NORTH AURORA, Illinois--Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Tyler Thigpen from Coastal Carolina, and the SoCon leader in tackles for los and sacks, Marques Murrell, from Appalachian State and Elon's, Buck Buchanan Award winner, Chad Nkang from Elon, along with SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, Stacey Thomas, from Texas Southern, headline the talented 2006 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) All-America team. North Dakota State Craig Bohl, who led the Bison to a 10-1 record and the Great West Football Conference championship, and a final ranking of No. 3 in the nation by the Football Gazette, has been named National Coach of the Year.
Six members of North Dakota State's GWFC championship team were recognized. Offensive guard Jake Erickson earned first team honors, while offensive tackle Nate Safe, defensive tackle Justin Frick and punter Mike Dragosavich were named to the second team. Strong safety Craig Dahl and halfback Kyle Steffes were honorable mention.
North Dakota State completed the 2006 season with a 10-1 record under the direction of Bohl, including an 8-0 record against Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) schools and a 29-24 win over Mid-American Conference member Ball State. Bohl has compiled a 33-11 record in four seasons at NDSU.
The Bison went 4-0 to win the Great West Football Conference championship -- the program's first league title since 1994 when NDSU was a member of the Division II North Central Conference.
North Dakota State was ranked No. 5 in The Sports Network and CSN Coaches final Top 25 polls. The Bison lost 10-9 to bowl-participant Minnesota of the Big Ten at the Metrodome.
Safe and Erickson were the anchors of an offensive line that ranked sixth nationally in scoring offense (34 ppg), ninth in total offense (398.91 ypg), 17th in rushing offense (193.82 ypg) and 34th in passing offense (205.1 ypg). The NDSU offensive line was tied for fifth in tackles for loss allowed (3.73 tflapg) and 33rd in sacks allowed (1.27 sapg).
Safe and Erickson opened the holes for Steffes who became the first NDSU running back to rush for over 1,000 yards three times in a career. Steffes finished with 1,250 yards (113.6 ypg) and 13 TDs on 237 carries. He caught 23 passes for 160 yards.
The offensive linemen also helped to provide protection for Steve Walker, who completed 185-of-288 passes for 2,220 yards, 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions on his way to GWFC Offensive Player of the Year honors this past season.
Dragosavich only punted 30 times but it was for an average of 46.2 yards per punt -- tops in the NCAA FCS. He landed 14 punts inside the 20 and had seven touchbacks. Dragosavich had a season best punt of 67 yards. He is the program's all-time leader in punting average (44.3 ypk), and has spotted 50 punts inside the 20 and recorded 24 touchbacks on 131 career attempts.
Frick recorded 39 tackles including 18 solo stops, six tackles for loss and five sacks from his defensive line position. He was credited with one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four pass breakups.
Dahl came up with the interception that set up the game-winning drive in the 28-24 win at UC Davis. He was third on the team with 61 tackles including 32 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack, while adding two interceptions, a fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Dahl became the program's all-time leader in solo tackles in 2006.
The Bison defense held nine of 11 opponents to 100 yards or less rushing during the season. NDSU was fourth in rushing defense (67.2 ypg), eighth in scoring defense (13.4 ppg), ninth in total defense (253.64 ypg). North Dakota State's defense was also tied for 22nd in sacks (2.45 spg).
NDSU is starting the third week of spring drills. The annual Outback Steakhouse Green & Gold Spring Game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in the Fargodome.
The annual Silent Auction and locker room sale will begin at 10 a.m. in the Fargodome main lobby area, while the Outback Scholarship Luncheon is slated for 12:30 p.m. in the Fargodome meeting rooms located on the second floor.
