Timber Lake community excited about Tucker Kraft's success, national shoutouts

Jan. 5—TIMBER LAKE, S.D. — You'd be hard-pressed to find a McDonalds or a stop light in the north central South Dakota town of Timber Lake. The town doesn't even have a mayor.

But thanks to the community's football prodigy, Green Bay Packer rookie tight end Tucker Kraft, the little town is getting plenty of attention.

During the New Year's Eve Sunday Night Football game on NBC between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico took a moment to highlight the hometown of the Packers' budding rookie during the second quarter, while a photo of the Timber Lake High football stadium flashed across the screen

"(Kraft is) well known and loved in one of the most rural spots in America, Timber Lake, South Dakota, population 517," Tirico said. "And I bet you they're all watching tonight."

Tirico and color analyst Cris Collinsworth continued to discuss the town, with Collinsworth adding, "I was just doing the math. If you only have 500 people, you can do a day for everybody in the town every two years," to which Tirico said, "They could have a Cris Collinsworth Day, too." Collinsworth then quipped, "That'd be good, I'd go."

Prior to the game,

Kraft said

the contest in Minneapolis was about as close as he could get to have a game close to his friends and family. When asked how many of his family would be wearing purple, Kraft responded: "Not my family."

It was the second time in December that the NBC broadcast mentioned Kraft and his hometown, with Tirico name-dropping Timber Lake when the Packers faced the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 3, one of five wins in the last seven games for the Packers.

Many people in the town were indeed watching the game, and were excited about the shout out. Among them was Timber Lake High football coach and athletic director Ryan Gimbel, who said he had a "sneaky suspicion" the town was going to be profiled that night.

"To see your town on national TV with everyone watching the Sunday Night Football game, it's incredible," Gimbel said. "A lot of times we talk about how you just have to take a minute just take it in. It's really, really special and then to be able to watch (Kraft) and watch what he's doing for South Dakota, it's awesome."

Even those in town who aren't NFL fans were impressed with the moment, and Kraft's accomplishments.

Timber Lake city finance officer Karla Nordyke, who said she doesn't have a TV and did not watch the game, quickly heard about what had happened on the NBC broadcast, calling it "very cool." She added that Kraft is quite popular in town, and one of Timber Lake's stores sells Kraft-themed T-shirts and hats.

Everyone is well-aware of his escapades at the sport's highest level, especially with his on-field appearances becoming increasingly common in recent weeks.

With the injury of Packer tight end Luke Musgrave, Kraft, a South Dakota State alum who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, has emerged as the team's starting tight end during their end-of-season playoff push.

After recording just one catch before Nov. 12, he's emerged as one of quarterback Jordan Love's go-to targets in recent weeks, and has tallied 28 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Though Musgrave is expected to return to the field prior to the playoffs, Kraft is expected to maintain a role within the offense.

"The growth I've made emotionally and physically (this season), it's been a complete difference," Kraft said of his development.

Gimbel, who was the football strength and conditioning coach and head track coach while Kraft went through high school, called him a "great man" and has enjoyed watching his success at the college and professional levels.

"Being able to watch him progress from his week one debut and the reps and snaps he got then to now seeing the major role he's in, doing good things for the team, being that team player ... it's just incredible," Gimbel said.

Kraft and the Packers will face the Chicago Bears at 3:25 p.m. Sunday in the regular season finale.

And in the meantime, Timber Lake, a town without stop lights, and dirt streets," according to Nordyke, will enjoy watching his career unfold.