Watch South Dakota State's Rozeboom Nab First NFL INT

Each and every year, it seems there is a small continual growth of the number of USD Coyotes and SDSU Jackrabbits playing in the NFL.

Christian Rozeboom, who has been patient in his ascent to a significant NFL role, made a big first in his career on Sunday for the LA Rams.

Rozeboom who played his college ball in Brookings for the Jackrabbits, went undrafted following the 2020 NFL Draft.

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He initially joined the Rams, but had since joined the Chiefs for a season before returning to LA late in the 2021 season.

This season, he has had an increased role in the Rams defense, and on Sunday, he made the most of his opportunity.

In the fourth quarter of a tight ball game against the Cardinals, Rozeboom came up BIG:

NFL on X: "Christian Rozeboom gets his first career INT at the perfect time 💪 @C_JJ_Rozeboom 📺: #AZvsLAR on FOX 📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/B4mQvLOt8O https://t.co/jduIv6wUuC" / X (twitter.com)

It's a big win for Jackrabbits in the NFL and for the future prospects of Rozeboom moving forward.

Thus far this season, Rozeboom has appeared in 6 games for the Rams, and has recorded 30 total tackles, 1 pass defense, and now 1 interception.

The Rams ultimately defeated the Cardinals to move to 3-3 on Sunday and take on the Steelers at home this coming Sunday.

Sources: NFL on Twitter and Christian Rozeboom on ESPN

South Dakota Born NFL Players of this Century

While not a traditional powerhouse Nation Football League feeder, South Dakota has produces a fair number of football players that went on to the big time in the NFL.

Here are some that have played on various teams over the last couple of decades.

Know Your South Dakota College and University Mascots

The college football experience is an ultimate high for football fans and it takes several other teams to make that happen week after week during the season.

Just think about what goes into gameday? First and foremost, the players and coaching staff who put in hours and hours of practice and training to play in front of their fans. Then there's field prep, game officials, live broadcasts, concessions, and on-the-field entertainment. Yep, entertainment.

Second to the game, who do you watch? The cheerleaders? The band at halftime? What about the mascot? That's a job not many people can do.

I asked Sioux Falls native and former Cagey mascot for the Sioux Falls Canaries and Little Red & Herbie for the Nebraska Huskers Nate Welch about being a mascot:

What does it take to be a mascot?
"Losing a bet or filling an opportunity!" Welch says, "An internal energized desire to love life. After meeting great performers who are introverts out of costume, they become the center of attention when they take the stage. And also feeding off the performance of others."
Why does the mascot never talk?
"Know your role and shut your mouth. You are there to entertain. Tell the story with your actions and not your voice."
Advice to someone putting on that costume for the first time?
"Remember you are now in a costume. Have fun. Otherwise, you're just a dork in tights. If the fur ain't flying you ain't trying."

Nate Welch has moved on from his days as a mascot to Executive Director of the Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce and Development Company in Vermillion, South Dakota.

So, can you name the mascots at our South Dakota Colleges and Universities? Check out the gallery below:

Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts