PHOENIX, ARIZ. – When the Arizona Cardinals march into the State Farm Stadium in Phoenix Sunday, a familiar face to University of Sioux Falls fans will be in uniform.
Dennis Gardeck, who earned five All-American honors while starring for the Cougars in 2017, will don No. 92 and likely see action for the Cardinals as they host the Washington Redskins on Fox TV.
Gardeck, who signed a free agent contract with the Cardinals last spring, surprised many outside of the USF program at a Pro Day and then stepped up when given a chance with the Cardinals. Originally of Lake in the Hills, Ill., Gardeck turned heads last spring at the South Dakota State University Pro Day in Brookings with 31 reps of 225 pounds and strong performance in speed and agility drills. Then this summer, Gardeck had some big moments including a game-saving tackle against San Diego and a fumble recovery against Dallas. He has earned a spot as the No. 2 Sam Linebacker behind starter Haason Reddick.
"We are very excited for the opportunity Dennis has created for himself," said USF head coach
Jon Anderson, who coached Gardeck at both USF and West Virginia State. "Since I was with him from the time he was a redshirt freshman through his fifth year senior year, it is impressive to see how he has continually improved himself. He has earned every opportunity that has come his way and I'm confident he will earn his way onto an NFL roster. All of his USF Football family will be watching and wishing him well," he said.
Gardeck becomes the first-ever non-kicker at USF to earn a spot on an NFL roster. Rick Danmeier, a straight-on placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings and Brian Hansen, a Hawarden, Iowa native, who was drafted in the ninth round of the 1984 draft by the New Orleans Saints. Hanson, a first team All-American at Sioux Falls, was named to the 1984 Pro Bowl and later played with Cleveland, New England, New York Jets and Washington. Danmeier, originally of White Bear Lake, Minn., joined the Vikings in 1977 and in 1981 had his best season, making 21-of-25 field goals.
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Arizona, directed by head coach Steve Wilks, finished 8-8 (3rd, NFL West) in 2017-18. It is a team looking to take a step toward the playoffs.
Gardeck, a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award and a nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy, was selected to the DII Associated Press, D2Football.com and DII Conference Commissioner's Association (D2 CCA) All-American Football Team first teams and second team on the American Football Coaches Association Don Hansen teams.
As s a senior, he helped lead USF, which was ranked #20 in the final AFCA Poll, to a 9-3 record and a fourth consecutive postseason berth, including a third-straight DII playoff appearance. He ranked second in the nation with 14 sacks and had 21 tackles for loss, which was fifth in NCAA DII.
A graduate transfer from West Virginia State where he was a three-time All-Mountain East performer, Gardeck had an instant impact on a USF defense that ranked second in total defense by allowing a program-DII best 244.3 yards per game. With Gardeck's contributions, the Cougars ranked third nationally in rushing defense at 67.8 yards per game. Sparked by Gardeck, USF finished second in scoring defense at 12.5 points per game, allowing just 123 total points, a program DII-best at USF. The defense allowed opponents to rush over 200 yards once and held nine opponents to under 100 yards.
Gardeck earned his fourth all-conference selection (three-time Mountain East honoree) and was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2017. He was named first-team All-NSIC, was fifth in NCAA DII with 1.17 sacks per game. Gardeck, who had a sack in USF's playoff loss to No. 5 Midwestern State (24-20), had 13 solo sacks also second nationally.
In 2017, he recorded a team-best 75 tackles, including two double digit tackle games and nine in the playoff loss. Gardeck led the NSIC in sacks and TFLs while also recovering a fumble, forced two fumbles and recorded a safety to clinch the 21-14 "Key to the City" game over city rival Augustana at Bob Young Field. In his first game at USF, he put together a memorable performance, registering a program-DII best five sacks in a 26-7 win over Minnesota-Duluth on the road on August 31. The five-sack performance by Gardeck against UMD was the single-best individual sack performance in DII this year.
Six times he had seven tackles or more, while recording a tackle for loss in 10 of USF's 12 games. He had two or more TFLs six times. Gardeck had a sack in eight games with two or more sacks four times. Gardeck finished his career with 345 career tackles, 57.5 tackles for loss, 32 sacks, nine forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception. .
