Stefan Logan

Stefan Logan - Harlon Hill Finalist
5-7, 185, Miami, Fla.
16th-ranked South Dakota, 9-4

South Dakota’s Stefan Logan Named One of Eight Finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Player of the Year

Electrifying.

Anybody that watches South Dakota All-American running back Stefan Logan can’t help but notice his burst and surprising power. Blessed with sub 4.4 speed, Logan rarely goes down on the first hit and he has left numerous defenders in his dust. Logan has been a consistent force for the Coyotes and is the first running back in North Central Conference history to rush for 1,000 yards four straight years, which is also an NCAA record. Logan finished the 2006 season with 1,707 yards rushing on or just 194 carries for an average of 7.5 yards. Throughout his career, he has registered an average of 7.4 yards a tote. His play has helped South Dakota (9-4) earn a berth and win a game in the national playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

While South Dakota Head Football Coach Ed Meierkort has regularly sang his phrases about Logan, others have also been impressed. Top-ranked Grand Valley State Coach Chuck Martin called Logan “the best back we’ve face in my seven years here.”

Originally of Miami, Fla., Logan wasn’t a highly recruited player out of high school. In fact, he played just one season of football as a junior at Jackson (Fla.) High School. Later, wanting one last chance at football, Logan began a search for a college and walked on at South Dakota in 2003. Four years later, he is the best running back in school history and ranks as one of Division II’s all-time greats. Already with 15 school records to his credit, Logan is the 11th player in NCAA Division II history to rush for 5,000 yards (5,968) and surpass 7,000 all purpose yards (7,770).

He has done all this while playing a huge role in the turnaround of the Coyote football program. USD was 5-6 in 2003 when as a freshman, Logan had 1,155 yards to set USD’s freshman rushing record. He had 1,345 yards in 2004 when the Coyotes were 9-2 and had 1,751 yards as a junior as USD again finished 9-2 and won a share of the NCC title. It was USD’s first NCC title since the 1978 season. This season, he led the Coyotes to a 9-4 record and a berth in the national playoffs for the first time in 20 years. He helped USD orchestrate a 31-28 overtime win (160 yards rushing) in a road game at Northwood and then had 179 all purpose yards in a loss to Grand Valley State at Allendale, Mich. In his career, the Coyotes are 32-14, including 16-11 in NCC play. In the past two plus seasons, Logan has led USD to a 27-8 record, including 14-6 in league play. USD has also been ranked in the top 25 in 24 straight weeks and 34-of-the-last 35 weeks. Logan owns four of the top seven all-time single season marks in school history. He is now fifth in career rushing in the NCC (conference games only) with 3,763 yards.

Logan sits seventh in NCAA Division II all-time in all purpose yards with 7,770. Logan’s current total of 5,968 yards career rushing yards places him 11th on the all-time DII list. Logan averaged 7.4 yards per rush and 132.6 rushing yards per game which ranks 25th all-time in Division II. A runner with quick feet and surprising power, Logan already owns the NCAA record for yards in a quarter with 184 (Truman State, 2005). In that game, he rushed for a career-best 295 yards, averaging a school record 22.6 yards per carry. That average per carry would be an NCAA record if he had enough carries. He rushed for 295 yards on just 13 totes. Later in the year, he had 284 yards against Minnesota-Duluth, which was the best rushing total in the NCC in 2005. Add to the fact that Logan is perhaps one of a handful of athletes to ever have a 90-yard run (98 yards vs Truman State, 2005) and a 90-yard pass reception (90 yards vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 2005), and his impact has been huge.

In 2006, Logan has scored 13 TDs, including both his first-ever kickoff return (94 yards) for a TD and 66-yard punt return for a score. He now has scored a rushing, receiving, kickoff return and punt return TD in his career. With 10 100-yard rushing games in 2006 Logan has a school-record 34 in his career which tied the Division II record. Logan leads the NCC and ranks third in the nation in all purpose yards with 205.4 per game. He has five games in which he has broken 200 all purpose yards including a season high 283 vs. Minnesota State on Oct. 28. He was won two straight NCC rushing titles, including this season. . He has had a 94-yard kickoff return, 66 yard punt return for TDs and had an 88-yard run earlier this year.

Logan, who has 14 career games with 160 yards or more, has four, 200-yard rushing games and two others in which he totaled 199 yards in his career. During his career, Logan has recorded 672 positive carries (one yard or better). He has 64 runs or receptions over 20 yards and 35 carries over 30 yards. He has rushed for over 100 yards in 25 of his last 28 games.

Logan on the Run

• First running back in North Central Conference history to rush for 1,000 yards four straight seasons - ties NCAA mark with milestone
• Tied NCAA record with 34 career 100 yard rushing games, including 10 this season
• 11th Division II player ever to rush for 5,000 yards and gain 6,000 all purpose yards
• Ranks 11th all-time in career rushing yards with 5,968 and 7th in all purpose yards with 7,770
• Set or tied 15 school records, including career rushing and all purpose yards
• Has led USD to 27-8 mark in past two seasons and 32-14 in his career
• Set NCAA record with 184 yards rushing in one quarter in 2005

Stefan Logan Makes Run at Harlon Hill Trophy

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Harlon Hill Nominees