For Immediate Relase
Thursday, November 21, 2024
NSIC Media Relations
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NSIC Offensive Player of the Year 
#0 Jarod Epperson (RB, 6-0, 195, Sr., Omaha, Neb. / Skutt Catholic HS) - Augustana University
- Ran for 976 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games
- Led the NSIC and is ninth in the country with 6.34 yards per carry
- 17th in the country with 97.6 rushing yards per game
- NSIC and D2Football National Offensive Player of the Week (11/11)
- Scored multiple touchdowns in four games
- Ran for at least 100 yards in five games
- One of two active players in the NCAA with at least 4,000 career rushing yards and 1,000 career receiving yards
- Augustana’s all-time career rushing leader

NSIC Defensive Player of the Year 
#8 Peyton Buckley (DB, 6-1, 207, Sr., Rice Lake, Wis. / Rice Lake HS) - Augustana University
- Totaled 76.0 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and a sack
- Tallied 52 solo stops, the fourth most in the NSIC
- Tied for third in the NSIC with eight pass breakups and tied for fifth with nine passes defended
- Anchored a defense that finished in the top two of the NSIC in interceptions, red zone defense, scoring defense and fourth down conversion percentage
- Second in program history with 42 career passes defended (30 PBU, 12 INT)
- NSIC Defensive Player of the Week (10/14/24)

NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year
#24 Sam Backer (RB, 5-11, 190, R-Fr., Chatfield, Minn. / Chatfield HS) - Minnesota  State University, Mankato
- Ranked sixth in NSIC only contests with 61.20 yards per game
- Ranked ninth in NSIC only contests with 84.60 all-purpose yards per game
- Led MSU in rushing this season with 716 yards
- Rushed for more than 100 yards in three games this season
- Notched a season-high 159 rushing yards versus Wayne State
- Third player from MSU to be named NSIC Offensive Newcomer of Year

NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year
#32 Andy Henson (LB, 6-2, 235, R-Fr., West Branch, Iowa / West Branch HS) - University of Sioux Falls
- Led USF with 62 tackles on the season
- Ranked 13th in NSIC only contests with 6.44 tackles per game
- Averaged 6.2 tackles per game
- Career high 13-tackles against Minot State
- Recorded 6.5 tackles for a loss of 18-yards 
- Had a sack for a loss of 7-yards
- Had an interception and a pass break up
- Forced and recovered a fumble

NSIC Coach of the Year
Jerry Olszewski (12th Season)
Augustana University
- Guided Augustana to its third NSIC Championship in four years
- AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year
- Led the Vikings to back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 1942
- Has led Augustana to the NCAA Playoffs five times
- Became the program’s all-time winningest coach Oct. 26 at MSU
- Among active head coaches, he ranks 11th in total wins in NCAA Division II

NSIC Assitant Coach of the Year
Joe Ford (2nd Season) - Bemidji State University
- Coordinated the BSU defense to an NSIC best 15.7 points per game
- Led the BSU defense to an NSIC best 240.8 yards allowed per  game
- Total defense ranks seventh in the nation in NCAA Division II
- Coached eight All-NSIC defensive performers this season
 

