HURON — Junior Grant Wilkinson of De Smet was named to the Class 9AA All-State football team, which was announced Tuesday by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.

At 6-foot, 8-inches and 320 pounds, Wilkinson was a force for the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball, where he filled spots on the line.

“Aside from his ability to play the game at a high level, Grant is also very knowledgeable of the game and understands what needs to be done,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “Grant is one of the most coachable kids I have had the privilege to coach, and he also does a great job serving as a leader for our team.”

Wilkinson, who received honorable mention on the Class 9B team a year ago, helped the Bulldogs to 2,381 yards rushing in nine games (264.5 average). He also recorded 34 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery on defense.

“When we needed yards, we were able to confidently run behind him with success,” Pitts said. “On the defensive side of the ball, Grant often times would get double teamed to try and slow him down.”

Class 9AA

OFFENSE
Quarterbacks — Jackson Wadsworth, Hamlin.

Fullback-HBack — Stetson Riggs, Hanson.
Running Backs — Iden Meyers, Kimball-White Lake; Kolter Kramer, Parkston; and Blake De Vries, Elkton-Lake Benton.
Wide Receivers — Evan Stormo, Hamlin; and Tanner Stein, Elkton-Lake Benton.
Tight End — Brensen Veneklasen, Hill City.
Linemen — Dawson Noem, Hamlin; Grant Wilkinson, De Smet; Taiton Boersma, Elkton-Lake Benton; and Kash Neugebauer, Parkston.

DEFENSE
Linemen — Zac VanMeeteren, Hamlin; Lucas Lenz, Kimball-White Lake; Quintin Westley, Elkton-Lake Benton; and Ty Archambeau, Tripp-Delmont/Armour-Andes Central-Dakota Christian.
Linebackers — Sutton DeWald, Hanson; Sawyer Wipf, Freeman-Marion/Freeman-Academy; Jacob Graves, Viborg-Hurley; and Westyn Thorpe, Leola-Frederick Area.

Defensive Backs — Easton Neuendorf, Hamlin; Kaden Holzbauer, Parkston; and Gavin Nickelson, Leola-Frederick Area.

OTHERS
Athletes — Brady Schroedermeier, Viborg-Hurley; and Colt Beck, Elkton-Lake Benton.
Special Teams — Brooks Dolen, Waubay-Summit and Logan Street, Hill City.

HONORABLE MENTION — Devin Buehler and Nick Schroeder, Hill City; Garth Maas and Dalton Westendorf, Tripp-Delmont/Armour-Andes Central-Dakota Christian; Bryce Hawkinson, Britton-Hecla; Ethan Petrich, Leola-Frederick Area; Christopher Aasen and Riley Tschetter, Freeman-Marion/Freeman Acad; Colt Keiser, Gregory; Bryce Sattler, Scotland-Menno; Gage Jodozi, Parkston; and Aiden Abraham, Hamlin.

All-American — Evan Stormo, Hamlin.