trey Pipkins, OL, USF, 3rd round, LA Chargers
Jordan Brown, CB, SDSU, 7th round, Cincinnati

2020
Derrek Tuszka, DE/LB, Warner (NDSU), 7th round, Denver

2021
Matt Farniok, OL, SF Washington (Nebraska), 7th round, Dallas

NFL: Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles — Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) gets past Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) during the fourth quarter on Oct. 13, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2022
Pierre Strong, RB, SDSU, 4th round, New England
Chris Oladokun, QB, SDSU, 7th round, Pittsburgh

2023
Tucker Kraft, TE, Timber Lake, SDSU, 3rd round, Green Bay

Tucker Kraft caught 31 passes in his rookie season in the NFL in 2023.

2024
Mason McCormick, OL, SF Roosevelt, SDSU, 4th round, Pittsburgh
Isaiah Davis, RB, SDSU, 5th round, NY Jets
Myles Harden, CB, USD, 7th round, Cleveland

Pierre’s Grey Zabel is projected by many outlets to be a first round pick this year. If that happens he’d be the 8th South Dakotan to get taken in the first round.

042225-Jacobson.Larry2.jpg — Larry Jacobson played at O’Gorman and was a first round draft pick in 1972.

Here are the others:
Urban Odson, Clark, 1942. 9th overall to Green Bay.
Larry Jacobson, SF O’Gorman, 1972. 24th overall to NY Giants.
George Amundson, Aberdeen, 1973. 14th overall to Houston.
John Dutton, Rapid City, 1974. 5th overall to Baltimore.
Lynn Boden, SDSU, 1975. 13th overall to Detroit.
Chad Greenway, Mount Vernon, 2006. 17th overall to Minnesota.
Riley Reiff, Parkston, 2012. 23rd overall to Detroit.

042225-Dutton.John3.jpg — Rapid City’s John Dutton was the 5th overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft.

As for the area colleges, South Dakota State currently has a three-year streak of beging represented in the draft, a streak that seems a longshot to reach four this weekend in Green Bay. While there are a handful of Jackrabbits on the NFL radar this year, many of whom will end up in a camp, there hasn’t been much buzz around them in mock drafts.

Same goes for USD, who ended a 10-year drought of draft picks last year when corner Myles Harden went in the seventh round to the Browns.

Here’s a look at the draft history of South Dakota’s college programs:

SDSU
Total Picks: 34
Highest pick: Lynn Boden, 1st round, 1975
Most recent: McCormick, Davis, 2024

USD cornerback Myles Harden competes at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Sunday, March 3, 2024.

USD
Total picks: 18
Highest pick: John Kohler, 3rd round, 1970
Most recent pick: Harden, 2024

Augustana
Picks: 3
Highest pick: Bryan Schwartz, 2nd round, 1995
Most recent: Schwartz

USF
Total picks: 2
Highest pick: Pipkins, 3rd round, 2019
Most recent pick: Pipkins

NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans — Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Trey Pipkins III (79) catches a pass for a two-point conversion during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at on Sept. 17, 2023 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Others
Yankton Colleg
Lyle Alzado, 4th round, 1971

Black Hills State
Mike Savoy, 9th round, 1971

South Dakota Tech
Maher Barakat, 15th round, 1970
Lars Ditlev, 13th round, 1974

The NFL Draft is this weekend in Green Bay. It will be televised on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network, and can be streamed on various platforms including ESPN+ and YouTubeTV.
The first round is set for Thursday at 7 p.m.
Rounds 2-3 are Friday, starting at 5 p.m.
Rounds 4-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

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South Dakota

South Dakota Lottery encourages responsible gifting of lottery tickets this holiday season

Published

48 minutes ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

South Dakota Lottery encourages responsible gifting of lottery tickets this holiday season | DRGNews

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 23, 2025

Published

13 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 23, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

15-37-38-41-64, Mega Ball: 21

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

02-04-12-37-42, Lucky Ball: 10

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South Dakota

Fact brief: Does South Dakota require front license plates?

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Fact brief: Does South Dakota require front license plates?

(South Dakota News Watch) – Yes. South Dakota is one of almost 30 states that require front and back license plates on vehicles, though there are a couple of exceptions.

Vehicles that are used for “occasional transportation, public displays, parades and related pleasure hobby activities” can use a rear-only plate. The plates cost $25 in addition to the normal registration cost. To qualify, drivers must provide their odometer reading at the time of registration and not exceed 7,500 miles in a year.

Motorcycles are also only required to have one plate.

Why use rear-only plates? Many owners don’t like how front plates take away from the aesthetic of their vehicles. But dual plates are touted as a way to assist law enforcement with crime.

South Dakota offers more than a dozen different types of plates: construction, emblem, habitat conservation, Dignity sculpture, historical, amateur radio license, disabled person, firefighter, EMS, tribal, tribal veteran, veteran and several military plates.

Source

South Dakota Department of Revenue, Personalized and Specialty Plates

South Dakota Department of Revenue, License plate application

Lakota Times, South Dakota specialty plates available July 1

South Dakota laws, 32-5-98

Thompson Law Injury lawyers, Which states require front license plates?

South Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.

Read previous fact briefs.
Read our verification standards and other best practices policies.
Submit a question for us to answer on the South Dakota News Watch Tipline.
Send questions or feedback to factbrief@sdnewswatch.org.

This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email to get stories when they’re published. Contact Michael Klinski at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.

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