The South Dakota Coyotes have their starting quarterback.

Head Coach Matt Vitzthum announced Monday on the Coyote Report that Redshirt freshman Austyn Modrzewski has been named the starter and will lead the Coyotes into their season opener against Central Connecticut State on August 29.

Modrzewski comes to the starting role with plenty of experience, even if this will be his first opportunity to start at the college level. Before coming to Vermillion, he put together one of the most productive high school careers in Colorado history at Mountain Vista High School.

Modrzewski started at quarterback as a freshman and went on to throw for nearly 12,000 yards and 147 touchdowns during his high school career. He was named Colorado’s Gatorade Player of the Year as both a junior and senior before arriving at South Dakota.

After spending last season redshirting and learning the offense, Modrzewski will now get his opportunity to lead the Coyotes.

There will obviously be questions that come with starting a redshirt freshman at quarterback, but Modrzewski is not unfamiliar with being handed the keys to an offense at a young age. He did it as a freshman in high school, and now he will get the chance to do it again at the Division I level.

His first test will come August 29 inside the DakotaDome when the Coyotes open the season against Central Connecticut State.

For Modrzewski, the waiting is over.

Now, it is his offense.