South Dakota-born NFL players

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay recently projected Parkston native and University of Iowa left tackle Riley Reiff would be picked third by the Minnesota Vikings in the April 26-28 NFL Draft.
Whenever there is a South Dakotan in the NFL draft, it always brings up the question of former South Dakotans in the NFL. According to the website databasefootball.com and American News staff reports, 53 South Dakota-born men have played in NFL regular season games. The list includes Aberdeen-born players Taylor Mehlhaff and Robb White.
Area former NFL players include Norm Van Brocklin of Eagle Butte, Duane Putnam of Pollock, Christian Bentz of Artas, Ben Derr of Turton, Wuert Engelmann and Bryan Schwartz of Miller, Urban Odson of Clark and the Milbank trio of William Winter, Clarence Manders and John Manders.
A couple of area North Dakota players also had illustrious careers in the NFL. Born in Ellendale, defensive Phil Hansen graduated from Oakes High School and played at North Dakota State. He started 148 of his 156 NFL career games with the Buffalo Bills (1991-2001), collecting 633 tackles with 61.5 sacks and playing in three Super Bowls.
Palmer Edward “Pete” Retzlaff was born in Ellendale, graduated from Ellendale High School, went to Trinity Bible College in Ellendale and starred in track and field and football at South Dakota State College. The five-time Pro Bowler played running back, wide receiver and tight end for 11 seasons (1956-58) with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1958, Retzlaff led the NFL with 56 pass receptions despite never having caught a pass in college and in 1965, he won the Bert Bell Award for NFL player of the year.
Retzlaff and his Eagles were NFL champions in 1960. Both he and Hansen are members of their NFL team’s halls of fame.
Missing from the list of South Dakota-born NFL players is Aberdeen Central graduate George Amundson, who was born in Pendleton, Ore. Amundson was drafted in the first round by Houston in 1973. He played the 1973 and 1974 seasons with the Oilers, and 1975 with Philadelphia. He played in 29 NFL games and scored four touchdowns.
Former Northern State standout running back Ronnie Cruz (born in Lakeport, Calif.) played 19 games for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2005 to 2006 before injuries cut his career short. Injuries also sidelined Aberdeen-born and Central graduate Josh Heupel, a sixth round pick by Miami in 2001. Heupel is now offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners, whom he quarterbacked to a national championship in his senior year.
Derek Engler, who started his high school football career at Aberdeen Roncalli before moving to Minnesota, played in 34 games (1997-2000) with the New York Giants. Engler was the starting Giants center for nine games. Kent Clausen (born in Watertown, 1976 Aberdeen Roncalli graduate) spent a couple of years with the Jets, but did not play in any regular-season games.
There have been other area and NSU players drafted, but none whom played in NFL regular-season games of which we are aware. If there are, email me at jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.
South Dakota-born players who have played or are playing in the NFL with player name, birth city, years played, position, games played:
Mark Barber, Alpena, 1937, FB, 5.
Frank Bausch, Marion, 1934-1941, C, 77.
James Bausch, Marion, 1933, FB-HB, 7.
Christian Bentz, Artas, 1920, T, 1.
David Bernard, Jefferson, 1944-1945, FB-QB, 13.
Erwin Bishop, Winner, 1962-1969, G-OG-OT, 110.
Ordell Braase, Mitchell, 1957-1968, DE, 156.
Michael Busch, Huron, 1987, QB, 2.
Ryan Christopherson, Sioux Falls, 1995-1996, FB-RB, 19.
Joseph Crakes, Platte, 1932-1933, E, 9.
Benjamin Derr, Turton, 1920-1921, HB, 6.
John Dutton, Rapid City, 1974-1987, DE-DT, 185.
Douglas Eggers, Wagner, 1954-1958, LB, 54.
Wuert Engelmann, Miller, 1930-1933, FB-HB-QB, 44.
Barry French, Chamberlain, 1947-1951, G-T, 25.
Neil Graff, Sioux Falls, 1974-1977, QB, 29.
Chad Greenway, Mount Vernon, 2007-Present, LB.
Carroll Hardy, Sturgis, 1955, HB, 8.
Larry Jacobson, Sioux Falls, 1972-1974, DE-DT, 34.
Raymond Jenison, Avon, 1931, T, 2.
Frank Kelley, Tyndall, 1927, HB, 8.
Robert Kennedy, Sandpoint, 1946-1950, B-FB-HB-LB, 53.
Paul Laaveg, Sioux Falls, 1970-1975, G-OG-T, 72.
Ben Leber, Vermillion, 2002-Present, LB.
Roy Longstreet, Sioux Falls, 1926, C, 1.
Clarence Manders, Milbank, 1939-1947, B-FB-HB, 74.
John Manders, Milbank, 1933-1940, E-FB-HB-T, 93.
Brady McDonnel, Rapid City, 2002, TE, 5.
Taylor Mehlhaff, Aberdeen, 2008, K, 3 (scored 18 points with New Orleans Saints).
Paul Miller, Platte, 1936-1938, HB-QB, 32.
Maurice Nipp, Yankton, 1952-1956, G-OG, 25.
Jay Novacek, Martin, 1985-1995, TE-WR, 158.
Urban Odson, Clark, 1946-1949, T, 44.
Forrest Olson, Vermillion, 1927, FB-G, 3.
Craig Puki, Deadwood, 1980-1982, LB, 39.
Duane Putnam, Pollock, 1952-1962, G-OG, 121.
Robert Robertson, Pine Ridge, 1942, HB, 11.
Robert Scholtz, Watertown, 1960-1966, C-OT-T, 81.
Bryan Schwartz, Miller, 1995-1999, LB, 55.
George Slagle, Canton, 1926, G, 1.
Ernest Smith, Spearfish, 1935-1939, G-T, 41.
Michael Steponovoch, Lead, 1933, E, 1.
Robert Stransky, Yankton, 1960, OHB, 14.
Charles Tollefson, Elk Point, 1944-1946, C-G, 16.
Rodney Tweet, Madison, 1987, WR, 2.
Norman Van Brocklin, Eagle Butte, 1949-1960, P-QB, 140.
Eugene Vidal, Madison, 1921, FB, 1.
Adam Vinatieri, Yankton (Rapid City Central graduate), 1996-Present, K.
Harry Webber, Elk Point, 1920-1923, E, 2.
Thomas Welter, Yankton, 1987, OG-OT, 3.
Robb White, Aberdeen, 1988-1990, DE, 23.
Richard Wildung, Scotland, 1946-1953, G-T, 74.
William Winter, Milbank, 1962-1964, LB, 33.

1. 20 year annuity