NFL Week 5 sees former SDSU Jackrabbit and USF Cougar meet on field
Though they never played against each other, Dallas Goedert and Dennis Gardeck will always have a connection.
Goedert became one of the biggest college stars in the history of his home state after a spectacular career at South Dakota State, and as such, every NFL team showed up to the SDSU Pro Day in the spring of 2018 to watch Goedert work out in preparation for that year’s NFL Draft.
And a little known Division II linebacker took advantage.
Gardeck had been one of the best players on the defense at West Virginia State when Jon Anderson was the head coach there, and when Anderson left that job to take over at USF, where he’d began his career as an assistant under Bob Young and Kalen DeBoer, Gardeck decided to follow him for his final college season.
He led the NSIC in sacks and helped the Cougars reach the playoffs, and after the season, decided to attend the SDSU Pro Day. While the scouts were there to see the Jackrabbit tight end, Gardeck’s performance, especially on the bench press, where he did 31 reps of 225 pounds, had those same scouts asking each other, “Who is this guy?”
He wasn’t drafted, but signed with the Cardinals as a rookie free agent. He’s now in his fifth season with Arizona, having signed a 3-year, $10 million contract this offseason.
On Sunday, Gardeck and Goedert went head to head.
More:South Dakotans in the NFL Week 4: Jack Cochrane makes big play for Chiefs
Goedert and the Eagles came out on top to improve to 5-0, but it was hard not to think back to that day at the SJAC, and how it set in motion two impressive NFL careers.
Here’s how Goedert, Gardeck and the rest of South Dakota’s NFL talents performed this week:
Jack Cochrane, LB, Kansas City Chiefs (USD)
Played 16 snaps on special teams and made one tackle in the Chiefs' 30-29 Monday night win over the Raiders.
Matt Farniok, OL, Dallas Cowboys (Washington High School)
Played four snaps on offense and five on special teams as the Cowboys improved to 4-1 with their win over the Rams.
Dennis Gardeck, LB, Arizona Cardinals (USF)
Played 16 snaps on defense and 21 on special teams, earning credit for one tackle and a quarterback hit.
More:How South Dakotans in the NFL fared, Week 3
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles (Britton-Hecla High School, SDSU)
Set season-highs with eight catches for 95 yards. With 24 catches for 335 yards, he’s on pace for what would be his first 1,000-yard season in the NFL.
CJ Ham, FB, Minnesota Vikings (Augustana)
The Vikings haven’t been using the fullback much lately, as Ham was on the field for only seven plays in Sunday’s win over the Bears. He did play 14 special teams snaps.
Trey Pipkins, OL, Los Angeles Chargers (USF)
The Chargers improved to 3-2 with a 30-28 win over the Browns, and Pipkins was again in the starting lineup, helping to pave the way for his team to rack up nearly 500 yards of offense, including 238 on the ground.
Riley Reiff, OL, Chicago Bears (Parkston High School)
Was on the field for four plays on special teams in the Bears’ loss to the Vikings.
Christian Rozeboom, LB, Los Angeles Rams (SDSU)
Took the field for all 27 special teams plays in the game but did not record any statistics in the Rams’ loss to Dallas.
Pierre Strong, RB, New England Patriots (SDSU)
Was inactive for the Patriots 29-0 thrashing of the Lions.
More:How South Dakotans played in week 1 of the NFL, including Matt Farniok for the Dallas Cowboys
Derrek Tuszka, LB, Los Angeles Chargers (Warner High School)
Was on the field for 10 plays on defense and 13 on special teams for the Chargers in their win over the Browns.
On practice squads:
Kameron Cline, Colts (USD)
Don Gardner, Bucs (SDSU)
Cade Johnson, Seahawks (SDSU)
Chris Oladokun, Chiefs (SDSU)
Chris Streveler, Jets (USD)
Injured:
Tom Compton, Broncos (USD)
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: NFL Week 5 sees former SDSU, South Dakota players meet on field
