Isaiah Davis NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for South Dakota State RB
Apr 22, 2024
FRISCO, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Isaiah Davis #22 of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits rushes against the Montana Grizzlies during the Division I FCS Football Championship held at Toyota Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'0"
WEIGHT: 218
HAND: 10¼"
ARM: 31⅛"
WINGSPAN: 74⅞"
40-YARD DASH: 4.57
3-CONE: N/A
SHUTTLE: 4.30
VERTICAL: 34½"
BROAD: 9'11"
POSITIVES
— Patience as a runner helps him more than it hurts him. Controlled, calculated runner who always leaves himself options.
— Smooth footwork behind the line. Remains square and hops between rushing lanes with ease.
— Thick, balanced runner. Equipped to handle a heavy workload and eke out extra yards between the tackles.
NEGATIVES
— Long speed is nothing of note. Could break away from FCS defenses at times, but will likely struggle to do so in the NFL.
— Below-average explosiveness as a runner. One-cut ability to get up the field or kick into high gear is lacking.
— Poor agility and elusiveness in the open field. Somewhat lumbering runner who lacks the lateral quickness to make defenders miss.
— Missed about half of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury
OVERALL
Isaiah Davis is a reliable, well-built back who may lack the juice necessary to be an impact player in the NFL.
Davis does his best work between the tackles. At a sturdy 6'0" and 216 pounds, Davis carried a massive workload at South Dakota State with ease. He showed the balance not only to knock off defenders every now and again, but to keep his legs churning in short-yardage situations.
Davis is also a smart, patient runner. Sometimes that patience bleeds into hesitation, but it helps him more than it hurts. Additionally, Davis has the smooth footwork and ability to easily transition between rushing lanes to make good on his patient play style.
However, Davis does not have a lot of pop to his game. He is sort of a lumbering runner who doesn't bring much side-to-side mobility, and there is not much explosiveness to his movement. It's rare for Davis to make someone miss in space. His long speed is average at best by NFL standards, too.
Davis can be a steady backup on a team that likes duo and gap runs, taking advantage of his vision, footwork and sturdy build. With that being said, Davis' lack of explosive play ability and elusiveness severely limits his NFL ceiling.
GRADE: 5.4 (Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential — UDFA)
South Dakota State Beats Montana to Win 2024 FCS Championship for 2nd Straight Title
Jan 7, 2024
FRISCO, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Mark Gronowski #11 of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits reacts after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Montana Grizzlies during the FCS Football Championship on January 07, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tommy Martino/University of Montana/Getty Images)
Make it back-to-back national championships and 29 straight wins for South Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits repeated as FCS champions on Sunday, knocking off Montana 23-3.
Touchdown, Jackrabbits! Mark Gronowski keeps, carries and scores from 10 yards out
That concluded a perfect 15-0 season and made them just the fifth program in FCS history to repeat as national champions, joining Georgia Southern (1985-86; 1989-90; 1999-00), Youngstown State (1993-94), Appalachian State (2005-07) and North Dakota State (2011-15; 2017-19).
Ill say it again: South Dakota State would’ve won the Big Ten West this year.
South Dakota State is eligible for AP votes, and likely won't finish ranked, but absolutely should. This is one of the most dominant FCS teams of all time, and they'd be favored against every G5 team this year and a majority of P5 teams.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski led the way for the Jackrabbits, throwing for 175 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Isaiah Davis rushed for 87 yards and a score and the team's receiving twins wideout, Jaxon Janke (four catches for 66 yards) and Jadon Janke, (five catches for 55 yards and a touchdown) each posted strong efforts.
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Gronowski had another big game—he won the 2023 Walter Payton Award, given to the best offensive player in FCS football, after throwing for 2,359 yards, 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 11 regular-season games while adding 220 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Still, this was a tight one at the half, as South Dakota State held just a 7-3 lead. But a pair of lost fumbles and a turnover-on-downs in the second half stopped Montana in its tracks, contributing to 16 unanswered points from the Jackrabbits in the final two quarters.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the stingy South Dakota State defense put the clamps on Montana. Or that Gronowski played well under the brightest of lights. This team had exactly two wins decided by one score or less the entire season, and outscored teams in the playoffs by the incredible margin of 146-15.
Yes, you read that correctly. South Dakota State was about as dominant a team as you'll see at any level this season, and were more than deserving champions.
