SIOUX FALLS – A poised and experienced University of Sioux Falls Football Team, under the direction of third-year head coach Jon Anderson, opens fall practice at 8:10 a.m., on Monday, August 12 at Bob Young Field at the USF Sports Complex.

USF, which has advanced to the postseason in four of the past five seasons, has been picked to finish third overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), according to the NSIC Preseason Coaches Football Poll released by the league office on Wednesday, August 7.
 
USF, which was 7-4 overall, including 5-2 in the South Division in 2018, earned 187 points overall in the poll. For the second straight year, USF was picked third overall and also picked third with 37 points in the South Division preseason poll.  

Senior running back Gabriel Watson, who finished fifth in the Harlon Hill Trophy balloting in 2018, has been named the NSIC South Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.  Watson, who has been named to eight All-American teams, including three in the preseason of 2019, led NCAA DII in rushing per game with 177.9 yards per game. Watson, who rushed for a school record 1,957 yards on 269 carries, led NCAA DII with 26 rushing touchdowns. A year ago, he was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and also named Super Region 4 Player of the year by both the D2CCA and Don Hansen media organizations. He rushed for 100 yards in 11 straight games and over 200 yards three times. He also set a school mark with 320 yards rushing in a win over MSU Moorhead on the road.  Defensive back Hakeem Johnson, who was named All-NSIC and honorable mention All-American by Don Hansen, was USF's Defensive Player to Watch.

"We are excited that fall camp has arrived," said Anderson, who begins his third season leading the tradition-rich program. "We had an excellent off season of preparation. The effort the players and our staff have put in will be evident as we began our fall camp and prepare for the opener against the Concordia-St. Paul on Sept. 5," said Anderson, whose team will return 20 starters and 38 letter winners.
 
USF's offense, directed by third year coordinator Jim Chapin, returns eight starters to a unit which led the NSIC and ranked 19th in NCAA DII with 466.0 yards in total offense per game in 2018.  Led by Watson and a stout offensive front, the Cougars led the NSIC and ranked fifth nationally with 274.2 rushing yards per game and also had a league-best seven yards per play overall and 6.0 per rush average. 

Senior quarterback Caden Walters (2,033 passing yards, 14 TDs), who led the NSIC in pass efficiency at 155.8, returns along with three starters on the offensive front which includes second team All-NSIC guard Nolan Kern, who has 163 career knockdowns and over 80 percent career grade. Honorable Mention All-NSIC center Nick Zimmerman, who has career grade of 83 percent and 185 career knockdowns, and two-year starter Elijah Perine (154 knockdowns and 79 percent grade) will lead the offensive front. USF will be deep at tight end with All-NSIC senior tight end Clint Sigg (26 receptions, four TDs) back while All-NSIC WR/KR Nate Johnson and Ty Smith lead a deep wide receiver group.
 
Senior All-NSIC (2017) defensive end Logan Dykstra (14T) and junior cornerback HakeeemJohnson (25T, interception, 6 PDs), who was a Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-American and first-team All-NSIC selection, lead a veteran group on defense, which is directed by third-year defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto. USF, which is consistently one of the league's top units, returns 10 starters. In 2018, USF ranked third in the NSIC and 19th in DII in scoring defense(19.0 ppg); fourth in the NSIC and 54th in DII in total defense (338.0); fourth in the NSIC in  interceptions (14) and second in the NSIC and 31st in DII in turnover margin at plus-seven or .64 per game. USF fifth in pass efficiency defense (114.5), third in the NSIC and 21st in DII in red zone defense (.667) while ranking fifth in first downs allowed (214 - 73 by rushing).

Other returners include junior defensive end Joey Wehrkamp (38T, eight TFLs, tree sacks, 3 PDs, FR), and senior defensive linemen Aaron Ortiz (12T, sack), David Varges (31T, sack, 2 TFLs, FR), and Nick Zimmerman (17T, 2.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks), among others.  HM All-NSIC safety Tucker Stout (53T, 2 TFLs, FR), Parker Gregston (37T, sack, TFL, 6 PB, 10 PD, 4 int.) and Nate Durfee (41T, TFL, interception) lead an experience and talented secondary. All-NSIC LB Brody Grantham (70T, 7 TFLs) and HM All-NSIC Harvey (Michael) Enalls (64T) lead a strong linebacking corps.
 
For the majority of the fall camp, the Cougars will practice at 8:10 a.m., at Bob Young Field. A schedule is listed below. The Fall Media Day has been set for 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 20 at the Suite-Level at Bob Young Field. USF will open the 2018 season on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Concordia-St.Paul.

USF Fall Practice Schedule
Here is USF's football practice schedule.
Monday, Aug. 12 -- Practice #1 (helmets) -- 8:10 am
Tuesday, Aug. 13 -- Practice #2 (helmets) -- 8:10 am
Wednesday, Aug. 14 -- Practice #3 (shells) -- 8:10 am
Thursday, Aug. 15 -- Practice #4 (shells) -- 8:10 am
Friday, Aug. 16 -- Practice #5 (full) -- 8:10 am
Saturday, Aug. 17 -- Practice #6 (shells) -- 8:10 am
Sunday, Aug. 18 -- Practice #7 (full-scrimmage) -- 8:10 am
Tuesday, Aug. 20 -- Practice #8 (full) -- 8:10 am --
Tuesday, Aug. 20 -- Media Day - Bob Young Suite Level, USF Sports Complex, 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug. 21 -- Practice #9 (full) -- 2:40 pm
Thursday, Aug. 22 -- Practice #10 (full) -- 8:10 am
Friday, Aug. 23 -- Practice #11 (shells) -- 8:10 am
Saturday, Aug. 24 -- Practice #12 (scrimmage) -- 8:10 am
Monday, Aug. 26 -- Practice #13 (full) -- 8:10 am
Tuesday, Aug. 27 - Practice #14 (full) -- 4:10 p.m. (first day of classes)
Wednesday, Aug. 28 -- Practice #15 (shells) -- 4:10 pm
Thursday, Aug. 29 -- Practice #16 (shells) -- 4:10 pm
Saturday, Aug. 31 -- Practice #17 (helmets) -- 10:30 am
Sunday, Sept. 1 -- Practice #18 (full) -- 6 pm
Mon., Sept. 2 -- Practice #19 (full) -- 6 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 3 -- Practice #20 (Game Week - Thursday) -- 4:30-5:15
Wednesday, Sept. 4 -- Travel Day -- St. Paul, Minn.
Thursday, Sept. 5 -- Game Day vs. Concordia-St. Paul, 6 p.m., SeaFoam Stadium, St. Paul, Minn.