South Dakota State Hosts Junior Day, 2027 Recruits Share Reactions

South Dakota State opened its doors to a group of 2027 prospects last Friday, hosting a junior day that drew on-the-record reactions from multiple recruits and is drawing early attention from FCS recruiting analysts tracking the Jackrabbits' next class.

FCS recruiting analyst Julio Gonzales Jr., who covers the FCS recruiting landscape for FCS Football Central and contributes to multiple OnSI properties, filed a feature capturing the event and the direct reactions of prospects who made the trip. Gonzales Jr., a Lubbock Christian University graduate who previously covered recruiting at Mike Farrell Sports and Rivals across JUCO football, UTSA, Texas Tech, and SMU, has established himself as one of the more plugged-in voices on FCS recruiting.

The clearest indication of how the day landed came from a prospect identified as Mitchell, who left South Dakota State with a strong impression after working through the program's pitch with the full coaching staff.

"Some of the highlights were definitely all of the info we soaked in, and the relationship we were building with the coaches while being there. I met every coach, but I mostly connected with Coach McLin and Coach Gales, and we just talked about what's next in the process of recruiting for me. I really like the South Dakota State football program, and it is probably my favorite out of all that I've visited," Mitchell said.

That kind of endorsement, ranking SDSU above every other program a 2027 prospect has visited this early in the cycle, is exactly what head coaches at the FCS level hope to generate on junior days. Relationship-building with individual position coaches is often what separates a program that lingers in a recruit's mind from one that fades quickly, and Mitchell singled out Coach McLin and Coach Gales by name as the connections that resonated most.

Social media reactions from at least one attendee echoed that warmth. A tweet directed at the program's official account read: "thank you @GoJacksSDSU for having me for a junior day! Glad to meet you all and see the facilities and learn about the culture!" The post tagged several staff members including @dyshawn_gales5, a handle consistent with the Coach Gales referenced in Mitchell's quote.

The junior day lands at a moment when SDSU recruiting is already appearing in broader FCS recruiting roundups alongside programs such as Montana State and Montana. That company speaks to where the Jackrabbits sit in the FCS pecking order as they work to lock down a 2027 class that is still two full recruiting cycles away from signing day.