Announcement

**DoubleNickels** · 01-02-2019, 08:21 PM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

How Zylstra keeps making these lists is beyond me. He was only 5th in recieving in our conference...otherwise I think the rest are very well deserving! Dont get me wrong, he's a great player but I dont think statistically he compares to a lot that didnt make the list...Davis from SMSU lead the conference in yards/game and was 0.1 catch/game behind being tops in the conference. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing but to me it just doesn't add up.

**Umdfan35** · 01-02-2019, 09:36 PM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

The no. 1 defense in the nation (UMD) does even get an HM. Too many 3 and outs are not good for individual stats.

**Twincitiesmav** · 01-03-2019, 10:00 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Originally posted by DoubleNickels View Post

How Zylstra keeps making these lists is beyond me. He was only 5th in recieving in our conference...otherwise I think the rest are very well deserving! Dont get me wrong, he's a great player but I dont think statistically he compares to a lot that didnt make the list...Davis from SMSU lead the conference in yards/game and was 0.1 catch/game behind being tops in the conference. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing but to me it just doesn't add up.

**Twincitiesmav** · 01-03-2019, 10:01 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Originally posted by Matt Witwicki View Post

2018 D2Football.com All-America Team
December 31, 2018

50 Offensive Players
50 Defensive Players

First Team

QB Jayru Campbell 6-5, 215, Jr. Ferris State
RB Gabriel Watson 6-1, 221, Jr. Sioux Falls
RB Jaleel McLaughlin 5-9, 173, Fr. Notre Dame
WR Brody Oliver 6-3, 210, Sr. Colorado School of Mines
WR Craig Rucker 5-7, 165, Jr Mars Hill
TE Erik Henneman 6-3, 228, Jr. Lindenwood
OL Devon Johnson 6-6, 308, Sr. Ferris State
OL Trey Pipkins 6-7, 307, Sr. Sioux Falls
OL Jeremy King 6-1, 315, Sr. Valdosta State
OL Even Heim 6-4, 345, Sr. Minnesota State
OL Derrick Puni 6-6, 320, Sr. Central Missouri

DL Markus Jones 6-3, 260, Sr. Angelo State
DL John Cominsky 6-5, 275, Sr. Charleston
DL Michael Onuoha 6-5, 255, Sr. Texas A&M-Commerce
DL Cardell Rawlings 6-2, 240, Sr. Wingate
LB Tyler Morrissey 6-3, 256, Sr. West Chester
LB Brandon Payer 6-4, 230, Sr. CSU-Pueblo
LB Cody Leonard 6-1, 225, Sr. Quincy
DB Lamont McPhatter II 5-11, 190, Jr. California
DB Darius Williams 6-0, 193, Sr. CSU-Pueblo
DB Joshua Simmons 6-3, 205, Sr. Limestone
DB Jarey Elder 5-11, 170, Sr. West Chester

K Kristov Martinez 5-6, 135, Sr. Texas A&M-Commerce
P Josh Carlson 6-0, 165, Fr. Dixie State
AP Lyrics Klugh 5-10, 170, Sr. Fairmont State

Second Team

QB Rogan Wells 6-3, 220, So. Valdosta State
RB Marcus Jones 5-11, 215, Sr. Gannon
RB Wes Hills 6-2, 218, Sr. Slippery Rock
WR Ka*Ronce Higgins 6-1, 179, Sr. Southern Arkansas
WR Trey Brock 6-3, 218, Sr. Hillsdale
TE Qua Boyd 6-5, 245, Sr. West Alabama
OL James Moore 6-5, 300, Sr. Central Washington
OL Craig McCorkle 6-5, 290, Jr. California
OL Donald Boone 6-5, 310, Jr. Chowan
OL Bryce Bray 6-0, 260, Sr. Harding
OL Justin Gooseberry 6-4, 290, Sr. Ouachita Baptist