NSIC All-Conference First Team Offense
0	Jarod Epperson	RB	Sr.	Augustana	Omaha, Neb.
61	Brock Fox	OL	Sr.	Augustana	Treynor, Iowa
74	C.J. James	OL	Sr.	Augustana	Des Moines, Iowa
62	Jake Gannon	OL	Gr.	Bemidji State	Franklin, Wis.
23	Brice Peters	WR	Sr.	Bemidji State	White Bear Lake, Minn.
66	Taylon Hensley	OL	Sr.	Concordia-St. Paul	Burlington, Wis.
1	Jaylin Richardson	RB	Sr.	Concordia-St. Paul	Kansas City, Kan.
11	DaShaun Ames	WR	R-Jr.	Minnesota Duluth	Cumberland, Wis.
0	Sam Pitz	TE	Gr.	Minnesota Duluth	Appleton, Wis.
12	Kyle Walljasper	QB	R-Jr.	Minnesota Duluth	Fond du Lac, Wis.
71	Aiden Williams	OL	6th	Minnesota Duluth	Anchorage, Alaska
24	Sam Backer	RB	R-Fr.	Minnesota State	Chatfield, Minn.
79	Marshall Foerner	OL	Sr.	Minnesota State	Plano, Ill.
6	TreShawn Watson	WR	Jr.	Minnesota State	Antioch, Ill.
0	Evan Lovett	RB	R-Jr.	Minot State	Tucson, Ariz.
62	Aidan Shumate	OL	So.	Minot State	Cypress, Texas
3	Brady Perryman	WR	Jr.	MSU Moorhead	Cottage Grove, Minn.
15	Jack Strand	QB	Jr.	MSU Moorhead	Bloomer, Wis.
71	Aidan DeVolder	OL	R-Jr.	Sioux Falls	Marshalltown, Iowa
85	Mark Leonard	TE	Sr.	Sioux Falls	Rochester, Minn.
1	Carter Slykhuis	WR	Gr.	Sioux Falls	Tea, S.D.
79	Jett Janssen	OL	Sr.	Wayne State	Lincoln, Neb.
1	Sylvere Campbell	WR	Sr.	Winona State	Milwaukee, Wis.
77	Noah Pappas	OL	Jr.	Winona State	Plymouth, Minn.
NSIC All-Conference First Team Defense
57	Will Davis	DL	Sr.	Augustana	Edina, Minn.
8	Peyton Buckley	DB	Sr.	Augustana	Rice Lake, Wis.
20	JayVian Farr	DB	Sr.	Augustana	Racine, Wis.
32	Kade Lynott	LB	Sr.	Augustana	Hawarden, Iowa
51	Haden Wallace	LB	Sr.	Augustana	Kansas City, Mo.
36	Marcus Hansen	DL	R-Jr.	Bemidji State	Waseca, Minn.
9	Stephen Hoffman	DL	Gr.	Bemidji State	St. Paul, Minn.
97	Cade Barrett	DL	Sr.	Bemidji State	Lake Shore, Minn.
0	Isaiah Johnson	DB	Jr.	Bemidji State	Chicago Heights, Ill.
56	Drew Hennessey	DL	Gr.	Minnesota Duluth	Highland, Wis.
22	Mac Strand	LB	Sr.	Minnesota Duluth	Appleton, Wis.
90	Maven Kretche	DL	Sr.	Minnesota State	Sun Prairie, Wis.
4	Khai West	DB	Sr.	Minnesota State	St. Paul, Minn.
20	Antonio Alzheimer	LB	Sr.	Minnesota State	Des Moines, Iowa
47	Josiah Behm	LB	Sr.	MSU Moorhead	Appleton, Wis.
12	Kevin Speed	DB	So.	Minot State	Cairo, Ga.
2	Myzel Williams	DB	R-So.	Minot State	Deltona, Fla.
0	Kegan Mountain	DB	So.	Northern State	Omaha, Neb.
54	Jake Adams	LB	So.	Northern State	Pulaski, Wis.
32	Andy Henson	LB	R-Fr.	Sioux Falls	West Branch, Iowa
24	Parker Knutson	DB	R-Fr.	SMSU	Sartell, Minn.
97	Carter Sitzman	DL	So.	Wayne State	Lincoln, Neb.
44	Dexter Larsen	LB	Sr.	Wayne State	Blair, Neb.
91	Kyjuan Vengrowsky	DL	R-Jr.	Winona State	De Pere, Wis.
NSIC All-Conference First Team Special Teams
1	Isaiah Huber	RS	Jr.	Augustana	Rochester, Minn.
25	Jake Pecina	K	So.	Augustana	Forney, Texas
43	Jorey Sorenson	P	Sr.	Augustana	Brandon, S.D.
6	TreShawn Watson	RS	Jr.	Minnesota State	Antioch, Ill.
37	Nick Hernandez	K	Sr.	Sioux Falls	San Antonio, Texas
17	Trevor Marshall	P	Jr.	Wayne State	Gretna, Neb.
