By Andrew Holtan
The Register

BROOKINGS – 15 months ago Mark Gronowski was almost at the pinnacle of FCS football. He was starting at quarterback for South Dakota State as a freshman in the FCS Championship Game and was attempting to win the school’s first ever national title in football.
But then just over two minutes into the game he saw everything come crashing down. Gronowski took a snap and ran to the right of the line and had the pile fall on his left knee. Gronowski played one more play and then tried to warm up on the sidelines, but eventually went to the locker room. Once he got inside is when he got the bad news that it was a significant knee injury and he would be unable to return.
Gronowski then sat out during the fall season and rehabbed after having surgery. He said it did not set in that he would be out for a whole year until after the surgery, but once he realized it, he wanted to make the most of his recovery.
“The first initial feeling, it sucked,” Gronowski said. “Like I didn’t know what to do. I’ve never been injured like that and just didn’t really know what to do. We had that huge rain delay right after it happened, so the first thing I did was call my parents. My entire family came down and I was getting big hugs from them. Really after that rain delay, I realized I needed to get back into the game and help every single way I could.
“Even after that game, and talking to the doctors, it really sat in that ‘damn I’m really going to be out for a long time.’ It really started to set in. [It helped] just meeting with our team chaplain and bringing that side in, my faith and stuff, and then pushing myself and saying ‘I’m going to be the best version of myself every day, I’m going to bring a positive attitude every day and I’m just going to kick ass all recovery.’”

Every player and coach at SDSU have said that Gronowski had an incredible rehab from the injury. SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said he thinks Gronowski is just wired to always want to do everything the best and that’s why his rehab went so well.
“I think Mark Gronowski was trained as young person to do what he was told, and that’s what he did, and then he did a little bit more. You hear people say, so and so was ahead of schedule, he was ahead of his schedule. That’s the way Mark is in life, not just football. You know, he has a class conflict and tries to go all the way to the dean to maybe get it moved so it will be easier for us to practice. So, he’s just a special young man,” Stiegelmeier said.
Gronowski returned to practice this past spring but did not take any live reps due to caution. Now a week into fall camp, he’s been taking live reps and said that he’s getting more and more comfortable and not thinking about the injury.
“Coach Kris [Kracht], our mental strength coach, has been helping me a ton, getting over the injury. First in the spring, I was a little cautious of it and stuff like that. But after talking with and writing things out for myself has really helped me. And it’s not likely to happen again, really just focusing on that and coming out here and not trying to think about it and playing how I did before,” Gronowski said.
Last season, Chris Oladokun, a fifth-year senior transfer, stepped in place of Gronowski and led the Jacks to the semifinals. SDSU came up short once again as it fell to Montana State, 31-17. Gronowski said that he learned a lot during his time off the field and Oladokun helped him become a better quarterback.
“I learned a ton [in the 15 months off]. The biggest part would probably be the pre snap plan aspect. My freshman year, I was kind of not really knowing what was going on at times. Defenses were showing some disguises and I was just kind of playing out there and being a playmaker. This year, I feel like I’m going to be more tactical in what I do and it’s going to be a great aspect of it. One of the great things I learned from Chris is just film watching. Learning how to take notes and watch film and understand it in a better way,” Gronowski said.
Gronowski was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year in his freshman season after throwing for 1,565 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also ran for 577 yards and seven touchdowns. He was also named the FCS Freshman of the Year by Phil Steele and was a HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American.
Gronowski said he thinks he will still run the ball just as much, but his improvement in the passing game is what he really wants to show.
“I still think I’m as great of a runner as I was before. We’re still going to be able to use my legs a ton, but I think how much I’ve grown in the passing game this year, learning from the coaches on the sidelines, and even just from [Oladokun] [will help]. I mean he was a great passer and really extended plays. Really just being on the sideline this past year, you really get all of the mental reps and I really improved my game, especially in the pre snap plan aspect and reading defenses,” Gronowski said.
Talking to his teammates, you can tell the offense is excited to have Gronowski back under center. He is locked in as the starter for the 2022 season and wide receiver Jaxon Janke said he is looking forward to having him back on the offensive side of the ball.
“With Mark, he brings a bubble of confidence,” Jaxon Janke said. “Everywhere he goes he lifts other guys up, which is very good. We feel very comfortable when Mark is back there and we’re a confident team when he’s behind center for sure,” Jaxon Janke said.
Gronowski added that it’s his goal to bring that confidence and make sure that every player on the team is feeling just as confident as he is.
“I would say [being calm and a leader] is a little bit of both [my demeanor and needing to be that guy as the quarterback]. I would say I really feel like I’m a natural leader, but I really try to make a conscious effort of getting to know everyone, because not everyone needs to be led the same way. Some people need to get yelled at to get a little fire under them, some people need to get talked up a little bit so they can feel better about themselves and play better. My goal is on the team is to bring the best version of everyone’s self out and if I’m doing that than we’re going to have a pretty good season this year,” Gronowski said.
SDSU was 14th in offense last season as the Jacks averaged 441.3 yards per game. In Gronowski’s lone season the Jacks averaged 403.1 yards per game. Jaxon Janke, who has led the Jacks in receiving the past two seasons, said he thinks Gronowski can take the offense to another level because of the way he runs the ball.
“I was very impressed with Chris Oladokun and what he brought to the table. Something maybe different that Mark brings is a heavy presence in the run the game. He’s kind of just a bigger body than Chris was, and from Mark’s first year, you could just tell he was a gifted runner and wanted to run the ball. Maybe this year, we’re probably pulling for him to stay in the pocket and try to find his targets more and weapons outside, but I think Mark brings a very scary run presence as well as a very strong arm too,” Jaxon Janke said.
Gronowski will return to game action on Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. when the Jacks open the 2022 season at Iowa.