Backup Quarterback Jackson Proctor Turns Setback Into Spark for South Dakota Coyotes

VERMILLION, S.D. — Jackson Proctor arrived at the University of South Dakota this spring with one goal: to be the starting quarterback. Instead, the sixth-year transfer has found himself in a backup role, and that unexpected twist has turned him into one of the Coyotes' most dynamic offensive weapons.

Proctor's college football journey has been anything but a straight line. After a standout career at Dartmouth, where he started all 10 games in 2024 and completed 68% of his passes for 1,546 yards and 13 touchdowns, he transferred to Northern Illinois. A medical redshirt derailed that stop, but it ultimately led him to Vermillion.

“It's been an up-and-down roller coaster,” Proctor said. “I had a lot of success at Dartmouth, but I knew I wanted to play football as long as I could, so I grad transferred to Northern Illinois. I was kind of blindsided and ended up having to take a medical redshirt, which, silver lining, it was a blessing in disguise to end up at South Dakota. I definitely did not expect to come to the Midwest, but I've been super happy here since January. It hasn't been a straight-line type of journey, but I wouldn't want it any other way.”

Proctor came to USD hoping to replace Aidan Bouman, who graduated after four seasons as the Coyotes' starter. But a fierce quarterback competition emerged in the spring and fall, with Proctor, Austyn Modrzewski and Nevan Cremascoli all vying for the job. Modrzewski, a redshirt freshman, ultimately won the starting role.

For Proctor, that meant accepting a role he hadn't envisioned. It also meant finding another way to contribute. Through the first five games, he has done exactly that, becoming a change-of-pace weapon in designed quarterback-run packages.

Two touchdowns against Youngstown State provide a spark

Proctor's biggest moment came last Saturday against Youngstown State. In his fifth game as a Coyote, he found the end zone twice. His first score came on USD's opening drive with the team trailing 7-0. He took the snap, worked toward the right side, made a move on a defender and dove for the pylon on a 7-yard touchdown run that tied the game.

His second touchdown came right after halftime. With USD down by nine, Proctor raced 22 yards past the Penguins' defense, cutting the lead and injecting energy into the sideline. The Coyotes ultimately fell 47-28 in their Missouri Valley Football Conference opener, but Proctor's performance stood out on a tough afternoon.

“I think it was five weeks too late,” Proctor said of his first touchdowns as a Coyote. “But it felt good. We needed some energy, and I feel like those two touchdowns really gave us that. Obviously, the end outcome wasn't what we wanted, but I think it showed a lot of people my ability and our ability on offense to do a lot of different things, and hopefully we can continue to keep doing that.”

Proctor's numbers tell the story of an electric playmaker

Through five appearances, Proctor has completed 2 of 5 passes for 23 yards, but his impact has come on the ground. He is the Coyotes' third-leading rusher with 154 yards on just 12 carries, an average of 12.8 yards per attempt. His longest run is a 40-yard burst against Northern Colorado, and he now has two rushing touchdowns.

For a player who entered the season hoping to win the starting job, it has been an impressive way to make an impact without the role he originally wanted.

“Obviously, my role is a little bit different than I kind of anticipated, but being able to just bring juice for the guys and show my electric ability on the field has been great,” Proctor said. “There's a lot of different things that I can do really well, and defenses have had a hard time kind of figuring out what we're doing when I'm in the game. So, I am just going to continue to make it hard on them, and give our team the best opportunity to win the football game.”

How Proctor's experience is helping young starter Austyn Modrzewski

Proctor's willingness to embrace an unexpected role has made him valuable off the field as well. He has been through the quarterback competition process before. At Dartmouth, he spent his first three seasons as a backup before becoming the starter in 2024. That experience has shaped how he approaches his relationship with Modrzewski.

“It's tough when you are a young guy and teams are starting to throw a lot of different things at you, so I have just kind of given my thoughts on the sideline to help him grow,” Proctor said. “We're watching plays on the iPad together and just kind of being there for him. I have played a lot of college football, and I've seen a lot, and I think that has helped me help him just see things from a different perspective.”

For Modrzewski, having a veteran quarterback with Proctor's experience has been an asset in his first season as the starter. And for first-year head coach Matt Vitzthum, Proctor's attitude has been just as valuable as his production.

“Jackson is a guy that sacrificed a lot and left the place where he had a ton of success, and they were winning a bunch of football games and he was all-conference, but he made a decision to come here,” Vitzthum said. “And obviously, when Austyn won the starting job, he easily could have pointed fingers and complained. Instead, he has embraced his role from the jump, and we are going to continue to use Jackson in a lot of different ways. He has been extremely important to our football team.”

What's next for Proctor and the Coyotes' offense?

Proctor's role could continue to evolve as the season progresses. Modrzewski has proven capable of making plays with his legs, but Proctor's presence brings a different style when he enters the game. Because defenses have to account for the possibility of him carrying the football, his presence can create opportunities for the rest of the offense.

Proctor still wants to be the starter. That hasn't changed. Every week, he prepares as though he could be the guy taking the majority of the snaps. But he also understands that being part of a team means finding value wherever it is needed.

Instead of being the starting quarterback he envisioned himself becoming, Proctor is carving out a role as one of USD's most intriguing offensive weapons. And he's doing it without complaint.

“The main reason why I came here was because of the chemistry and the guys on the team,” Proctor said. “In this day and age, it's hard to really create a lot of relationships with guys over time, just because everybody's moving around, and I think that was big for me in my decision, and I think that's come to fruition with it now being October. Obviously, the town is a football town. It's awesome. Everybody has really good things to say about football players, and I always like seeing people out and about. I'm in a really good place, and I have enjoyed Vermillion.”

Frequently asked questions about Jackson Proctor's role at South Dakota

Why is Jackson Proctor not the starting quarterback for South Dakota?

Proctor competed for the starting job during spring and fall camp but lost the competition to redshirt freshman Austyn Modrzewski. Instead of leaving or complaining, Proctor embraced a new role as a change-of-pace rusher in the Coyotes' offense.

What are Jackson Proctor's stats this season?

Through five games, Proctor has rushed for 154 yards on 12 carries, averaging 12.8 yards per attempt, with two touchdowns. He has also completed 2 of 5 passes for 23 yards.

How did Jackson Proctor perform against Youngstown State?

Proctor scored two rushing touchdowns against Youngstown State, one on a 7-yard run in the first quarter and another on a 22-yard run after halftime. The Coyotes lost the game 47-28.