Football: Jacks spring scheming with new backfield

No matter how many practices wind up being altered or canceled, the South Dakota State football team will have been productive in at least one sense this spring: It's incorporated a new position. That doesn't happen every year.

The Jackrabbits are moving from two tight ends to one, sticking with the traditional, pass-catching version and turning the other into a fullback.

Frankly, the secondary tight end operated much like a fullback in the first place, blocking almost exclusively either by lining up in the backfield or motioning there.

SDSU had been using that scheme for the better part of the past 15 years with only a couple of exceptions. The upside: It forced opponents to honor two sets of potentials for one player. The downside: It forced one player to learn two positions. That was the impetus for the change.

"It was a lot more to learn, especially as a freshman," newly labeled fullback Chad Strehlow said. "If I had to it as a junior I could do it because I understand the offense a lot more. Now we'll be able to play faster."

It's created for some odd looks during spring workouts. The tight ends group consists of three guys and one of them – starter Cam Jones – isn't practicing due to ongoing rehab work.

Meanwhile, the running backs group is overloaded with a couple of fullbacks added to an already full stable of tailbacks. That's been a challenge for second-year backs coach Nic McKissic-Luke, who's had to overhaul his practice plans.

Coach John Stiegelmeier figures it'll take 3-4 years to complete the fullback transition because nobody on the roster was recruited specifically to play that spot; the team might need to bring three fullbacks to road games given the punishing nature of the position.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Strehlow is the frontrunner to start there followed by redshirt freshman Kane Louscher, who came to Brookings as a preferred walk-on linebacker. The incoming class has the first true fullback, Twin Cities prep player A.J. Westrude. His recruitment was the first sign that a move was in the works even before the season ended.

Outgoing senior Vince Benedetto factored into the adjustment, too. He had to play both tight end positions last fall due to an injury to Jones, and wound up being named second-team all-conference as a fullback. Might he have been able to do even more if he could focus on one position?

The biggest difference for Strehlow so far has been simple – less lining up with a hand on the ground. Come fall, it may mean an occasional carry.

"I'm pretty pumped about that if it's going to be on the call sheet," said Strehlow, noting that he played tailback in high school.

The Jacks haven't handed off to a fullback with any sort of semi-regularity since 2001, as far as Stiegelmeier can remember. Making this change during the spring leaves a lot of time for players to lobby for extra touches.

"They'll get one beg per week – that's how many carries they'll get," he joked.