As of May 14, the Governor gunslinger has received nine total offers, including seven FBS offers and from three different Power 5 conferences. 

“It gets a little overwhelming, but also at the same time, I am very lucky compared to a bunch of kids across the country who don’t get this much exposure,” Kienholz said. “So I am trying to take it all in and have fun with it. I am just trying to find the best college for me.”

Regional FCS powerhouses — South Dakota State and North Dakota State — have offered Kienholz. However, he’s also landed scholarship opportunities from Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC programs. 

Big Ten schools Illinois and Wisconsin both offered him on May 12, Pac-12 rivals Washington and Washington State offered a day apart in April and ACC member Pittsburgh was his first Power 5 opportunity. FBS schools Colorado State and Arkansas State have also offered Kienholz a scholarship. 

“I am grateful for all of them so far,” Kienholz said. “I am still trying to decide which ones to visit and hopefully I narrow down my top schools here soon.” 

Kienholz hopes to make a top-five list in the next two weeks, followed by visits in the summer and plans to commit between the end of summer and the start of the football season.

What’s Kienholz looking for in his college destination? 

“I would say culture and tradition of football and coaches,” said Kienholz, who plans to major in dentistry. “My biggest one is probably schooling. I want to get a good education wherever I go. So that’s kind of the major one that I look at and then obviously meet the football players.”

Kienholz, a 6-foot-3, 185-pounder, is a three-star prospect according to recruiting services 247sports.com and Rivals.com. He’s the 59th-ranked quarterback in the 2023 Class, according to 247sports.com.

This past fall, Kienholz led the Governors to a 10-2 season and their fifth straight Class 11AA state championship. In the 2021 state championship game, Pierre trailed Tea Area by a 27-7 score in the third quarter. That’s when Kienholz, both throwing and running the ball, orchestrated a 23-point heart-pounding comeback for the state championship. He racked up 537 total yards and four total touchdowns on his way to Joe Robbie MVP honors. 

For the season, the Class 11AA all-state quarterback threw for 3,359 yards and 37 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,165 yards and another 12 touchdowns on 146 carries. Entering his senior season, Kienholz has a school-record 5,678 passing yards and 58 passing touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 2,067 yards and 20 touchdowns. 

Pierre's Lincoln Kienholz goes up for a dunk this past season basketball for the Governors. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Kienholz is also an outstanding baseball and basketball player. He pitches and plays shortstop for Pierre High School and Post 8. On the hardwood, he’s a two-time all-stater and has scored more than 1,000 career points.

He’s received an offer from the University of South Dakota to play basketball and could be a college baseball prospect. But said college football is the plan. 

“I am just having fun with it right now,” he added about the recruiting process. “I am trying not to get tired of it at this point. I am taking it slow, researching colleges and just trying to find the best one for me.”