South Dakota State’s Law Firm: Garret Greenfield and Mason McCormick
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South Dakota State's impressive duo of Mason McCormick and Garret Greenfield led the Jackrabbits to back-to-back national championships.
The left side of South Dakota State’s offensive line -tackle Garret Greenfield and guard Mason McCormick- served as a launching point for running backs Pierre Strong, Isaiah Davis and Amar Johnson the last three seasons. The team won back-to-back national championships following the duo’s impressive skill-sets.
EXPERIENCED DUO
All told, the pair started 112 games during their careers. McCormick, a three-time team captain, started an unfathomable 57 straight games as a Jackrabbit. Four times he was named an FCS All-American. His ability to hit moving targets in space electrified South Dakota State’s ground attack (see video below).
McCormick is more than just a space player. He sits down to anchor effectively in pass protection. The hand placement needs refinement versus up-and-under rip moves from defensive linemen.
Greenfield’s athleticism has been on display since arriving on campus in 2018. The former Rock Valley High School (Iowa) basketball and baseball player set an all-time record at the 2024 NFL Combine with a 38.5-inch vertical jump.
Greenfield -a two-time team captain- started 24 games at right tackle and another 31 at the left tackle spot. Like McCormick, he has above average movement skill in space or short areas. We review some of Greenfield’s technical deficiencies in our video breakdown (see above).
SDSU OL IN THE DRAFT
South Dakota State offensive linemen in the draft are few-and-far between. Adam Timmerman -a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams– was the last guard drafted from the school (1995). And you have to go back to the 1960s for the last offensive tackle selected (Ron Frank, 16th round, 1962 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers).
COMPETITION
Greenfield and McCormick competed this postseason to start a new trend. They excelled during the week of the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl. At the 2024 NFL Combine, they posted outstanding numbers in several categories.
McCormick’s 5.08 time in the 40-yard dash bested Greenfield’s time of 5.22 seconds. Greenfield’s record vertical jump did not damper McCormick’s outstanding 35.5-inch vertical jump at 309 pounds.
McCormick posted a faster 3-cone time (7.59) than Greenfield (7.76) and quicker 20-yard short shuttle (4.45-to-Greenfield’s 4.85).
As the pre-draft process closes, McCormick and Greenfield have both made strong closing arguments. The Jackrabbits’ Championship Law Firm is hoping for a new verdict on South Dakota State offensive linemen.
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