DL Kahzin Daniels 6-4, 240, Sr. Charleston
DL James Prater 6-0, 244, Sr. Ashland
DL Michael Wristen 6-4, 245, Sr. CSU-Pueblo
DL Sha*haun Williams 6-3, 260, Jr. Notre Dame
LB Jose Delgado 5-11, 205, Sr. Fort Hays
LB Austin Stephens 5-11, 210, Jr. Miles
LB J.T. Hassell 6-0, 199, Sr. Florida Tech
DB Corey Ballentine 6-0, 204, Sr. Washburn
DB Brian Williams 6-1, 190, Sr. Davenport
DB Delon Stephenson 5-11, 205, Jr. Ferris State
DB Gunner Olszewski 5-10, 180, Sr. Bemidji State

K Dante Brown 5-10, 185, Jr. Fort Hays
P Isaac Parks 6-0, 210, So. UNC-Pembroke
AP Devontae Jackson 5-7, 176, Sr. West Georgia

Honorable Mention
QB Layton Rabb 6-5, 225, Sr. Midwestern State
QB Chance Stewart 6-6, 263, Sr. Hillsdale
QB Braxton Marstall 6-2, 207, Sr. Emporia State
QB Isaac Harker 6-0, 195, Sr. Colorado School of Mines
QB Amir Hall 6-4, 195, Sr. Bowie State
QB Jake Sullivan 6-1, 200, Sr. South Dakota Mines
RB Tabyus Taylor 6-0, 250, So. Virginia Union
RB Jake Mayon 5-9, 200, Sr. Northern Michigan
RB Cameron Mayberry 5-10, 215, Jr. Colorado School of Mines
RB Walter Fletcher 5-10, 192, Jr. Edinboro
RB Nate Gunn 6-2, 220, Jr. Minnesota State
RB Al McKeller 5-9, 215, So. Indianapolis
WR Chad Hovasse 6-1, 215, Sr. Adams State
WR Peter Anderson 5-10, 155, Jr. Colorado Mesa
WR Cory Contini 6-1, 195, Sr. Ohio Dominican
WR Shane Zylstra 6-5, 220, Jr. Minnesota State
TE Ardell Brown 5-11, 180, Jr. Seton Hill
OL Jalen Jackson 6-0, 215, So. Lock Haven
OL Ben Walling 6-5, 295, Sr. Grand valley
OL Deon Sheppard 6-4, 295, Sr. Tarleton State
OL Tommy Richardson 6-4, 304, Sr. Wayne State (Mich.)
OL Nic Sawyer 6-5, 300, Sr. Ferris State
OL Jimmy Burchett 6-4, 305, So. Notre Dame
OL Tyler Drob 6-2, 297, Sr. West Chester
OL Matt Juneau 6-5, 290, Sr. Minnesota Duluth
OL Travis Romsa 6-4, 300, Sr. Chadron State
OL Adam Sheffield 6-5, 312, Sr. Sioux Falls

DL Adonis Davis 6-3, 260, Sr. Florida Tech
DL DaVondrick Lison 6-2, 235, Sr. Southern Arkansas
DL Austen Eskew 6-4, 248, Sr. Northwest Missouri
DL T.J. Winslow 6-4, 250, Sr. Harding
DL Jamarcus Henderson 5-10, 230, Sr. Newberry
DL Austin Edwards 6-5, 275, Jr. Ferris State
DL Chris Garrett 6-4, 230, So. Concordia-St. Paul
LB Aaron Berry 6-2, 225, Sr. Azusa Pacific
LB Dominic Cizauskas 6-2, 260, Jr. Glenville State
LB Bo Brooks 6-4, 205, Sr. Missouri S&T
LB Jerry Iweh 6-4, 225, Sr. Fairmont State
DB Marcus Haskins 6-0, 180, Fr. Concordia-St. Paul
DB O*Shay Harris 6-1, 190, Jr. Central Oklahoma
DB Traviontae Brown 6-0, 170, Jr. Benedict
DB Keandre Evans 6-0, 175, Jr. Ouachita Baptist
DB Roderick Chapman 5-9, 175, Sr. Missouri S&T
DB Zuril Hendrick 6-1, 188, Sr. Edinboro
DB Josh Ojo 5-10, 180, Jr. West Liberty
K Jonas Schenderlein 6-1, 185, Sr. Concordia-St. Paul
P Cody Mills 5-7, 190, Sr. Delta State
AP Deonte Harris 5-6, 170, Sr. Assumption
AP Ashton Dulin 6-2, 210, Sr. Malone
AP Lawrence Woods 5-9, 171, So. Truman State

