Landon Wolf's return boosts South Dakota State receivers group led by Janke twins
South Dakota State has a long list of standout wide receivers in its Division I era.
One of the first ones was Josh Davis, who graduated in 2005 as the school’s all-time leader in catches (a record since broken). He joined the SDSU coaching staff a few years later and helped mentor perhaps the program’s all-time greatest wide receiver, Jake Wieneke, and after a six-year stint as offensive coordinator at NAIA Northwestern, Davis is back this year to reclaim his old job as Jackrabbit wide receivers coach, where the parade of All-American caliber wideouts continues.
Jaxon and Jadon Janke, twin brothers from Madison, have made a steady climb from special teams contributors to ace wideouts, and as they enter their senior year, they’ve established themselves as two of the best in the nation, bonafide NFL prospects.
Running: Isaiah Davis to take center stage in SDSU football's ground attack
That gives the Jacks a good place to start at receiver, but they won’t be alone. Sioux Falls products Canyon Bauer and Tyler Feldkamp both appear ready to increase their production, while SDSU is anxious to finally get a look at speedster Landon Wolf, a transfer from Oklahoma State who missed all of last year with an injury.
“We’ve been good, we’ve been explosive, but we can be better,” Davis said.
South Dakota State football's receivers
Projected starters: Jaxon Janke, Sr., 6-3, 210; Jadon Janke, Sr., 6-3, 205
In reserve: Landon Wolf, Sr., 5-10, 175; Canyon Bauer, Jr., 6-0, 195; Tyler Feldkamp, So., 6-0, 185
Depth: AJ Coons, So., 6-4, 210; Devon Cole, So., 5-9, 165
That’s apparent just by looking at the Janke twins. Both are noticeably bigger and stronger after a productive offseason in the weight room, and they don’t appear to have sacrificed any speed to get there. They both had a huge year last year, proving definitively they’re capable of anchoring the position, which was at one point a concern after the graduation of Cade Johnson (now with the Seattle Seahawks). Jaxon caught 72 balls for 1,165 yards last year, while Jadon had 41 catches for 641 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns.
“They’re the whole package,” Davis said. “They’re on another level right now. Size, speed, toughness, quickness, ball skills – and I don’t give one of them the edge over the other. Jaxon might be a hair bigger and a hair faster but they both have what it takes to go to the next level.”
Wolf, meanwhile, is as anxious to get on the field as the Jacks are to use him. He started games for Oklahoma State before leaving, but tore his ACL only minutes into the first game of the year last year on a punt return. He injured his shoulder early in camp already but isn’t expected to miss any game action. Wolf is battling Feldkamp and Bauer (who’s also out hurt at the moment) for the No. 3 receiver spot, and while his size (5-10) may limit how the Jacks use him, his speed and experience figure to be valuable.
Feldkamp was a multi-talented, multi-sport star at Roosevelt who caught four passes last year, while Bauer caught nine passes for 152 yards. AJ Coons has impressive size at 6-4, while 5-9 speedster Devon Cole had an impressive spring and continues to turn heads in practice.
There’s plenty of depth here, but with the talent the Jacks also have at tight end, snaps may be limited at times. SDSU will use two tights ends more often than not.
“It’s a balancing act,” Davis acknowledges. “We’re a 12 personnel team (one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers), and I feel like I can say that in the wide receiver room without those guys being butt-hurt about it. That’s just who we are. But we are dynamic enough that we have seven guys that can help us win football games right now. Special teams will be important for some of those guys, but it’s a good problem to have.”
South Dakota State football position previews
Quarterbacks: Mark Gronowski ready to reclaim star status; backups battle for role
Running backs: Isaiah Davis to take center stage in SDSU football's ground attack
Tight ends: South Dakota State tight end room teeming with talent behind Tucker Kraft
Offensive line: Jacks' OL in transition with a new coach and key starters to replace
Defensive line: South Dakota State defensive line hopes to keep playing deep rotation
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: SDSU football's receivers group boosted by Landon Wolf's return