FCS Playoffs 2023-24: Date, Schedule for SDSU vs. Montana Championship
Dec 17, 2023
MISSOULA, MONTANA - DECEMBER 16: Braxton Hill #35 of the Montana Grizzlies reacts during the fourth quarter against the North Dakota State Bison at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on December 16, 2023 in Missoula, Montana. (Photo by Ryan Brennecke/University of Montana/Getty Images)
The 2024 FCS championship game will feature No. 1 South Dakota State taking on No. 2 Montana after a wild semifinal round.
South Dakota State extended its winning streak to 28 consecutive games following a 59-0 rout of No. 5 UAlbany. After earning a first-round bye following a perfect regular season, the Jackrabbits have outscored opponents 123-12 in three games. They're looking to win their second straight championship after securing the FCS title for the first time in school history last year.
Montana punched its ticket to the championship game by narrowly defeating North Dakota State by the final score of 31-29 in double overtime, preventing a rematch of last year's championship.
Here's everything you need to know about the title game schedule, as well as some background into each team's journey throughout the playoffs.
Championship Schedule
No. 1 South Dakota State vs. No. 2 Montana: Sunday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. ET
Matchup History
The Jackrabbits and the Grizzlies don't have a storied history, meeting just four times since 2000. Montana has won all four games though, which includes a 24-17 victory in their most recent matchup in 2015.
South Dakota State's Playoff Run
Quarterback Mark Gronowski and running back Isaiah Davis have continued to show why they're considered an elite duo in the Jackrabbits' backfield, lighting up Mercer's defense in the second round.
Gronowski threw for a modest 158 yards, recording one touchdown to go along with one interception while adding 40 more yards on the ground. Davis racked up 117 yards of his own while finding the end zone three times.
In South Dakota State's matchup with No. 8 Villanova in the quarterfinals, the senior tailback helped his team pull out a win after holding a close 10-9 advantage at the half. Davis rushed for 192 yards, averaging just over 7.1 yards per attempt. This included a 66-yard touchdown run that put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.
Against UAlbany, it was Gronowski's time to shine. He threw for 265 yards on just 19 pass attempts, tossing three touchdowns against zero interceptions. Davis ran for 107 yards and two scores.
South Dakota State's defense has also been dominant, holding the Great Danes' offense to a mere 2.87 yards per carry on 23 attempts. In the Jackrabbits' three playoff wins, opponents have averaged just 255.3 total yards of offense.
Montana's Playoff Run
The Grizzlies' journey to the championship game wasn't an easy one, although it began with a convincing 49-19 victory over Delaware. Quarterback Clifton McDowell bounced back from a first quarter interception to finish with 186 passing yards and three total touchdowns.
His top target was Keelan White, as the receiver has put together the best year of his college career in his junior season. Against Delaware, he recorded 88 yards and a touchdown on just four receptions.
Montana held a 28-21 lead over No. 7 Furman in the quarterfinals on the final drive of regulation, although a touchdown pass from Paladins signal-caller Tyler Huff with 13 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.
The Grizzlies were able to avoid a disastrous collapse after White hauled in the game-sealing touchdown to give the team a 35-28 victory. He finished with five receptions for 91 yards.
On Saturday, Montana secured another hard-fought win over North Dakota State that spanned multiple overtimes. After both teams were tied at 16 after the fourth quarter, they traded touchdowns to begin the first overtime.
Once Montana scored again to begin double overtime, the Grizzlies' two-point conversion attempt nearly went awry. Wide receiver Junior Bergen launched the ball into the end zone after his face mask got pulled on a trick play. The pass was tipped before it ended up in the hands of White, who reeled in the catch. The Grizzlies' defense held strong on the ensuing two-point attempt and they moved on to the championship game.
Montana's run throughout its past three games has been commendable, although the offense will need to avoid turnovers and establish a consistent run game to take down South Dakota State.
Tucker Kraft NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for South Dakota State TE
Mar 17, 2023
BROOKINGS, SD - OCTOBER 29: South Dakota State Jackrabbits Tight end Tucker Kraft (85) runs with the ball during the college football game between the Indiana State Sycamores and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on October 29th, 2022, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, in Brookings, South Dakota. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 254
HAND: 10"
ARM: 32 3/4"
WINGSPAN:
40-YARD DASH: 4.69
3-CONE: 7.08
SHUTTLE: 4.29
VERTICAL: 34"
BROAD: 10'2"
POSITIVES
— Very good acceleration and top speed.
— Smooth yet explosive short-area movement. Great change of direction and mobility.
— Great YAC presence. Has the speed, flexibility and strength to defeat all kinds of tackle attempts.