First Team Offense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
QB |
Tyler Thigpen |
6-3 |
220 |
SR |
Coastal Carolina |
Winnsboro, So. Carolina |
Fairfield Central |
|
RB |
Justise Hairston |
6-1 |
210 |
SR |
Central Conn. State U. |
New Britain, Connecticut |
New Britain |
|
RB |
Marcus Mason |
5-9 |
215 |
SR |
Youngstown State U. |
Potomac, Maryland |
Georgetown Prep |
|
RB |
Arkee Whitlock |
5-10 |
195 |
SR |
Southern Illinois Univ. |
Rock Hill, South Carolina |
Rock Hill |
|
TE |
Ben Patrick |
6-4 |
270 |
SR |
University of Delaware |
Savannah, Georgia |
Jenkins |
|
WR |
David Ball |
6-3 |
200 |
SR |
U. of New Hampshire |
Orange, Vermont |
Worcester Academy |
|
WR |
Bruce Hocker |
6-4 |
190 |
JR |
University of Duquesne |
Upper Marlboro, Maryl. |
Eleanor Roosevelt |
|
WR |
Alex Watson |
5-10 |
180 |
JR |
Univ. Northern Arizona |
Long Beach, California |
Poly |
|
OT |
Ed McCarthy |
6-5 |
302 |
SR |
Yale University |
Fairfield, Connecticut |
Fairfield Prep |
|
OG |
Kerry Brown |
6-6 |
300 |
JR |
Appalachian State U. |
Marietta, Georgia |
Lassiter |
|
OC |
Jackie Skipper |
6-1 |
295 |
SR |
Univ. Ark.-Pine Bluff |
Bastrop, Louisiana |
Bastrop |
|
OG |
Jake Erickson |
6-2 |
276 |
SR |
North Dakota State U. |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. |
Champlin Park |
|
OT |
Clyde Reed |
6-6 |
305 |
SR |
South Carolina State U. |
Georgetown, So. Car. |
Carver's Bay |
|
PK |
Craig Coffin |
5-11 |
200 |
SR |
Southern Illinois Univ. |
Cape Coral, Florida |
North Fort Myers |
|
PK |
Brian Wingert |
6-1 |
183 |
SR |
Univ. of Northern Iowa |
Cedar Falls, Iowa |
Cedar Falls |
|
KOR |
Kenny Mitchell |
5-11 |
181 |
SO |
Georgetown (DC) Univ. |
Atlanta, Georgia |
Westlake |
|
PR |
Nate Hughes |
6-2 |
187 |
JR |
Alcorn State University |
Macon, Mississippi |
Starkville |
|
AP |
Justise Hairston |
6-1 |
210 |
SR |
Central Conn. State U. |
New Britain, Connecticut |
New Britain |
First Team Defense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
DE |
Matt King |
6-3 |
242 |
SR |
University of Maine |
Stoughton, Mass. |
Stoughton |
|
DE |
Marques Murrell |
6-2 |
245 |
SR |
Appalachian State Univ. |
Fayetteville, No. Car. |
Jack Britt |
|
DE |
Bryan Smith |
6-3 |
206 |
JR |
McNeese State Univ. |
Newton, Texas |
Newton |
|
DT |
Mike Berg |
6-2 |
265 |
SR |
Harvard University |
Stamford, Connecticut |
Westhill |
|
DT |
Matt Brunck |
6-2 |
255 |
SR |
Robert Morris University |
Pittsburgh, Penn. |
Fox Chapel |
|
LB |
Akeem Jordan |
6-0 |
235 |
SR |
James Madison Univ. |
Harrisonburg, Virginia |
Harrisonburg |
|
LB |
Chad Nkang |
6-1 |
218 |
SR |
Elon University |
Hyattsville, Maryland |
Northwestern H.S. |
|
LB |
Kyle Shotwell |
6-1 |
235 |
SR |
Cal Poly |
Goleta, California |
Dos Pueblos |
|
LB |
Marcus Taylor |
6-1 |
244 |
SR |
Fordham University |
Silver Spring, Maryland |
Silver Spring |
|
LB |
Donald Thomas |
5-10 |
222 |
JR |
Eastern Illinois Univ. |
St. Louis, Missouri |
Riverview Gardens |
|
DB |
Dre Dokes |
5-9 |
162 |
SR |
Univ. of Northern Iowa |
Springfield, Missouri |
Kickapoo |
|
DB |
James Ihedigbo |
6-1 |
202 |
SR |
Univ. of Massachusetts |
Amherst, Mass. |
Amherst Regional |
|
DB |
Corey Lynch |
6-0 |
205 |
JR |
Appalachian State Univ. |
Cape Coral, Florida |
Evangelical Christian |
|
DB |
D. Rodgers-Cromartie |
6-2 |
170 |
JR |
Tennessee State Univ. |
Bradenton, Florida |
|
|
DB |
Stacey Thomas |
6-0 |
200 |
SR |
Texas Southern Univ. |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
Warren Easton |
|
P |
Breck Ackley |
6-1 |
170 |
SR |
Southern University |
Lake Charles, Louisiana |
LaGrange |
Second Team Offense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
QB |
Ricky Santos |
