Editor's note: Throughout Spring Football, GoJacks.com will take an in-depth look at various position groups. The initial installment of 1st and Goal focuses on the Jackrabbit quarterbacks.
BROOKINGS – Unlike the previous two years, the South Dakota State University football team has a clear-cut No. 1 quarterback as it begins spring practices.
Junior Taryn Christion emerged as not only the team's top quarterback in 2016, but established himself as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, Christion set or tied 11 school records last season, including single-season marks for completions (279), passing yards (3,714), passing touchdowns (30) and total offense (4,049 yards).
The Sioux Falls native won the battle for the starting quarterback spot in fall camp and went on to throw for 300-plus yards in six games, including a school-record 466 yards with five touchdowns in an Oct. 8 game at Southern Illinois.
Christion will attempt to match or exceed his totals from a year ago with an offensive unit that returns seven of its top eight receivers from a year ago, including All-Americans and fellow Walter Payton Award finalists Dallas Goedert and Jake Wieneke.
The only other quarterback in spring camp who has attempted a pass for the Jackrabbits is senior Dalton Douglas, who sat out last season due to injury. Douglas saw limited action in 2015, completing 6-of-13 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Redshirt freshman Kanin Nelson, who starred in last year's Spring Game, is another dual-threat quarterback who will vie for the backup role.
Also taking reps during spring practice are redshirt freshman Alec Cromer, along with newcomers Ethan Bullock and Justin Roberts. Bullock is an early enrollee who was a member of the 2017 signing class, while Roberts played two seasons at Nebraska-Kearney before transferring at the start of the spring semester. Roberts, who passed for 448 yards and a touchdown this past fall, will sit out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Next installment: Linebackers
