North Dakota State quarterback Easton Stick was one of three Bison players selected to The Associated Press FCS All-America team.
South Dakota State seniors Tiano Pupungatoa and Jordan Brown made the third team.
At left guard, Pupungatoa, who is from River Falls, Wis., is a key part of the line that has helped the SDSU offense average 44.3 points and 490.8 yards of offense per game.
Brown, a cornerback from Scottsdale, Ariz., has three interceptions, 14 passes defended and 11 breakups. He’s also forced a fumble, and 22 of his 28 tackles are solo stops.
Stick is joined by NDSU offensive lineman Tanner Volson and defensive back Robbie Grimsley on the first team. The top-seeded Bison, who play host to the Jackrabbits in the semifinals of the playoffs Friday at 7 p.m., also placed defensive lineman Greg Menard and linebacker Jabril Cox on the second team and offensive lineman Zack Johnson on the third team.
The Bison have won six of the last seven FCS national titles.
Stick is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the best player in the FCS. The other finalists are Samford second-team quarterback Devlin Hodges, who broke the FCS record for career passing yards this season with 14,584, and third-team quarterback Chandler Burks for Kennesaw State.
Hodges leads FCS with 4,283 yards passing this season.
Cal Poly’s Joe Protheroe, the leading rusher in FCS with 1,810 yards, was first team at running back and San Diego’s Michael Bandy, who leads in yards receiving with 1,698, made All-America at receiver.
Sam Houston State defensive end Derick Robinson, who leads the nation in sacks with 15, highlighted the FCS All-America first team defense along with Dartmouth defensive back Isiah Swann, who leads with nine interceptions.
AP FCS ALL-AMERICA
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback – Easton Stick, senior, North Dakota State. Running backs – Joe Protheroe, senior, Cal Poly; Ryan Fulse, senior, Wagner. Linemen – Tanner Volson, senior, North Dakota State; Matt Pyke, senior, East Tennessee State; Micah Shaw, senior, North Carolina A&T; B.J. Autry, senior, Jacksonville State; Garrett Bowery, senior, Lamar. Tight end – Donald Parham, senior, Stetson. Wide receivers – Josh Pearson, junior, Jacksonville State; Michael Bandy, junior, San Diego. All-purpose player – Shane Simpson, junior, Towson. Kicker – Roldan Alcobendas, senior, Eastern Washington.
Defense
Linemen – Isaiah Mack, senior, Chattanooga; Derick Roberson, senior, Sam Houston State; Ahmad Gooden, senior, Samford; Darryl Johnson, junior, North Carolina A&T. Linebackers – Zach Hall, junior, Southeast Missouri State; Dante Olson, junior, Montana; B.J. Blunt, senior, McNeese State. Backs – Isiah Swann, junior, Dartmouth; Robbie Grimsley, senior, North Dakota State; Jimmy Moreland, senior, James Madison; Will Warner, junior, Drake Punter – Chris Faddoul, sophomore, Florida A&M.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback – Devlin Hodges, senior, Samford. Running backs – A.J. Hines, junior, Duquesne; Marquis Terry, senior, Southeast Missouri State. Linemen – Iosua Operta, senior, Weber State; Spencer Blackburn, senior, Eastern Washington; Drew Forbes, senior, Southeast Missouri State; C.J. Collins, senior, Kennesaw State; Dan Cooney, senior, San Diego. Tight end – Matthew Gonzalez, junior, Robert Morris. Wide receivers – Kelvin McKnight, senior, Samford; Keelan Doss, senior, UC Davis. All-purpose player – D’Angelo Amos, sophomore, James Madison. Kicker – Grayson Atkins, sophomore, Furman.
Defense
Linemen – Khalen Saunders, senior, Western Illinois; Greg Menard, senior, North Dakota State; Jay-Tee Tiuli, senior, Eastern Washington; Nick Wheeler, junior, Colgate. Linebackers – Jabril Cox, sophomore, North Dakota State; Sterling Sheffield, senior, Maine; Adrian Hope, freshman, Furman. Backs – James Allen, senior, Charleston Southern; Tyree Robinson, sophomore, East Tennessee State; Nassir Adderly, senior, Delaware; Marlon Bridges, senior, Jacksonville State. Punter – Alex Pechin, senior, Bucknell.
THIRD TEAM
Offense
Quarterback – Chandler Burks, senior, Kennesaw State. Running backs – James Holland, senior, Colgate; James Robinson, junior, Illinois State.. Linemen – Matt Kaskey, senior, Dartmouth; Justus Basinger, junior, Wofford; C.J. Toogood, senior, Elon; Zack Johnson, junior, North Dakota State; Tiano Pupungatoa, senior, South Dakota State.. Tight end – Owen Cosenke, sophomore, Western Carolina. Wide receivers – Reggie White Jr., senior, Monmouth; Jazz Ferguson, junior, Northwestern State. All-purpose player – Kentel Williams, junior, Austin Peay. Kicker – Aidian O’Neill, junior, Towson.
Defense
Linemen – Nathan Clayberg, senior, Drake; Maurice Jackson, junior, Richmond; Filipe Sitake, senior, Weber State; Solomon Brown, senior, Charleston Southern. Linebackers – Pete Swenson, senior, Western Illinois; De’Arius Christmas, senior, Grambling State; Cameron Gill, junior, Wagner. Backs – Abu Daramy-Swaray, junior, Colgate; Dominic Frasch, senior, Cal Poly; Davon Jernigan, senior, Lamar; Jordan Brown, senior, South Dakota State. Punter – Garret Wegner, sophomore, North Dakota State.
