Oct. 21—VERMILLION, S.D. — For University of South Dakota wide receiver Brayden White, the jump from a special teams contributor to one of the Missouri Valley Football Conference's most productive pass catchers has arrived faster than expected.
Through eight games this season, the sophomore from Tarentum, Pennsylvania, has emerged as the No. 1 target for new starting quarterback Austyn Modrzewski and has provided a spark to a USD offense preparing for the most important stretch of its season.
White leads USD in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 35 catches for 468 yards and seven scores. His production also ranks among the best in the MVFC, where the 5-foot-10 speedster is tied for first in touchdowns, third in receptions and ranks fourth in yards.
For a player who caught just two passes while primarily contributing as a special teams returner during his true freshman season, the transformation has been night-and-day.
"I just try to think of it as one day at a time," White said of his personal achievements this season. "All the way through spring and summer, I wasn't really focused on things like my personal outcome of the season. I'm just trying to win games and contribute as much as I can."
That approach has helped White transition from an inexperienced freshman learning the college game into a receiver who has quickly established himself as a reliable target in the Coyotes' passing attack.
Last week at Murray State, White led the team in receiving with 78 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns, marking his second two-touchdown game of the season, with his first coming in the season opener against Central Connecticut State.
"Last year really just gave me the confidence knowing that I can play at this level," White said. "I had success in special teams, and I knew I could take what I learned from last year into the role I have now. I really polished my game, and it has worked out so far."
White's development throughout his first year in Vermillion, combined with a productive offseason, has helped prepare him for a much larger role in 2026.
While his opportunities as a receiver were limited last season, White gained valuable experience adjusting to the speed and physicality of college football. His work on special teams provided an opportunity to contribute while learning the expectations of the program and laying the foundation for what has become a breakout sophomore campaign.
"Brayden is completely fearless," USD head coach Matt Vitzthum said. "When you meet the kid, he's quiet, super reserved, doesn't say a lot. But you watch him in between those white lines at practice, and even last year, he was fearless.
"I've never seen him run out of bounds. He will get every single yard that's allowed to get," Vitzthum continued. "That combination of his fearlessness, and, obviously, Coach (Isaiah) Walker's development, I knew he'd have a big impact on this team, and he is right now."
Vitzthum's confidence in White dates back to the recruiting process in 2024. At the time, Vitzthum was USD's wide receivers coach, giving him an opportunity to evaluate White and develop a relationship with him before transitioning to coaching quarterbacks a season ago.
White arrived in Vermillion without many scholarship opportunities, but the Coyotes were willing to give him a chance. That early belief has remained meaningful as he has grown into one of the team's most productive players in 2026.
"When I was getting recruited to come here, coach Vitzthum was actually the receivers coach, so I had a great connection with him," White said. "I didn't really have any offers coming out of high school, and USD gave me a shot. I wouldn't go back and change it for anything."
For White, the opportunity also represents the culmination of a journey from Pennsylvania to the Midwest, where he has embraced the chance to establish himself at the Division I level.
White has also benefited from the guidance of current wide receivers coach Isaiah Walker, who stepped into the position in January 2025. Under Walker's direction, White has continued developing his technique, improving his understanding of the position and learning how to translate his athleticism into consistency.
"Coach (Isaiah) Walker means a lot to me, and he is a great role model," White said. "He's a great person outside of coaching, but when it comes to coaching, he's just as good as he is a person. He has helped me develop, and he helps me off the field, too."
White's emergence has coincided with the development of a new-look receiving corps that has given South Dakota multiple options in the passing game. Alongside White, Tennel Bryant has supplied an explosive element with 16 receptions for 402 yards and four touchdowns, while Tysen Boze has added 21 catches for 306 yards and four scores.
Together, the trio has given the Coyotes a productive receiving group, with White leading the way as he continues to establish himself as Modrzewski's primary target. The connection between White and Modrzewski began long before the two became starters in the offense.
The pair spent last season learning the playbook and developing an understanding of the offense while Modrzewski worked as a backup quarterback. That familiarity continued through spring practices, summer workouts and fall camp, allowing them to build the timing and trust that has seemingly worked so far.
"Austyn and I were together all spring, all last year, and we've been able to get into the playbook and really understand each other," White said. "This whole summer, we were out on the practice field a lot, just working on the connection and building it up. It's helped early on here."
Now, with USD sitting at 6-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, the Coyotes have an opportunity to strengthen their position in the Missouri Valley title race. That opportunity continues Saturday, when USD welcomes North Dakota to the DakotaDome for a 1 p.m. kickoff in a top-10 conference matchup between two teams still firmly in contention.
"Our whole offense is looking to prove a lot, because it's a good and tough matchup this week," White said of North Dakota. "We're doing what we have to do every day to try and be the best version of ourselves to get a win at home and keep this thing going."