6-2 |
215 |
JR |
Univ, of New Hampshire |
Bellingham, Mass. |
Bellingham |
|
RB |
Steve Baylark |
6-0 |
225 |
SR |
Univ. of Massachusetts |
Apopka, Florida |
Apopka |
|
RB |
Clifton Dawson |
5-10 |
210 |
SR |
Harvard University |
Scarborough, Ontario |
Birchmont Park |
|
RB |
Kevin Richardson |
5-9 |
190 |
JR |
Appalachian State Univ. |
Elizabethtown, No. Car. |
East Bladen |
|
TE |
Patrick Bugg |
6-5 |
215 |
SR |
Eastern Kentucky Univ. |
Harrodsburg, Kentucky |
Harrodsburg |
|
WR |
Maurice Price |
6-1 |
190 |
JR |
Charleston Southern U. |
Jackson, New Jersey |
Pennington |
|
WR |
Micah Rocker |
6-6 |
230 |
JR |
Eastern Illinois Univ. |
Bonita Springs, Florida |
Estero-Minnesota |
|
WR |
Jerome Simpson |
6-3 |
290 |
JR |
Coastal Carolina Univ. |
Reidsville, No. Carolina |
Reidsville |
|
OT |
Brad Poston |
6-5 |
290 |
SR |
Coastal Carolina Univ. |
Florence, South Carolina |
Florence |
|
OG |
Brennan Carvalho |
6-1 |
310 |
JR |
Portland State Univ. |
Kapaa, Hawaii |
Kamehameha |
|
OC |
Ryan Jewell |
6-4 |
285 |
SR |
Youngstown State Univ. |
Warren, Ohio |
Harding |
|
OG |
Colin Dow |
6-5 |
319 |
SO |
University of Montana |
Billings, Montana |
Senior |
|
OT |
Nate Safe |
6-4 |
307 |
JR |
North Dakota State U. |
Cannon Falls, Minn. |
Cannon Falls |
|
PK |
Blake Bercegeay |
6-2 |
168 |
SO |
McNeese State Univ. |
Gonzales, Louisiana |
East Ascension |
|
KOR |
Bryant Eteuoti |
5-7 |
175 |
SO |
Weber State University |
Layton, Utah |
Northridge |
|
PR |
Tuff Harris |
6-0 |
193 |
SR |
University of Montana |
Colstrip, Montana |
Colstrip |
|
AP |
Arkee Whitlock |
5-10 |
195 |
SR |
Southern Illinois Univ. |
Rock Hill, South Carolina |
Rock Hill |
Second Team Defense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
DE |
Ray Gensler |
6-0 |
220 |
SR |
Robert Morris University |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Keystone Oaks |
|
DE |
Rudolph Hardie |
6-1 |
270 |
SR |
Howard University |
Hartford, Connecticut |
Hartford |
|
DE |
Brian Johnston |
6-5 |
280 |
JR |
Gardner-Webb University |
San Diego, California |
Madison |
|
DT |
Justin Frick |
6-3 |
295 |
SR |
North Dakota State U. |
Yankton, S.D. |
Yankton |
|
DT |
Chris White |
6-3 |
275 |
SR |
Cal Poly |
Bakersfield, California |
Garces Memorial |
|
LB |
Zak DeOssie |
6-4 |
240 |
SR |
Brown University |
North Andover, Mass. |
Andover Academy |
|
LB |
Chris Dupuy |
6-0 |
210 |
SR |
Alabama State University |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
Sarah T. Reed |
|
LB |
Justin Durant |
6-2 |
227 |
SR |
Hampton University |
Florence, South Carolina |
Florence |
|
LB |
Jason Hatchell |
6-1 |
224 |
JR |
Univ. of Massachusetts |
Mullica Hill, New Jersey |
Clearview Regional |
|
LB |
Omonigho Imeokparia |
6-0 |
220 |
SR |
Delaware State Univ. |
St. Petersburg, Florida |
Gibbs |
|
LB |
Cameron Siskowic |
6-2 |
225 |
SR |
Illinois State University |
San Diego, California |
Clairmont |
|
DB |
Jonathan Barsi |
6-1 |
205 |
SR |
UC Davis |
Los Altos, California |
St. Francis |
|
DB |
Jamelle Juneau |
6-2 |
215 |
JR |
McNeese State Univ. |
Bunkie, Louisiana |
Bunkie |
|
DB |
Tony LeZotte |
6-0 |
200 |
JR |
James Madison Univ. |
Augusta, Georgia |
Westside |
|
DB |
Jason Perry |
5-8 |
165 |
SR |
Youngstown State Univ. |
Warrensville Heights, Oh. |
St. Peter Chanel |
|
DB |
Quinton Teal |
6-1 |
187 |
SR |
Coastal Carolina Univ. |
Bennettsville, So. Car. |
Marlboro County |
|
P |
Mike Dragosavich |
6-5 |
199 |
JR |
North Dakota State U. |
Oak Lawn, Illinois |
Richards |
Third Team Offense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
QB |
Jason Murrieta |
6-1 |
215 |
SR |
Univ. Northern Arizona |
Glendale, Arizona |
Ironwood |
|
RB |