— Alignment flexibility. Can align as an outside WR, slot WR, in-line TE and wing TE.
— Great blocker. Plays with great strength and short-area movement.
NEGATIVES
— Poor route-runner right now. Has the athletic skills, but looks terribly awkward and inefficient.
— Ball tracking can waver. Sometimes struggles to locate and pluck the ball from tough positions.
— Overall a great blocker, but can play too high sometimes.
Tucker Kraft is a bet on an NFL-ready body type with a bundle of dangerous athletic traits.
At 6'5" and 254 pounds, Kraft is a matchup problem with the way he moves. His acceleration and speed aren't quite elite, but they're great for a player his size. Kraft can get a step on most linebackers and will give plenty of safeties issues as well.
Kraft is also a smooth mover for his size. His change of direction is effortless, especially with the ball, and he has the explosiveness to leave defenders whiffing at nothing. Kraft's blend of size and easy athletic ability allow him to move all over the formation, finding success at multiple tight end alignments as well as wide receiver alignments. He can be a bit of a skeleton key for his future NFL offense.
Kraft is also a suffocating blocker. Though there are times where he plays a bit high, he generally has the foot speed and mobility to make up for it without toppling over. Kraft's length, strength, and physical demeanor go a long way in allowing him to win most blocks, be it versus a defensive end or a linebacker at the second level. Kraft can block both in-line and as a moving wing piece, and he's even shown good pass-protection reps on film.
Unlocking Kraft's potential comes down to the finer parts of the pass-catching realm. As of now, he is a clunky route-runner. Kraft clearly has the movement skills to improve, but he too often moves like he's thinking about every step he takes, which slows him down. Sharp-breaking routes often take too many steps for him to finish off and explode out of.
On top of that, Kraft's ball tracking comes and goes. His hands are good when he finds the ball well, but his hand-eye coordination can fail him when throws aren't straight in front of his facemask.
Kraft is an exciting prospect. Tight ends with his size and athletic profile are exactly what the NFL is looking for, and he's also stepping into the pros as a ready-made blocker. Better yet, it's reasonable to expect Kraft to improve his deficiencies as a route-runner with good coaching.
Kraft should fit into any offensive system, though he would probably be best-valued in an offense that prioritizes his yards-after-catch skills.
South Dakota State Praised by Fans for 'Iconic' FCS Title Win over North Dakota State
Jan 8, 2023
South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) looks to pass during the first half of the FCS Championship NCAA college football game against the North Dakota, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
North Dakota State has a dynasty in FCS football, winning nine of the past 11 titles coming into Sunday.
Clearly, South Dakota State had seen enough.
The Jackrabbits smashed the Bison in the FCS Championship 45-21 and won their first FCS title.
Isaiah Davis finds space and takes it 16-yards for the TD!
The Bison had no answer for South Dakota State's rushing attack, with Amar Johnson (nine carries for 126 yards and a touchdown), Isaiah Davis (22 caries for 103 yards and a score) and quarterback Mark Gronowski (five carries for 57 yards and a touchdown) carving them up all afternoon.
Gronowski was nearly as effective through the air, finishing 14-of-21 for 223 yards and three scores.
Michael Morgan with nothing but green grass and the Bison end zone in front of him ... 44 yards and the third Jackrabbit touchdown of the second quarter 📺ABC/ESPN
By the time South Dakota State took a 28-7 lead in the second quarter, it seemed like a Jackrabbits title was inevitable.
Suffice to say, it was a therapeutic day for a South Dakota State program that had watched its neighbor dominate FCS football for such a long time:
What a moment for South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits beat rival NDSU 45-21 for their first FCS title.
I was there a few years ago when Sam Houston beat SDSU for the title in the final seconds. Now SDSU takes down their goliath rival for the second time this season. Iconic.
South Dakota State is letting out some DEMONS today against North Dakota State. John Stiegelmeier is 33 minutes away from his first national championship after 35 years with the program, including 26 as head coach.
What the streets don’t know is that I was about 48 hours from enrolling at South Dakota State back in the day. The Jackrabbits will always have a special place in my heart.
Heck of a job by John Stiegelmeier and that squad to get the monkey off their back for good. #GoJacks 🏆
It was a huge moment for a school that had come so close in 2020, only to lose to Sam Houston State 23-21 in the title game.
Losing championship games isn't something North Dakota State is familiar with in the slightest, meanwhile—the school was 9-0 in such games before Sunday.
South Dakota State will be hoping it has entered its own era of dominance after dethroning the Bison.
