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The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
SDSU football: Grahm Goering soaking up final year in blue and yellow
- Story byThe Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
- SDSU football: Grahm Goering soaking up final year in blue and yellow
Aug. 17—BROOKINGS — Grahm Goering has been a Jackrabbit for a long time.
He's played for three head coaches. He has two national championship rings. He redshirted back when the Jacks offense had Chris Oladokun under center, Pierre Strong and Isaiah Davis in the backfield, Tucker Kraft catching passes and Jason Eck calling plays.
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And now he's entering into a sixth and final season as the leader of the wide receiver room, hoping to get a third ring and leave with a productive season that would cement his legacy as one of South Dakota State 's most memorable, important and underrated players.
There have been so many thrilling moments.
He's one of the few remaining Jacks who actually played significant snaps on a national championship team (he started four games and caught 13 passes for 171 yards in 2023).
His first career touchdown was a 21-yard catch from Mark Gronowski against Oklahoma State in 2024.
And in 2025 he caught the longest touchdown pass in school history, a 95-yarder in the playoff loss to Montana, a play that was overshadowed by what's been the Iowa City native's signature moment so far, the 23-yard overtime winner against North Dakota that clinched a playoff spot.
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Goering reflected on his career and what might be in store for 2026 and beyond in a conversation with Sioux Falls Live's Matt Zimmer from training camp last week.
MZ: We've been joking about how you're the old guy, but now that this is it, do you find yourself kind of soaking everything in, knowing this is your last training camp, your last media day and so forth?
GG: Yeah, 100 percent. I'm just a little more grateful. I do look back and I regret, you know, not soaking it in two years ago, but that's just how it is, you know, when you know your time's coming to an end, you just kind of come out here and you take every step and you're grateful for it. So I've definitely had a lot of those moments, and I try and do that every day. Just take as much time as I can walking off the field, all that stuff.
MZ: Are you kind of trying to, and this goes for all of you seniors, take ownership of this team and this season, because you've all been through so much here and accomplished so much and I know how important it is to all of you to go out the way you want to.
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GG: Yeah, definitely. And I think, you know, we've had a lot of guys that have been here for so long and it means so much. And that's what I love about this senior class is like, there's dudes who've been here for five years being just Jackrabbits in their career. So it does mean a lot to us.
MZ: You guys that are seniors, you have rings, but you weren't the guys that were driving that team. Not to take anything away from that, but I get the sense you guys want another one that's kind of 'yours' so to speak. How much is that something that drives you guys?
GG: We honestly don't talk about it that much. I mean, it's definitely a thought that's crossed my mind where I'm, you know, my two rings, like you said, the first one, I wasn't even on the dress roster.
And then the second one, I was a rotational guy and I'm grateful for all that, because that team, obviously, it was a special team. But kind of like you said, like, I'm just itching to get back and kind of take one for my own kind of thing.
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MZ: How about the receiver group? It's so deep and you're the older guy. How is that going as far as you taking on that leadership role, probably even more than you did last year?
GG: Our room's unique because there's a big gap in me versus, you know, the next oldest guy and the young guys. I take pride in my leadership ability and I don't want to miss a step, but I'm really proud about how our younger guys have stepped into a role because of how unique our room is. You know, it's been awesome to see those guys grow. And every day it's an opportunity to lead because we have so many good football players in our receiver room and a lot of young freshmen who need help. As an old guy I take pride in it, but I've seen a lot of growth in the room as a whole. It's been really cool to see.
MZ: One of the practices I was at, I was watching your group for a while and I just noticed how much teaching you were doing. Obviously you can set an example on Saturday, but how much is it stuff like that at practice, the same thing that you see Q doing with the offensive line and Logan and Rip doing with the D-line?
GG: I think one, it's kind of my obsession of, like, the craft of playing receiver. It's an awesome thing to be a receiver because you can always get better in some areas. So I try and pass that on to the freshmen and the young guys, because you just need someone to tell you that, you know, you can do it, but then also at the same time, like, you can do it better. So I love doing that, and I was blessed to have some really good leaders when I was a young receiver and it helped me a lot.
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So I just kind of passed the torch. Those guys deserve it. And like you said earlier, they're really skilled guys. They just need to be pushed in the right direction sometimes. So that's what I'm there for.
MZ: Cade Johnson was here a few practices ago and you went up to him afterward and asked some questions about taking a shot at the pros. You've got a whole year to go but obviously that suggests it's in the back of your mind. What are you thinking as far as trying to pursue a professional career? And we were just talking about the coaching you do on the field, would you be interested in a coaching career if you don't make it in the NFL?
GG: I've gone back and forth with this. You know, obviously I want to pursue football as long as I can go, but at some point you gotta be realistic with yourself. Like, it's going to end.
So, professionally I would love to, right now I'm thinking chiropractic school. So that's kind of in the back of my mind, but I go back and forth with coaching a lot. I love coaching football or like being around it.
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It's just, the work life balance is tough. So finding a career that allowed me to be with my family and stuff like chiropractor would be nice.
MZ: Are you like engaged or married or anything?
GG: Oh, we're getting there. We're getting there.
MZ: That probably plays into the decision, I suppose.
GG: Yeah.
MZ: Well, I'll tell you this. When Zach Lujan was a senior I asked him if he was interested in coaching and he was like, nah, I don't think so. And he ended up coordinating in the Big Ten. So many guys say they don't want to do it at first.
GG: I think that's the initial response because it's like, it is a lot. And at the end of the day, when you're playing football, it's like, it's all you do every day. You're kind of worn out at the end of your playing career, you know, a little burned out. And usually coaches are putting in way more time than the players are, because they have to. So that's a little scary. I think I could see myself doing something in coaching, but I have time to figure that out.