NSIC All-Conference Second Team Offense
6	Jack Fisher	WR	Sr.	Augustana	Rochester, Minn.
11	Gunnar Hensley	QB	So.	Augustana	Carlsbad, Calif.
1	Isaiah Huber	WR	Jr.	Augustana	Rochester, Minn.
77	Corbin Wirkus	OL	So.	Augustana	Baltic, S.D.
72	Isaac Hagstrom	OL	R-Jr.	Bemidji State	Annandale, Minn.
68	Will Lemire	OL	Sr.	Bemidji State	White Bear Lake, Minn.
60	Zach Ott	OL	R-Jr.	Bemidji State	Mason City, Iowa
33	Jayden Washington	RB	R-So.	Bemidji State	Apple Valley, Minn.
78	Caydon Christensen	OL	Jr.	Concordia-St. Paul	Belmond, Iowa
11	Drew Enke	WR	Sr.	Concordia-St. Paul	Clear Lake, Iowa
11	Mujeeb Rufai	WR	Sr.	University of Mary	Portland, Ore.
67	Liam Fahey	OL	Gr.	Minnesota Duluth	Sobieski, Wis.
56	Nathan Gribble	OL	Jr.	Minnesota State	West Salem, Wis.
8	Gabe Hagen	TE	Sr.	Minnesota State	Blooming Prairie, Minn.
73	Zach Roggow	OL	Sr.	Minnesota State	Brandon, S.D.
74	Deontae Veney	OL	Sr.	Minnesota State	Rochester, Minn.
6	Gage Florence	WR	Jr.	MSU Moorhead	Sawyer, N.D.
12	Camden Dean	QB	Jr.	Sioux Falls	Lakeville, Minn.
22	Dylan Rudningen	RB	Sr.	Sioux Falls	Sunburg, Minn.
62	Ben Pederson	OL	R-Jr.	Sioux Falls	Mason City, Iowa
86	Travis Yohnke	TE	Gr.	Sioux Falls	Carlos, Minn.
28	Latravious Boyd	RB	So.	Wayne State	Orlando, Fla.
3	Kendrick Watkins-Hogue	WR	R-So.	Wayne State	Dubuque, Iowa
26	Cair’ron Hendred	RB	R-Jr.	Winona State	Cedar Rapids, Iowa
NSIC All-Conference Second Team Defense
27	Logan Leonard	DB	Jr.	Augustana	Minnetrista, Minn.
92	Gradee Sherman	DL	Jr.	Augustana	Viborg, S.D.
6	Myles Taylor	DL	Sr.	Augustana	Coon Rapids, Minn.
99	Marco Cavallaro	DL	Gr.	Bemidji State	Newport, Minn.
20	Kamron Gothard	LB	R-Jr.	Bemidji State	Sun Prairie, Wis.
25	Colton Hinrichs	LB	R-Jr.	Bemidji State	Bemidji, Minn.
1	Jamel Stone	DB	Sr.	Bemidji State	Sun Prairie, Wis.
7	Cyrus McClure	DB	Sr.	Concordia-St. Paul	Carrollton, Ga.
25	Mason Phillips	LB	Jr.	University of Mary	Gilbert, Ariz.
43	Landon Carter	DL	Sr.	Minnesota Duluth	Lakeville, Minn.
29	Preston McQueen	DB	R-Fr.	Minnesota Duluth	Henderson, Nev.
54	Matt Weerts	DL	Jr.	Minnesota Duluth	Batavia, Ill.
98	Cody Brown	DL	Sr.	Minnesota State	Madison, S.D.
21	Joey Goettl	DB	Sr.	Minnesota State	Marshfield, Wis.
90	Denver Sheets	DL	Sr.	MSU Moorhead	Williston, N.D.
1	Carson Cayko	LB	Sr.	Minot State	Fairview, Mont.
14	Luke Gunderson	LB	Sr.	Northern State	Buffalo, Minn.
44	Max Van Landingham	DL	Gr.	Northern State	Franklin, Tenn.
20	Garret Hoffman	DB	R-So.	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls, S.D.
9	Matt Goehring	LB	R-So.	Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls, S.D.
8	Joseph Sapp	DB	Gr.	Sioux Falls	Sacramento, Calif.
55	Preston Yohnke	DL	R-Jr.	Sioux Falls	Carlos, Minn.
22	Josiah Hedensten	LB	Jr.	SMSU	Faribault, Minn.
24	Jacob Byrd	DB	Sr.	Wayne State	Sioux Falls, S.D.
54	Myles Hawthorne	LB	Sr.	Winona State	Osseo, Minn.

 About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 15-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 116 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.