Editor's note: Throughout Spring Football, GoJacks.com will take an in-depth look at various position groups. The 12th installment of the Spring Report focuses on the Jackrabbit wide receivers.
Led by the career leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns in South Dakota State and Missouri Valley Football Conference history, Jake Wieneke, the Jackrabbit wide receivers will again be an integral part of the team's offense during the upcoming 2017 season.
A senior from Maple Grove, Minn., Wieneke has earned All-America honors each of his first three seasons in a Jackrabbit uniform while recording SDSU and league records of 4,192 receiving yards and 43 touchdown receptions. Wieneke has caught at least 72 passes each year, tallying 223 for his career in 39 games to put him three catches away from a new Jackrabbit standard. Last season, Wieneke accounted for 78 receptions for 1,316 yards and tied his own single-season record with 16 touchdown catches.
Wieneke's career yardage total also ranks 10th in Football Championship Subdivision history, while his 43 touchdown receptions are tied for 11th all-time in the FCS.
Behind Wieneke, the receiver with the most experience is junior Alex Wilde, who has played in 18 games over the past two seasons. Wilde caught nine passes for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season.
Three sophomores also return after gaining valuable experience a season ago. Adam Anderson hauled in 20 receptions for 222 yards before being injured late in the 2016 season, while Marquise Lewis saw action in all 13 games and contributed 12 catches for 166 yards. Lewis also handled punt return duties, averaging an even four yards on 21 attempts.
Rounding out the sophomore class at receiver is Jacob Brown, who played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2016 and recorded a pair of receptions.
Adding further depth at wide receiver this spring are senior Jacob Menage and redshirt freshmen Cade Johnson, Patrick Burmeister, Paddy Devlin and Brendon Caskey.
Next installment: Offensive Overview (April 19)
