USD’s Phillips Earns National Honors | Sports

VERMILLION — LJ Phillips Jr. garnered national attention for his breakout performance against Northern Colorado Saturday afternoon in the DakotaDome, earning STATS Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week.

In his first career start, Phillips Jr. exploded onto the scene with 301 rushing yards on 35 carries for the Coyotes in front of the home crowd for the first time this season. He broke off a pair of 40-yard rushes on the day, while averaging 8.6 yards per carry.

He had nearly 200 yards on 16 carries in the first half alone en route to his USD Division I FCS era record for rushing yards in a game. Later in the day, he would score his second touchdown of the day in the first possession of overtime from 13 yards out to secure the first win for Johansen.

He set a multitude of career highs on the day with rushing yards (301), carries (35), and longest rush (47 yards). His two touchdowns matched a career-best, while posting his second career multi-touchdown game and his fourth career game with a touchdown.

Phillips Jr. became just the second Coyote in program history to have 300+ yards rushing in a game, the first in the Division I era. He also became the first Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) rusher to have 300+ yards in a game, the first since 2012.

This marks the first-career national recognition for Phillips Jr. in his career.

Phillips, Woolf Honored By MVFC

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The offensive explosion in the rushing game against Northern Colorado on Saturday for the 2025 home opener lands the South Dakota football team a pair of Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) weekly honors in the Offensive Player of the Week L.J. Phillips Jr. and Offensive Lineman of the Week Brock Woolf, the conference announced Monday afternoon.

Their efforts helped guide the Coyotes to their first win of the 2025 season and for head coach Travis Johansen and secured the Big Sky-MVFC Challenge victory for the MVFC for the ninth-straight season.

Coming off his national player of the week honor earlier today, Phillips Jr. continues to roll in accolades after his standout performance in his first career start as a Coyote. Exploding for 301 rushing yards on 35 carries for 8.6 yards per carry, Phillips Jr. stepped into his moment in front of Coyote Nation.

This marks the first-career MVFC weekly recognition for Phillips Jr.

Woolf was the highest-graded Coyote in Saturday’s 24-17 overtime win over Northern Colorado. He graded out at 93.1, per PFF, as the Coyotes posted 307 yards rushing in the victory. He was instrumental on the OL at right tackle, opening up massive holes for three 20+ yard rushing plays with a long of 47 yards as South Dakota averaged 6.2 yards per rush.

The Kansas State transfer has started all three games in a South Dakota uniform and is earning his first MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor.

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