Evan is a JR, not a SR.

**MrMustang** · 01-03-2019, 10:54 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Shane Ratkovich had a great year at SMSU but was robbed for all conference so obviously wan't going to make this team.

**Matt Witwicki** · 01-03-2019, 04:11 PM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Our AA team (yes, I'm a contributor) isn't a stat grab. It's a combination of who had the best year and who are truly the best 100 D2 football players out there. Guys who are getting talk of being drafted are gonna make this kinda team....and some of them might be a corner who doesn't have many picks..because the coaches in that league know he's a beast and they don't throw at him.

Shane Zylstra is the best WR in the NSIC and I don't think it's real close. He's not used nearly as much in the Mankato offense because passing isn't their offensive identity. I realize that Moorhead had 2 guys with better overall yards and catches on their squad....but neither of them is Shane Zylstra, honestly. Both are very good and up-and-coming wideouts in this league..but they also get a ton of balls their way in the Moorhead offense which is pass first. Same with SW.

Agreed on lack of stats for UMD D. However, the further challenge with Duluth was who was their standout performer..? Who's the 1 guy you'd point to? They had a handful of guys who were real good and really a fantastic team unit..but I'm not sure they'd be looked at as All-Americans when it comes to 50 guys on offense/defense. Only having 50 on each side of the ball is really kinda key here. If anyone from UMD, I'd take Gus Wedig..but I was shocked to see him as 2nd team All-Conference just in the league itself. I personally think he was the best defender and playmaker on that side of the ball for UMD. Duluth folks....your thoughts?

I liked Shane..but once again, when you don't get much love in the conference....hard to get love nationally. That said, when you are a defense that isn't looked at as good, then you are in the field for a lot of snaps = a ton of chances for tackles vs good defenses that get off the field. The bigger problem for Shane is making the AA team at the LB position. It's always so loaded..kinda like RB or QB.

This is why I feel that things like tackles and interceptions (to an extent) can be a bit misleading..unless you are doing things like that and playing for a real good defense.

Not all my recommendations ended up on the team..and a few guys made it that I didn't get behind....but all said, I think it's the best AA team out there at the D2 level....and does the best job at honoring the elite players at this level.

**MStateMaverick** · 01-03-2019, 05:31 PM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Agree with Matt. If MSU was more inclined toward passing than they are, Zylstra would have had a lot more receptions and yards.

**Umdfan35** · 01-03-2019, 10:46 PM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Matt. I agree with your analysis of the UMD defense. They are an outstanding team, and also rotate many players in the secondary, line and Lb positions. Several names come to mind, Nate Pearson, 1st team NSIC LB and Alex Helmer LB 1st team LB and all region, both had double digit sacks and TFL, albeit Pearson is a So. , Dre Greet DL, 3 x NSIC may not have had the stats, but was know in the league as an outstanding player in the middle, helping the lb get many tackles, Tareq Ablebbeh 1st team NSIC DB had 5 INT in the first 5 games then was injured and played in the fina l2, Bob Eblen mentioned him as a possible All American in one of his blogs. Then we come to Gus Wedig, arguably the toughest LB in the entire NSIC, excellent athlete, long snapper, blocked kicks, very good stats, leader on the team, well respected, fierce competitor, opponents offensives gamed planned around him, but as you mentioned made 2nd team all NSIC, this left out SI, HC and DC scratching their heads. If Gus Wedig is not an All American then I guess no one on the team is. I wold be interested if you mentioned him for the team?

