McCormick expected to join rare list of South Dakotans picked in NFL Draft

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The list of South Dakota natives picked during the NFL Draft is expected to grow when the 2024 draft starts this week in Detroit.

Mason McCormick, a Sioux Falls native and South Dakota State standout, is listed as one of the top interior offensive line prospects by multiple media outlets. McCormick was listed in the top 5 or athleticism scores according to Next Gen Stats during the 2024 NFL Combine .

Both McCormick’s high school coach and college coach spoke glowingly about the impact of the 6-foot-4, 309-pound lineman .

“Any team that drafts him or picks him in any way is going to be very happy,” former Sioux Falls Roosevelt head coach Kim Nelson told KELOLAND News. “I just feel good about his future in the NFL.”

SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers called McCormick “a special person.”

“He’s got the right values and he’s an unbelievable worker and teammate,” Rogers said. “He loves football and he’s given up his life for it.”

Along with McCormick, there’s several Jackrabbit players, including Rock Valley, Iowa native Garret Greenfield, hoping to get drafted or join an NFL roster ahead of the 2024 season. There’s also a handful of South Dakota Coyotes hoping to get NFL chances, including defensive back Myles Harden.

KELOLAND Sports will be highlighting Harden and other local NFL Draft connections leading up to Thursday’s opening night of the draft.

South Dakotans picked in NFL Draft

McCormick is expected to join a rare list of South Dakota natives to be picked in the seven-round era of the NFL Draft, which started in 1994. Another South Dakota native that could be drafted is Tip Reiman, who played tight end for Illinois last year. KELOLAND News highlighted the O’Gorman standout in 2020. Reiman spoke with WCIA in Champaign, Illinois.

Chad Greenway (No. 17 in 2006) and Riley Reiff (No. 23 in 2012) are the lone South Dakotans drafted in the first round. Since 1994, there have been nine South Dakota-born players picked in the NFL Draft.

Tucker Kraft, a Timber Lake native, was picked No. 78 in the third round of last year’s draft.

Below is a list of South Dakotans drafted since 1994 when the NFL started drafting in only seven rounds. The NFL Draft has morphed from as many as 30 rounds in the 1950s to 17 rounds in the 1960s and 12 rounds in the 1970s before moving to eight in 1993, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame .

2023

Tucker Kraft, a tight end, Timber Lake/South Dakota State, drafted 78th overall in the third round by the Green Bay Packers. Kraft signed a four-year contract worth $5.5 million, according to overthecap.com .

2021

Matt Farniok, offensive lineman, Sioux Falls Washington/Nebraska, drafted 238th overall in the seventh round of the 2021 draft.

2020

Derrek Tuszka, defensive lineman, Warner/North Dakota State, drafted 254th overall in the seventh round of the 2020 draft.

2018

Dallas Goedert, tight end, Britton/South Dakota State, drafted 49th overall in the second round of the 2018 draft.

2017

Nathan Gerry, defensive back, Sioux Falls Washington/Nebraska, drafted 184th overall in the fifth round of the 2017 draft.

2012

Riley Reiff, offensive lineman, Parkston/Iowa, drafted 23rd overall in the first round of the 2012 draft.

2008

Taylor Mehlfaff, kicker, Aberdeen/Wisconsin, drafted 178th overall in the sixth round of the 2008 draft.

2006

Chad Greenway, linebacker, Mount Vernon/Iowa, drafted 17th overall in the first round of the 2006 draft.

1995

Bryan Schwartz, linebacker, Miller/Augustana, drafted 64th overall in the second round of the 1995 draft.

The list of South Dakota natives, people born inside the borders of South Dakota, who have played in the NFL is less than 100, according to sports database website Pro Football Reference . Pro Football Reference’s list of 61 South Dakota-born players also includes Dallas Clark, who was born in Sioux Falls, but grew up in northwestern Iowa before starting for the Iowa Hawkeyes and being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts.

Like Dallas Clark, Iowa standout Cooper DeJean was born in Sioux Falls but grew up in Odebolt, Iowa. According to Pro Football Reference , 200 players born in Iowa have played in the NFL.

Notables

Adam Vinatieri, a South Dakota State and Rapid City Central alum, has played the most NFL games of any South Dakotan at 365. The four-time Super Bowl champion kicker was not drafted but was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1996 by the New England Patriots after playing one season overseas .

John Dutton, another Rapid City Central alum, is the highest drafted South Dakotan in any sport as the No. 5 pick overall, by the Baltimore Colts, in the 1974 NFL draft. Dutton, a defensive tackle who played college football at Nebraska, played in 185 NFL games.

Ben Leber, a linebacker who starred at Vermillion High School, was drafted No. 71 in the third round of the 2022 draft. Leber was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but grew up playing football in South Dakota before attending Kansas State. Leber went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings and still for the Vikings radio broadcast.

Lynn Boden, an Osceola, Nebraska native, is the only North Central Conference player ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft when he was the 13th overall selection by the Detroit Lions in 1975. He’s the highest drafted South Dakota State alum.

The University of South Dakota has had 11 players picked in the NFL since 1960. John Kohler is the highest drafted Coyote going No. 63 in the third round in 1970. More recent Coyotes drafted include Tyler Starr in 2014 in the seventh round and Tom Compton in 2012 in the sixth round.

Ben Leber, a linebacker who starred at Vermillion High School, was drafted No. 71 in the third round of the 2022 draft. Leber was born in Council Bluffs,  Iowa, but grew up playing football in South Dakota before attending Kansas State. Leber went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings and still for the Vikings radio broadcast.

C.J. Ham, a Duluth, Minnesota native and former Augustana standout, has played seven seasons in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings.

Pierre Strong Jr. (Cleveland Browns), a former South Dakota State standout, has played two seasons in the NFL.

Jack Cochrane (Kansas City Chiefs), a former South Dakota Coyote, has played two seasons.

Trey Pipkins (Los Angeles Chargers), who played for the University of Sioux Falls, was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 91st overall pick.

Christian Rozeboom (Los Angeles Rams), a former Jackrabbit, signed a 1-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams.

*The list doesn’t include players that are listed as members of practice squads.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.