For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Full Daktronics PDF Releases
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The 2011 Daktronics All-American teams were announced. The NSIC had four players named to either the first or second team. Bemidji State had two All-Americans with Brody Scheff named first team defense and Brian Leonhardt named second team offense. Minnesota Duluth's Garth Heikkinen was named first team offense while Concordia-St. Paul's Tyler Hendrickson was named to the second team.
Heikkinen, a Duluth Central High School graduate and three-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference pick (first team in both 2011 and 2010 and honorable mention in 2009), has started all 42 games over the last three seasons. This past fall, he anchored an offensive line which helped UMD roll up the highest rushing yardage total in the NSIC during the regular season.
Scheff posted a career-high 19 tackles twice this season, both coming against nationally-ranked opponents, which tied for second most by an NSIC player in a game in 2011. He had 19 tackles and his first-career sack in the 26-23 loss to then-No. 11 University of Minnesota, Duluth Sept. 24 and posted 19 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the 19-14 upset victory against then-No. 6 St. Cloud State Nov. 5 that earned him his second weekly conference laurel. Scheff started all 10 NSIC games and added three tackles for loss (-9 yards), two sacks (-8 yards), two fumble recoveries, a pass break-up and a forced fumble in league play this season.
Leonhardt continues to be a go-to target for Bemidji State quarterbacks. In 2011 he led the team in receptions (35) and reception yards (483), surpassing his totals from last season and establishing career-highs in both categories, earning All-NSIC First Team Offense honors. He averaged 43.9 yards per game and 13.8 yards per reception with two touchdowns. He totaled a career-high 129 yards, a touchdown and his season-long reception of 34 yards in the 30-27 overtime upset of then-No. 16 Augustana College Sept. 10 in Sioux Falls, S.D. He became the first BSU receiver to go over 100 yards in a game since George Kadlec did so in 2008.
Hendrickson was one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award, which recognizes the top upperclass (junior/senior) offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. He's one of two representatives from Super Region 3 among the top eight finalists. He allowed four total sacks in each of the last two years over 23 games played while protecting the blind side of one of the top passing attacks in the Northern Sun and nationally.
The team, which is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems, is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).