**Matt Witwicki** · 01-04-2019, 08:42 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Originally posted by Umdfan35 View Post

Matt. I agree with your analysis of the UMD defense. They are an outstanding team, and also rotate many players in the secondary, line and Lb positions. Several names come to mind, Nate Pearson, 1st team NSIC LB and Alex Helmer LB 1st team LB and all region, both had double digit sacks and TFL, albeit Pearson is a So. , Dre Greet DL, 3 x NSIC may not have had the stats, but was know in the league as an outstanding player in the middle, helping the lb get many tackles, Tareq Ablebbeh 1st team NSIC DB had 5 INT in the first 5 games then was injured and played in the fina l2, Bob Eblen mentioned him as a possible All American in one of his blogs. Then we come to Gus Wedig, arguably the toughest LB in the entire NSIC, excellent athlete, long snapper, blocked kicks, very good stats, leader on the team, well respected, fierce competitor, opponents offensives gamed planned around him, but as you mentioned made 2nd team all NSIC, this left out SI, HC and DC scratching their heads. If Gus Wedig is not an All American then I guess no one on the team is. I wold be interested if you mentioned him for the team?

Umdfan35, while I'm not going to go through every player I suggested or wasn't behind....but when it came to UMD, I made my thoughts known that I saw Gus as the best player for UMD this year..and if you look back at my playoff column for the Commerce vs UMD game, I spoke about Wedig in the same manner. However, as you mentioned, my legs get cut out a bit when he doesn't even make 1st team in the conference. If he was getting talk about the next level, and our scout Josh B was hearing a lot of that....that's the type of thing that can help push a guy up further, but I haven't gotten that about Gus. Another guy like Gus is Zach Dodge for Mankato (who is similar to Dre Greer-UMD NT)..a player who is the best player on the Kato D (IMO) but he really lacked any stats to support AA..along with Hakeem Johnson (USF CB), who is maybe the best cover corner in the league....but has only 1 pick, because teams stayed away from him or threw at him less. I think all of those guys were right on the cusp.

**Umdfan35** · 01-04-2019, 09:26 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Matt, thank you, great insight as usual.

**cidpeacock** · 01-05-2019, 12:06 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Love the coverage and support. Does 'next level projection' mean AA? Div 2 players should be reviewed and recognized on how they played. Not on what they may do on the next level.

**Matt Witwicki** · 01-07-2019, 08:56 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Originally posted by cidpeacock View Post

Love the coverage and support. Does 'next level projection' mean AA? Div 2 players should be reviewed and recognized on how they played. Not on what they may do on the next level.

Fair point. The AA is primarily a measure of how good a season a player had at the D2 level, while also taking into consideration the strength of the opposition and such. If it's apparent a player has standout ability (like Zylstra), and it's clear he's near the top at his position (in terms of talent..to the point of being a next level prospect)....then he needs to be on the team.

**MrMustang** · 01-07-2019, 05:11 PM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Certainly aGREE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS Matt. My beeef on Ratkovich is he lead the league in TFL and was up there in sacks. Clearly made plays. More a complaint about the NSIC than AA. Given our record , not going to make AA. But the conference thing was a joke.

**Matt Witwicki** · 01-08-2019, 08:54 AM

Re: D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Originally posted by MrMustang View Post

Certainly aGREE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS Matt. My beeef on Ratkovich is he lead the league in TFL and was up there in sacks. Clearly made plays. More a complaint about the NSIC than AA. Given our record , not going to make AA. But the conference thing was a joke.

I too thought he should've been given more respect in the conference deal. Agreed.

Announcement

D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Support The Site!

D2Football.com All American Team....Announced..

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Ad3