VIBORG — Brady Schroedermeier jumped at the chance to be a Jackrabbit. 

The Viborg-Hurley High School senior recently verbally committed to the South Dakota State University football team, and it was an easy decision to pick the Jackrabbits. 

Schroedermeier is first cousins with current SDSU quarterback Chase Mason, a Viborg-Hurley graduate. Schroedermeier has attended multiple Jackrabbit games, and his latest trip to Brookings was one to remember. 

Schroedermeier attended SDSU’s 31-3 win over Northern Iowa, and afterward head coach Dan Jackson offered him an opportunity to be a Jackrabbit. 

“He was like ‘Are you ready?’ ” Schroedermeier said. “I was like ‘For sure I am ready,’ and it was just a super dominant yes. It was just so fun and exciting.”

Schroedermeier's family was also there to celebrate the commitment and experienced him making his decision. 

“I’ve just always been to Jackrabbit games, and it just felt like home to me,” Schroedermeier added. 

Schroedermeier will be a preferred walk-on (PWO) for the Jackrabbits. Preferred walk-ons are not on athletic scholarships, but can earn scholarship money down the road. 

The Jackrabbits have had several preferred walk-on success stories, and Schroedermeier said the coaching staff believes in his long-term potential. 

“Dan Jackson told me that he believes in me,” Schroedermeier said. “He knows that if I work my butt off, he knows there’s scholarship money there and I have the potential for a full ride through the preferred walk-on.” 

Viborg-Hurley's Brady Schroedermeier carries the ball against Elkton-Lake Benton earlier this season. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback/linebacker, Schroedermeier was a Class 9AA all-state athlete last season. He is projected to play safety in college. 

Schroedermeier said he’s comfortable playing defense in college, and is willing to play wherever he’s needed. 

“(Jackson) mentioned I was super athletic,” Schroedermeier said. “So he didn’t really know a certain set spot for me. But he knows that safety is a good start.”

Schroedermeier received scholarship offers from Black Hills State University, Minnesota State University, Mankato and University of Sioux Falls. 

Schroedermeier, who is undecided on his major, said he’s relieved to make his decision and can now focus on his senior season. 

“It’s kind of exciting,” Schroedermeier said. “It’s late in the football year and I was just waiting for this moment. It took a lot off me.” 

Schroedermeier is also an all-state basketball player, averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game last season for the Cougars. He also competes in track and field, participating in multiple relays and the 400-meter dash. 

Schroedermeier said participating in multiple sports has helped his development as an athlete. 

“It helps being a three-way sport athlete,” Schroedermeier said. “It just keeps me ready for the sport that comes next.”

Up next, Schroedermeier and Viborg-Hurley (5-2) will continue their push toward a postseason run. The Cougars will play at Howard on Oct. 17 in their final regular-season game.

“We just beat Hanson by 22 and we definitely came together as a team and that was definitely the best game we’ve ever played,” Schroedermeier said. “It is really exciting knowing that late in the year we are playing our best ball.”