FCS Playoffs 2022-23: Date, Schedule for NDSU vs. SDSU Championship
Dec 18, 2022
BROOKINGS, SD - OCTOBER 29: South Dakota State Jackrabbits Running back Isaiah Davis (22) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the college football game between the Indiana State Sycamores and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on October 29th, 2022, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, in Brookings, South Dakota. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits will face the No. 3 North Dakota State Bison in a huge rivalry matchup in the 2023 FCS championship game Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas, following a 39-18 win over No. 4 Montana State on Saturday.
South Dakota State is back in the championship game for the first time since 2020 and is looking for its first title in program history.
The Bison, meanwhile, have been the most dominant team in the FCS over the last decade-plus. They clinched a berth in the FCS title game for the 10th time in the past 12 seasons with a 35-32 win over Incarnate Word on Friday.
North Dakota State is aiming to win its 10th FCS title, all of which have come since 2011.
Here's a look at the schedule for the championship game and a deeper dive into each program's playoff run.
Championship Schedule
No. 1 South Dakota State vs. No. 3 North Dakota State: Saturday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape
The rivalry between South Dakota State and North Dakota State dates all the way back to 1903. The Jackrabbits dominated play through 1963, but since then, the Bison have been in command despite three straight losses dating back to the 2021 season.
North Dakota State leads the series against South Dakota State 63-45-5.
The Jackrabbits and Bison met Oct. 15, and South Dakota won 23-21 after trailing 21-7 entering halftime. SDSU scored on all four of its second-half possessions and kept NDSU off the board after halftime to claim the win.
The Jackrabbits and Bisons have met in the FCS playoffs four times—2012 second round, 2014 second round, 2016 quarterfinals and 2018 semifinals—and North Dakota State won each matchup.
South Dakota State's Run to the Final
As the No. 1 seed, South Dakota State earned a first-round bye after going 10-1 in the regular season.
They began their run to the title game with a 42-6 win over Delaware in the second round behind a 104-yard, two-touchdown performance from running back Isaiah Davis.
The Jackrabbits then defeated No. 8 Holy Cross 42-21 in the quarterfinals behind a respectable performance from quarterback Mark Gronowski, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 47 yards and one score.
In Saturday's semifinal matchup against No. 4 Montana State, SDSU won 39-18 on another three-touchdown performance by Gronowski, who passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another score.
Gronowski and Davis have been SDSU's biggest performers this postseason, and the Jackrabbits will need both to be at their best if they want to claim the title over North Dakota State.
North Dakota State's Run to the Final
North Dakota State secured a first-round bye and the No. 3 seed after going 9-2 in the regular season.
The Bison earned a 49-26 win over Montana in the second round behind brilliant rushing performances from running backs Kobe Johnson (206 yards, two touchdowns) and TaMerik Williams (101 yards, one touchdown).
From there, NDSU defeated No. 9 Samford 27-9 in the quarterfinals behind a two-touchdown performance by Cam Miller. The quarterback completed 15 of 18 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown, in addition to rushing for 21 yards and a score.
In Friday's semifinal matchup against No. 7 Incarnate Word, North Dakota State won 35-32 thanks to a three-touchdown performance from Johnson.
The Bison offense has been somewhat one-dimensional this postseason as Miller has thrown for just 257 yards in three games. The running game has been outstanding, but the passing game needs to get going if NDSU hopes to claim another title.
Video: Moose Spotted Running Across South Dakota St. Football Field
Nov 5, 2021
FRISCO, TX - MAY 16: The helmets of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits lay on the field before the Division I FCS Football Championship game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats held at Toyota Stadium on May 16, 2021 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
What happens when a moose tries to play with a jackrabbit?
We could have gotten an answer to this question Friday if there had been a football game in progress when a moose was spotted running around South Dakota State's field:
MOOSE ON THE LOOSE: A moose was spotted running around the South Dakota State University football field Friday.
Dykhouse Stadium has been the home of the Jackrabbits football team since 2016.
Perhaps this is part of some elaborate mind game heading into this week's marquee matchup, like when Bayside and Valley would go at it on Saved by the Bell. South Dakota State is hosting the North Dakota State Bison in the Dakota Marker game on Saturday.
Bison and moose aren't from the same family, but there is enough of a similarity between the two animals if you are far enough away and squinting that someone who is paranoid might suspect North Dakota State of shenanigans.
Of course, the more likely explanation is the moose was just running in the neighborhood and saw an opening it wanted to check out.
The moose didn't appear to be trying to cause any trouble. It wandered into the open stadium, took a quick look around and decided it wasn't the right place to be.
