Jun. 18—SIOUX FALLS — Eight years ago former South Dakota State and NFL running back Zach Zenner hosted a kids football clinic at the Sanford Fieldhouse in association with Sanford Power and the Riggs Academy.
One of the young athletes there to meet Zenner and learn from a pro was a young Griffin Wilde, who nobody knew at the time would soon become one of the best athletes in South Dakota.
“I got his autograph and got a picture with him,” Wilde remembers. “And as a little kid I thought that was the coolest thing ever.”
On Wednesday Wilde was back on the same turf but the roles were reversed.
The former Sioux Falls Jefferson star was the main attraction, hosting a wide receiver clinic with Riggs and his staff, with a strong turnout of kids showing up to meet and learn from the senior-to-be at Northwestern by way of South Dakota State.
Wilde played his first two college seasons with the Jackrabbits, catching six touchdown passes in their national championship season of 2023, surpassing 1,000 yards in 2024 as a sophomore, then transferring to the Big Ten, where last year he led the Wildcats with 71 catches for 880 yards. He’s already a preseason Big Ten selection and an NFL Draft candidate as he prepares for his senior season.
That makes Wilde a pretty big deal when he returns to his hometown in Sioux Falls, where he led Jefferson to an 11AAA state title in the program’s second year of existence, and the Wildcat senior-to-be leaned into that during his clinic at the Fieldhouse. Wilde was all over the field, bursting with energy and interacting with the kids at every turn. With help from coaches Brandon White, Steve Kennedy, Brian Hermanson and Terrance Bryant, Wilde seemed determined to ensure the kids who showed up had a similar experience to what he experienced with Zenner almost a decade ago.
“I was just being a little kid,” Wilde said. “I was just out there running around with them, screaming and yelling and bringing some energy and they were doing the same. I mean, little kids, they just love to come out here and play. So that’s just awesome to see.”
As for Wilde himself, coming home during the little downtime he gets in the offseason should help him recharge ahead of what will be a huge fall camp and season.
The Wildcats went 7-6 last year after going 4-8 the year before, and expectations are high for them to take another step in 2026. Head coach David Braun replaced former SDSU coach and standout Zach Lujan with former NFL coach Chip Kelly at offensive coordinator, and Northwestern moves into their new $850 million stadium, Ryan Field, this year.
And Wilde expects to be a big part of it as their No. 1 receiving target, knowing he’ll have the opportunity for even more in his second season in the Big Ten.
“I’m really excited about how the first year went, how everything ended up,” Wilde said. “And I’m really looking forward to this upcoming year. (The Big Ten) is, it’s kind of as advertised. I mean, everybody’s bigger, stronger, more athletic. And then at the catch point for specifically a wide receiver, DBs are a lot better just playing through the hands and coverage is obviously a little bit tighter.”
Before the Wildcats move into their new stadium they’ll play their first two games of 2026 at Martin Field, the Northwestern lacrosse and field hockey facility that’s been refurbished to hold 12,000 fans for football.
The first of those games is against Wilde’s old team, the Jackrabbits, on Sept. 5.
“That’s going to be fun,” Wilde said. “I mean, there’s no bad blood there, I want to clear that up. I love SDSU. I wouldn’t be where I am without them today. It’s going to be super exciting.”