SMSU Athletics

Nate Rudolph (1996-99) was a four-year letterwinner in football and ranks as one of the top defensive players in program history.

A native of Trimont, Minn., Rudolph was an honorable mention All-NSIC honoree as a sophomore in 1997, before earning first team All-NSIC accolades in both 1998 and 1999.

In 1998, he led SMSU with 99 tackles and ranked second on the team with 15 tackles for loss. He was also named second team CoSIDA Academic All-District.

In 1999, he once again led the Mustangs with 108 tackles, while finishing second on the team with 15 tackles for loss. He was named to the All-America Farm Team in 1999, helping lead SMSU to the program’s first winning season since 1993.

Rudolph still holds the school record with 199 solo tackles, while ranking third with 356 total tackles and third in tackles for loss with 40.