Versatile athlete Raif Jensen commits to South Dakota after strong staff connection

Raif Jensen gave South Dakota something the Coyotes clearly value: a multi-position athlete with a defined fit. The OABCIG standout committed after building a strong connection with the staff, and his pledge fits the program’s preference for players who can move around the formation instead of being locked into one role.

Listed by recruiting outlets at 6-foot and 190 pounds, Jensen is tagged as a safety/athlete, while Hudl lists him as a quarterback and free safety. That dual designation matches the way he played for Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove High School, where he showed he could attack defenses as a passer, runner and defensive playmaker. For a Missouri Valley Football Conference program that lives in tight margins, that kind of flexibility matters. South Dakota can project him into different packages without having to redesign the entire plan around a single specialty.

The connection started early. South Dakota first reached out on November 1 after Jensen spoke with former general manager Josh Rosenthal, then brought him back to Vermillion on March 21 for Coyote Junior Day. During that visit, Jensen connected with safeties coach Josh Manchigiah, defensive coordinator Billy Kirch and head coach Matt Vitzthum, who was named the program’s 32nd head coach on February 6, 2026. Jensen’s biggest takeaway was the closeness around the program and the way the players interacted, a sign that South Dakota made him feel like a priority rather than just another name on a board.

That matters because Jensen’s production backed up the evaluation. In 2025, he piled up 1,808 total yards and 19 touchdowns on offense, then added 35 tackles and an interception on defense. OABCIG finished 5-5, but Jensen said the team let a few games slip away while staying together through the season. One of his strongest individual outings came against Ridge View, when he ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 128 yards and two more scores. In another game, the Falcons produced 360 yards of total offense and Jensen accounted for five touchdowns between rushing and passing.

South Dakota’s recent run gives the commitment added weight. The Coyotes finished 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the MVFC in 2025, reached the FCS quarterfinals for the third straight season and fell to Montana 52-22 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula on December 13, 2025. That level of success gives the staff real selling power, and Jensen’s commitment shows the pitch is working on players who want both winning and opportunity.

The fit also comes from where Jensen is coming from. OABCIG was included among Iowa’s 2026 Class 2A way-too-early rankings, and Jensen was specifically noted as a returnee. South Dakota’s staff identified a versatile, competitive athlete from a strong program, then made him believe there was a clear path for his skill set in Vermillion. That is the type of recruiting win that can shape a roster built for the Valley grind.