Sam Houston State Wins FCS Championship Game on Last-Second TD vs. South Dakota State
May 16, 2021
FRISCO, TEXAS - MAY 14: Jequez Ezzard #12 of the Sam Houston State Bearkats runs the ball against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the first quarter during the 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship at Toyota Stadium on May 16, 2021 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
After a one-hour, 11-minute lightning delay, Sam Houston State completed its perfect 10-0 season as the Bearkats came away with a 23-21 victory in a rainy FCS national championship game in Frisco, Texas on Sunday.
Quarterback Eric Schmid found Ife Adeyi for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left to play to save the Bearkats' season and claim the title.
WITH 16 SECONDS LEFT SAM HOUSTON TAKES THE LEAD 😱😱😱😱😱
The Bearkats struggled to make things happen from the start. After fumbling their first possession, they looked to punt the ball away after a turnover on downs. But amid the messy conditions, Matt McRobert fumbled the ball and fell on it at the Sam Houston 19-yard line, setting up strong position for the Jackrabbits to double their 7-0 advantage.
Luckily for Sam Houston, South Dakota turned the ball over on downs, too.
Sam Houston got its chance late in the first quarter when three false-start penalties had SDSU punt the ball away. On the return, Jequez Ezzard found the end zone, but the Bearkats were called for an illegal block in the back on the return and the score was erased, setting the stage for a 7-0 South Dakota State lead to continue into the second quarter.
Ezzard made up for it early in the second quarter, putting Sam Houston on the board with a 35-yard score.
We are back in the game and still can't stop thinking about this Jequez Ezzard touchdown 🤭
The score came just before the lengthy weather delay midway through the second quarter.
Ezzard, who was the hero in the Bearkats' comeback victory against James Madison in the semifinals, scored again to cap a nine-play, 74-yard drive that left South Dakota State with just 1:21 left in the half.
But after five plays, Sam Houston got the ball back on a Quentin Brown interception.
The weather's impact on the game was noticeable, as a Sam Houston team that entered Sunday averaging 450 yards of total offense per game was limited to 164 yards in the first half.
After two incomplete passes to Ezzard on the final drive of the third, the Bearkats decided to look elsewhere and had Seth Morgan nail a 45-yard field goal to make it a 10-point lead with 12 minutes to go.
But once South Dakota finally figured him out, Schmid had little else to turn to, and the Jackrabbits nearly ran away with the win until he found Ife Adeyi in the end zone with 16 seconds left.
Isaiah Davis' Big 4th Nearly Saves South Dakota
It didn't long for the Jackrabbits to face trouble. The hero of South Dakota's story went to the sidelines on the team's opening drive.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski, who was the conference's offensive player of the year and finished second in voting for the Jerry Rice Award as the top FCS freshman, hobbled off the field after an incomplete pass.
Backup quarterback Keaton Heide saw time in 2019 but had thrown just two passes this season. He took the field on their next drive and led the team to the end zone, where Isaiah Davis had a one-yard rush to give his team the lead. Cole Frahm's kick was good for a 7-0 lead.
The Jackrabbits strike FIRST in the National Championship game 👏
Gronowski returned to the sidelines and had a headset on, marking the end of his day and putting the ball in Heide's hands.
South Dakota had the ball coming out of the lengthy weather delay midway through the second quarter, but the field goal attempt that would have put them up by three was no good.
After Sam Houston doubled its score, South Dakota had a chance to close the deficit with under two minutes to play in the half. But Heide was picked off to end the charge.
A combination of weather and losing their best passer led the Jackrabbits to just 119 total yards of offense in the half, 75 of which came on the ground.
The South Dakota State defense woke up in the third, and Don Gardner's coverage on Ezzard limited the Bearkats to a field goal, making it 17-7 with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.
With that momentum, the Jackrabbits used a five-play drive at the start of the fourth, and just as Ezzard was the star for Sam Houston, it was Davis again on a 28-yard rush that got South Dakota back in it. With a good extra point, it became a three-point game with 13:12 to play.
HE CAN'T BE STOPPED! What a run by Isaiah Davis🏃♂️💨
Strong defense from the Jackrabbits got them the ball on their own 15-yard line with six minutes left to play, and an 85-yard rush from Davis made up the difference to send the Jackrabbits to victory in their first title game.
Here's that Isaiah Davis run for a touchdown, complete with the team chasing him in celebration on the sidelines! #friscoJackspic.twitter.com/XLSiHs4hyE