Pierre Rembert |
6-0 |
220 |
SR |
Illinois State University |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Cudahy |
|
RB |
D.D. Terry |
6-2 |
190 |
SR |
Sam Houston State U. |
Willis, Texas |
Willis |
|
RB |
Vincent Webb |
5-10 |
206 |
SR |
Eastern Illinois Univ. |
St. Louis, Missouri |
Ladue |
|
TE |
Braden Jones |
6-4 |
260 |
SR |
Southern Illinois Univ. |
Harrisburg, Illinois |
Northwestern HS |
|
WR |
Curtis Hamilton |
6-0 |
195 |
JR |
Western Kentucky Univ. |
West Paducah, Kentucky |
Paducah Tilghman |
|
WR |
William Mayfield |
6-2 |
220 |
SR |
Appalachian State Univ. |
Durham, North Carolina |
Southern Durham |
|
WR |
Eric Yancey |
5-9 |
165 |
SR |
Towson University |
Germantown, Maryland |
Seneca Valley |
|
OT |
Chad Rinehart |
6-5 |
310 |
JR |
Univ. of Northern Iowa |
Boone, Iowa |
Boone |
|
OG |
Brian Kepple |
6-3 |
300 |
SR |
Coastal Carolina Univ. |
Clover, South Carolina |
Clover |
|
OC |
Alex Miller |
6-2 |
290 |
JR |
Univ. of Massachusetts |
Fairfax, Virginia |
Chantilly |
|
OG |
Andrew Thornburg |
6-3 |
280 |
SR |
Furman University |
Snellville, Georgia |
|
|
OT |
Mike St. Germain |
6-5 |
285 |
SR |
Lafayette College |
Morris Plains, New Jer. |
Morristown |
|
PK |
Ron Zarrilli |
6-0 |
193 |
JR |
Hofstra University |
Orlando, Florida |
Colonial |
|
KOR |
Ulysses Banks |
5-10 |
195 |
FR |
Alabama A&M University |
Birmingham, Alabama |
Parker |
|
PR |
Eric Weems |
5-9 |
175 |
SR |
Bethune-Cookman Coll. |
Ormond Beach, Florida |
Seabreeze |
|
AP |
Clay Green |
6-0 |
205 |
JR |
Jacksonville State Univ. |
Birmingham, Ala. |
Huffman |
Third Team Defense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
DE |
Kroy Biermann |
6-3 |
233 |
JR |
University of Montana |
Hardin, Montana |
Hardin |
|
DE |
Edgar Jones |
6-5 |
250 |
JR |
SE Missouri State Univ. |
Rayville, Louisiana |
|
|
DE |
Kevin Winston |
6-3 |
230 |
SR |
James Madison Univ. |
Beltsville, Maryland |
High Point |
|
DT |
Ronald Green |
6-0 |
300 |
SI |
Mississippi Valley St. U. |
Tampa, Florida |
Blake |
|
DT |
Rio Stotler |
6-1 |
295 |
SO |
Weber State University |
West Jordan, Utah |
West Jordan |
|
LB |
Mario E. Brown |
6-2 |
234 |
SO |
Gardner-Webb Univ. |
Greenville, South Carolina |
J.L. Mann |
|
LB |
Colin Disch |
6-1 |
220 |
JR |
University at Albany |
North Plainfield, New Jer. |
North Plainfield |
|
LB |
Adam Hayward |
6-0 |
235 |
SR |
Portland State Univ. |
Westminster, California |
Marina |
|
LB |
Mike Gallihugh |
5-11 |
195 |
JR |
Colgate University |
Midlothian, Virginia |
Blair (NJ) Academy |
|
LB |
John Mohring |
6-1 |
225 |
SR |
Georgia Southern Univ. |
Naples, Florida |
Bishop Verot |
|
DB |
Kenny Chicoine |
6-0 |
205 |
SR |
Cal Poly |
Huntington Beach, Calif. |
Mater Dei |
|
DB |
Michael Dorsey |
6-2 |
205 |
JR |
Portland State Univ. |
Milwaukie, Oregon |
Rex Putnam |
|
DB |
Jim Strickland |
6-1 |
190 |
SR |
Princeton University |
Cummings, Georgia |
North Forsyth |
|
DB |
Brent Webber |
6-1 |
195 |
JR |
Sacramento State Univ. |
Sanger, California |
Sanger |
|
DB |
Jeremy Wiggins |
5-9 |
190 |
SR |
Appalachian State Univ. |
Macon, Georgia |
Northeast |
|
P |
David Simonhoff |
6-2 |
200 |
SR |
Southeast Missouri St. U. |
Coral Gables, Florida |
|
Honorable Mention Offense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
|
Included |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RB |
Kyle Steffes |
5-11 |
209 |
SR |
North Dakota State U. |
Dickinson, North Dakota |
Trinity |
Honorable Mention Defense
|
POS |
NAME |
HT |
WT |
YR |
SCHOOL |
HOMETOWN |
HIGH SCHOOL |
|
|
Included |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DB |
Craig Dahl |
6-1 |
213 |
SR |
North Dakota State U. |
Mankato, Minnesota |
East |
