South Dakota Professional Athletes

When the Cleveland Browns needed someone to step into a critical secondary role, South Dakota product Myles Harden delivered.

With cornerback Tyson Campbell sidelined and listed as questionable going forward, Harden joined Denzel Ward in holding the Browns' defense together during a 21–18 home win over the Carolina Panthers on September 27. According to Sports Illustrated, the two corners stepped up to fill Campbell's shoes and kept Cleveland's secondary performing at an elite level despite the injury blow.

Harden's week didn't stop there. He was back on the field just days later as the Browns edged the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–24 on Thursday, October 1 — a signature divisional result that underscores just how much Cleveland is leaning on its cornerback depth. For a Coyote alum who entered the NFL as a developmental prospect out of a smaller program, Harden is making a legitimate case for consistent snaps in a competitive secondary.

The Rest of the Coyote Contingent

Harden wasn't the only South Dakota alum suiting up this week. Jack Cochrane saw action for the Kansas City Chiefs in their 24–10 dismantling of the Miami Dolphins on September 27, continuing to contribute at linebacker for one of the AFC's top teams.

In New Orleans, CB Mike Reid was on the field as the Saints dropped a 27–35 decision to the Las Vegas Raiders — a tough result for a Saints squad still searching for consistency. Reid and the New Orleans defense will need to regroup heading into the back quarter of the season.

The Bigger Picture

South Dakota's pipeline to the NFL has quietly deepened in recent years, with nine alumni currently on active rosters across the league. Harden's emergence as a starter-caliber cornerback in Cleveland is the most visible proof point this week, but the Coyotes' fingerprints are spread across the conference — from Cochrane in Kansas City to Andrew Van Ginkel in Minnesota to Brock Mogensen in Dallas.

For a program out of Vermillion that doesn't recruit five-stars or generate national headlines, the consistency of NFL placement is its own kind of statement. This week, with Campbell hurt and the Browns needing a big performance, Harden made sure South Dakota's name was part of the story.

South Dakota's NFL alumni had a weekend to remember in Week 2, headlined by a statement defensive play from cornerback Myles Harden that helped swing a tightly contested game in Cleveland's favor.

Harden Turns the Tide in Cleveland

The Browns edged the Buccaneers 23–19 on Sunday, and Harden — a former Coyote cornerback — was in the thick of it. The interception was a highlight-reel moment for the South Dakota product, who has carved out a role in Cleveland's secondary since entering the league. In a game decided by just four points, a turnover of that magnitude carries outsized weight, and Harden delivered exactly when his team needed it most.

It's the kind of play South Dakota fans have come to hope for from one of the program's most prominent NFL exports. Harden entered the league as a developmental project at corner, and a timely pick in a Week 2 win is the sort of résumé line that cements roster standing heading into the heart of the regular season.

Cochrane on the Field in Kansas City's Thriller

Across the league, linebacker Jack Cochrane was active as the Chiefs survived a nail-biter against the Colts, winning 33–30. The former Coyote LB suited up for Kansas City in what turned into one of the more dramatic games of the week — a three-point margin against Indianapolis that came down to the wire.

Cochrane hasn't been a headline name, but his presence on one of the NFL's premier rosters speaks to what South Dakota's linebacker pipeline has quietly produced in recent years. The Chiefs' depth at the position is formidable, and staying on that roster through the early weeks of a season is its own accomplishment.

The Bigger Picture for Coyote Nation

South Dakota currently has eight alumni on active NFL rosters — Harden and Cochrane joined by the likes of Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings), Michael Reid (Saints), JJ Galbreath (Colts), Brock Mogensen (Cowboys), Jeremiah Webb (Patriots), and Kameron Cline (Bills). That's a remarkable footprint for a program out of Vermillion that competes at the FCS level.

The Coyotes don't produce first-round picks, but they clearly produce players who stick. Week 2 gave fans two data points on active contributors, with Harden's interception as the clear centerpiece. If the South Dakota pipeline keeps delivering moments like Sunday's play in Cleveland, the Coyote faithful will have plenty of reason to keep an eye on the NFL ticker all season long.