Story by Jordan Carrillo
In one of my favorite segments ever put to print: “Where Are They Now?”, the opportunity to chat with old friends, colleagues, and even recently departed alumni bring back fond memories of years past. Though I only got to watch former Spartan Dylan Blount play under center for a season or two, it was a delight to learn he would not only be continuing his football journey at Gustavus Adolphus College, but that he would excel at the position the only way he knows how–by seizing opportunity.
The Class of 2024 St. Clair alum was a standout player for the Spartans over his career under center, and GAC took notice of him during his junior year (2023). For Blount, the decision to commit to the Gusties felt less like a leap of faith and more like a return home considering how often he attended football camps there throughout his childhood. Additionally, the campus also boasts one of the top Exercise Science programs in the region with a brand-new, state-of-the-art athletic complex. To put it bluntly, the appeal of Blount becoming a Gustie seemed almost inevitable.
But hold on there, sparky. Though Blount had been recruited to play for Gustavus, there was still much to learn before he took over the snaps as the starting quarterback. There was plenty of camaraderie in the locker room as Coach Shoemaker and OC Davies were “incredibly welcoming” said Blount while a former Spartan in Simon Morgan brought a sense of familiarity to a brand new team and experience.
It seemed like a match-made in heaven; however, reality soon came crashing down during Blount’s first season as a nagging hip injury which, oddly enough, started during his senior football season at St. Clair, worsened during the basketball season before becoming unbearable during the baseball season, ultimately leading to surgery in Summer of 2024. That injury kept Blount sidelined until mid-October, effectively placing him as a medical redshirt while preserving a year of eligibility.
With nothing to do but ride the pine, the Gustie became fully dedicated to learning the college game, meticulously studying film, and operating as a student coach under other quarterbacks on the roster. All that time spent observing and studying the game helped refine Blount’s knowledge and skills, “When you’re not playing, you get to sit back and see everything develop, and see what it takes to excel at this level.” One key difference he noticed during his studies was the vast difference between high school and college defenses; the sheer size and strength of Division III players paired with the unique coverages, zones, and blitzes were all new to Blount, but he relished in learning how to counterstrike with the appropriate audible or a perfectly placed pass.
While most of his first season was reserved to learning GAC’s offensive system, Blount also built strong bonds with his Gustie teammates including fellow quarterbacks Dom Mathies & George Sandven for providing a “fun and supportive” environment. Sandven was a senior in 2024, and he offered the freshman sage wisdom about the position, “He was such a level-headed guy no matter how the game was turning out. He spoke often about maintaining focus even in the worst of times, and that really stuck with me while I continued to learn.” Most importantly, Blount began to build chemistry with his receivers, scheduling additional practices to run routes–all in the pursuit of becoming a better quarterback and teammate. All this perseverance and commitment to improvement during his first year would soon pay dividends during Blount’s second season as a Gustie–all he needed was the right opportunity.
The transition into his sophomore year brought an intense and competitive quarterback battle that saw him splitting reps with another sophomore, Jacob Ginskey. The latter won the starting job, but an unfortunate injury during a Week 3 game against Bethel provided Blount his window of opportunity under center.
Stepping in with the Gusties down 14-7 and deep in their own territory, Blount led a tying touchdown drive, connecting with Morgan in the endzone. GAC then elected to go for two to win the game, but Blount was stopped just short of the goal line and the Gusties conceded defeat 14-13. Though his efforts brought his team within striking distance, the loss only fueled Blount’s desire to excel as a quarterback, “Losing that game really hurt our playoff chances, but it drove me to get even better.” With Ginskey still sidelined, Blount took over the reins as the Week 4 starter against the Carleton College Knights, and performed brilliantly, throwing for over 300 yards; however, the Gusties would lose 45-28, pushing their season record to 0-4.
Even with a superb first start under center, Blount admitted the college game presented immediate physical challenges. His “welcome to college ball” moment arrived during a handoff attempt against Bethel when he tried to block a D-lineman, resulting in a fierce helmet-to-helmet collision that sent him sprawling, “I realized just how physical the college game was.” he said. He quickly learned that breaking tackles was much harder, noting that after one particularly hard sack, the football flew back 30 yards.
After losing the first four games, the Gusties rallied behind their new starting quarterback to go 5-1 to finish out the season 5-5 overall. Blount credited the senior group for keeping the team “driven and level-headed” and OC Davies for “turning the scoreboard off in our heads” and encouraging his players to treat every series like it was 0-0. The turning point of the season was a November 1 showdown with the MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) top dog in St Johns. GAC would ultimately lose the matchup 31-13, but proved themselves capable of standing up to a conference powerhouse with a 17-10 score at half, “Once we got past the mental mistakes early, we were able to compete with them and I think we showed them we can compete at an elite level,” Blount said.
Of course, Blount’s humility won’t allow him to praise his own successes, so the Journal reporter will have to do it for him. Blount was an offensive force on the field for the Gusties, throwing for 2,176 yards and 23 touchdowns; his affinity for the deep pass led to several explosive plays of 54, 69, and 72 yards, respectively. His versatility as a player was on full display as he rushed for two touchdowns, caught a pass in the endzone off a trick play called “Q-Hide” and he even punted twice for a combined 57 yards, showing his commitment to doing whatever the team needed. His crowning achievement during the season was against St. Scholastica where he threw six touchdowns en route to a 45-6 beatdown of the Saints.
For his incredible offensive play, Blount received a MIAC Honorable Mention in his first official year under center. Though he acknowledged the nod as a “great honor”, he credited his coaches for the nomination, “The credit goes to my coaches, Davies & Haugen. They both prepared me on how to read the defenses, and that made a huge impact for me on the field.”
The foundation for his success as a Gustie lies in the work ethic instilled in him. As he prepares for the upcoming 2026 season, Blount is determined to maintain his insatiable desire to improve at the quarterback position; beyond improved stats and a winning mentality, his main goals for this second campaign are to “Win every game, defeat St. Johns, and make the playoffs.”
It’s always a delight to see how former Cyclones are excelling at their lifelong passions, and Blount’s story is a classic retelling of a winning formula–good things come to those who work hard and seize opportunity.
