2014 MVFC Preseason Poll ST. LOUIS - Three-time defending conference and national champion North Dakota State was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2014, according to a poll of the league's coaches, media and sports information directors announced Tuesday, July 29.
NDSU has won 24 straight games and 43 of its past 45 games (going 14-1, 14-1, and 15-0). The Bison earned 24 of a possible 39 first-place votes and 370 total points ahead of second-place South Dakota State and third-place Northern Iowa.
North Dakota State had a league-high eight players on the preseason all-conference team including fullback
Andrew Bonnet, wide receiver
Zach Vraa, left guard
Zack Johnson, defensive end
Kyle Emanuel, linebacker
Carlton Littlejohn, strong safety
Colten Heagle and punter
Ben LeCompte. Free safety and punt returner
Christian Dudzik was an honorable mention.
Youngstown State (240 points) and Southern Illinois (237) were a close choice for the fourth- and fifth-place positions. The teams tied with SDSU and Missouri State for second place in 2013. Illinois State, Missouri State, South Dakota, Western Illinois and Indiana State took the final five spots, in order.
Including North Dakota State the last two seasons, the MVFC preseason favorite has claimed the league crown 16 times in 28 previous polls. The Bison open at Iowa State on Saturday, Aug. 30, with an 11 a.m. kickoff televised live on FOX Sports 1.
| 2014 Valley Football Preseason Poll |
| Team (first-place votes) | Pts. |
| 1. North Dakota State (24) | 370 |
| 2. South Dakota State (8) | 330 |
| 3. Northern Iowa (7) | 324 |
| 4. Youngstown State | 240 |
| 5. Southern Illinois | 237 |
| 6. Illinois State | 197 |
| 7. Missouri State | 180 |
| 8. South Dakota | 121 |
| 9. Western Illinois | 96 |
| 10. Indiana State | 50 |
2014 Missouri Valley Football Preseason Team
Offense |
| QB- | Austin Sumner, SDSU | 6-5 | 225 | Sr. | Brandon (S.D.) Valley High |
| RB- | David Johnson, UNI | 6-3 | 225 | Sr. | Clinton (Iowa) High |
| Zach Zenner, SDSU | 6-0 | 220 | Sr. | Eagan (Minn.) High |
| FB- | Andrew Bonnet, NDSU | 6-3 | 245 | Jr. | Council Bluffs (Iowa) Underwood High |
| WR- | Jason Schneider, SDSU | 6-5 | 220 | Sr. | Andover (Minn.) High |
| Zach Vraa, NDSU | 6-2 | 203 | Sr. | Inver Grove Heights (Minn.) Rosemount |
| TE- | MyCole Pruitt, SIU | 6-3 | 255 | Sr. | St. Louis (Mo.) Kirkwood High |
| OL- | Robert Booker, MSU | 6-3 | 320 | Jr. | Ozark (Mo.) High |
| Zack Cooley, MSU | 6-5 | 301 | Sr. | Lebanon (Mo.) High |
| Richard Galbierz, MSU | 6-3 | 306 | Sr. | Fenton (Mo.) Fox High |
| Trevor Greger, SDSU | 6-5 | 305 | Sr. | Wagner (S.D.) High |
| %Zack Johnson, NDSU | 6-4 | 317 | Jr. | Apple Valley (Minn.) Eastview High |
| Jack Rummells, UNI | 6-5 | 301 | Sr. | West Branch (Iowa) High |
| LS- | Chris Highland, ILS | 6-2 | 225 | Sr. | Normal (Ill.) Central Catholic High |
| PK- | Thomas Kinney, SIU | 5-8 | 175 | Sr. | McHenry (Ill.) Johnsburg / Winona State |
| Defense |
| DL- | Kyle Emanuel, NDSU | 6-3 | 246 | Sr. | Schuyler (Neb.) Central High |
| Drew Iddings, USD | 6-6 | 283 | Jr. | Rapid City (S.D.) Stevens High |
| Cole Langer, SDSU | 6-2 | 255 | So. | Dell Rapids (S.D.) High |
| Xavier Williams, UNI | 6-4 | 311 | Sr. | Kansas City (Mo.) Grandview High |
| LB- | Andrew Beisel, MSU | 6-2 | 238 | Sr. | Fenton (Mo.) Rockwood Summit High |
| Auston Johnson, USD | 6-0 | 240 | Sr. | Chino Hills (Calif.) El Camino College |
| Carlton Littlejohn, NDSU | 6-1 | 216 | Sr. | Minneapolis (Minn.) North High |
| Pat Meehan, ILS | 6-1 | 230 | Jr. | Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East |
| *Connor Underwood, INS | 6-3 | 230 | Jr. | Washington (Ill.) Community High |
| DB- | Martinez Davis, WIU | 5-10 | 180 | Sr. | Madisonville (Ky.) Air Force Prep |
| Makinton Dorleant, UNI | 5-11 | 185 | Jr. | Bradenton (Fla.) Lely / Maryland |
| Colten Heagle, NDSU | 5-11 | 202 | Sr. | Appleton (Wis.) Kimberly High |
| Caleb Schaffitzel, MSU | 6-0 | 217 | Sr. | Fair Grove (Mo.) High |
| P- | Ben LeCompte, NDSU | 5-10 | 200 | Jr. | Barrington (Ill.) High |
| RS- | Andre Stubbs, YSU | 5-7 | 165 | Jr. | Maple Heights (Ohio) High |
Honorable Mention: QB Sawyer Kollmorgen (UNI); TB Martin Ruiz (YSU); FB Drew Potter (USD); WR Kevin Vereen Jr. (UNI); LS Nathan Gibbs (YSU); OL Jermaine Barton (ILS); LB Kevin Kintzel (WIU); LB T.J. Lally (SDSU);
DB/RS Christian Dudzik (NDSU).
Every school with minimum of one first-team selection. NDSU represented with a league-high 8 total selections. Northern Iowa (6), South Dakota State (6) and Missouri State (5) were next best. * Connor Underwood (INS) received votes for DL, but playing LB this year.
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Zack Johnson (NDSU) selected to team but out in 2014 with an injury.
