NDSU Football Had Five Players Land On The HERO Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team

     On Wednesday, August 11 the HERO Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team was announced. It features five North Dakota State University Bison, including one who is honored twice.

     The five Bison listed are first teamers fullback Hunter Leupke and offensive lineman Cordell Volson, tight end Noah Gindorff on the second team, and safety Michael Tutsie and wide receiver Christian Watson on the third team. Watson also made the second team return specialist.

     NDSU is returning 20 of its 22 starters from the spring season. This past spring the Bison made it to the FCS quarterfinals with a 7-3 overall record and 5-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

 

2021 HERO Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team

First Team Offense

QB Eric Schmid, Sam Houston

QB Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington

RB Julius Chestnut, Sacred Heart

RB Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State

RB Otis Weah, North Dakota

WR Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston

WR Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas

WR Jakob Herres, VMI

TE McCallan Castles, UC Davis

FB Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State

OL Cordell Volson, North Dakota State

OL Liam Fornadel, James Madison

OL Mason McCormick, South Dakota State

OL Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

OL Braxton Jones, Southern Utah

 

First Team Defense

DL Jordan Lewis, Southern

DL Isaiah Chambers, McNeese

DL Jared Brinkman, Northern Iowa

DL Mike Greene, James Madison

DL Joseph Wallace, Sam Houston

LB Tre Walker, Idaho

LB Willie Eubanks III, The Citadel

LB Jace Lewis, Montana

LB Logan Backhaus, South Dakota State

LB Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham

DB Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware

DB Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston

DB Markquese Bell, Florida A&M

DB Anthony Adams, Portland State

DB Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay

 

First Team Special Teams

K Ethan Ratke, James Madison

P Daniel Whelan, UC Davis

LS Bradey Sorenson, South Dakota State

RS Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston

 

Second Team Offense

QB Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana

QB Jeff Undercuffler, UAlbany

RB Jah-Maine Martin, North Carolina A&T

RB Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State

RB Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison

WR Samuel Akem, Montana

WR Avante Cox, Southern Illinois

WR Xavier Smith, Florida A&M

TE Noah Gindorff, North Dakota State

FB Clay Moss, Weber State

OL PJ Burkhalter, Nicholls

OL Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State

OL Matt Waletzko, North Dakota

OL David Kroll, Delaware

OL Ty Whitworth, Weber State

 

Second Team Defense

DL Jahari Kay, Sam Houston

DL Jermaine McDaniel, North Carolina A&T

DL Shaundre Mims, Charleston Southern

DL Amandre Williams, Montana State

DL Kobie Turner, Richmond

LB Troy Andersen, Montana State

LB Forrest Rhyne, Villanova

LB Stone Snyder, VMI

LB Keonte Hampton, Jackson State

LB Conner Mortensen, Weber State

DB Nicario Harper, Jacksonville State

DB Brandon Easterling, Dayton

DB Robby Hauck, Montana

DB Qua Brown, Southern Illinois

DB Jordan Perryman, UC Davis

 

Second Team Special Teams

K Luis Aguilar, Northern Arizona

P Chris Faddoul, Florida A&M

LS Robert Soderholm, VMI

RS Christian Watson, North Dakota State

 

Third Team Offense

QB Felix Harper, Alcorn State

QB EJ Perry, Brown

RB Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State

RB Karl Mofor, UAlbany

RB Juwon Farri, Monmouth

WR Lonnie Moore IV, Monmouth

WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State

WR Dai’Jean Dixon, Nicholls

TE Marshel Martin, Sacramento State

FB Nathan Walker, Wofford

OL Colby Thomas, Sam Houston

OL J’Von Brown, Central Connecticut State

OL Lewis Kidd, Montana State

OL AJ Farris, Monmouth

OL Keenan Forbes, Florida A&M

 

Third Team Defense

DL Jevon Leon, Sam Houston

DL Jared Schiess, Weber State

DL Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga

DL Malik Hamm, Lafayette

DL DJ Coleman, Jacksonville State

LB Bryce Flater, Northern Iowa

LB Isaac Dowling, Mercer

LB Tristan Wheeler, Richmond

LB Adrian Hope, Furman

LB Jack Cochrane, South Dakota

DB Dexter Lawson Jr., Central Connecticut State

DB Tyree Robinson, ETSU

DB Chris Edmonds, Samford

DB Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State

DB Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana

 

Third Team Special Teams

K Seth Harrison, Eastern Washington

P Brady Schutt, South Dakota

LS Dalton Godfrey, South Dakota

RS Malik Flowers, Montana