Joe Trudeau - Inducted 2016

The 1969 Jefferson High and University of South Dakota grad starred on one of the most famous prep football teams in state history.

Trudeau was a four-year, two-way starter at end on a Jefferson team that went 35-1 with a 33-game win streak under Coach Matt Mottice. As a junior, he scored 20 touchdowns and caught 28 passes as the Blackhawks outscored foes 676-27. As a senior the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder scored 13 TDs, caught 25 passes (for 560 yards) and blocked 10 punts. Jefferson beat Onida 35-13 in Mitchell in a much-ballyhooed game for the mythical state title as a senior.

That school year Trudeau was all-state in football and basketball and placed second in the low and high hurdles at state, helping the Blackhawks win the Class B track title. As a junior, he was honorable mention all-state in football and won the high hurdles and was second in the low hurdles as Jefferson won the state track title. As a sophomore, he placed second in the highs and third in the lows at the state meet as Jefferson took second. In basketball, he was a three-year starter, helping Jefferson go 63-12.

At USD, Trudeau was a standout in football and track. He was a two-time all-North Central Conference tight end for Coach Joe Salem's Coyotes. As a junior, he set school records for receiving yards in a season (543 on 22 receptions) and longest TD reception (84 yards vs. Idaho State) and set the single-game mark for yards by a tight end (137 vs. North Dakota State). As a senior, he had 16 receptions for 290 yards and was an honorable mention All-American as the Coyotes went 9-1, won the NCC title and were ranked as high as No. 4 in NCAA Division II. In track, he placed second in the high hurdles in the NCC meet as a junior and third as a sophomore. He is a member of the USD Hall of Fame.