North Dakota State No. 3 in Phil Steele's College Preview's FCS Top 25; Walker, Mays Top GWFC Preseason Honor List
7/14/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
CLEVELAND, Ohio--North Dakota State was ranked No. 3 in Phil Steele's College Preview Football Championship Subdivision (FCS formerly I-AA) Preseason Top 25, while a pair of Bison players topped the Great West Football Conference preseason award list.
It's the 13th year for the publication and the first time the magazine provided an expanded look at the FCS in it's PAC 10 Football 2007 preview issue available in that league's market. However, it is not available in this region.
North Dakota State was picked to win the Great West Football Conference in 2007. Bison quarterback Steve Walker was selected the Preseason GWFC Offensive Player of the Year, while linebacker Joe Mays was tabbed as the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
Walker and Mays headlined a two-deep preseason all-league team that included 13 NDSU players. Wide receiver Kole Heckendorf and offensive tackle Nate Safe joined Walker on the first-team offense, while center Zach Harrington, tight end Jerimiah Wurzbacher and running back Tyler Roehl were named to the second team.
On defense, free safety Nick Schommer and Mays were first team selections. Linebacker Ramon Humber and cornerback Richard Bowman both earned second team honors.
Punter Mike Dragosavich and return specialist Shamen Washington each garnered first team special teams honors, while kicker Shawn Bibeau received second team recognition.
North Dakota State completed the 2006 season with a 10-1 record under the direction of Craig Bohl, including an 8-0 record against FCS schools and a 29-24 win over Mid-American Conference member Ball State. 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.
NDSU was ranked No. 5 in The Sports Network and CSN Coaches final 2006 Top 25 polls. The Bison lost 10-9 to bowl-participant Minnesota of the Big Ten at the Metrodome.
The Bison open the 2007 season against Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m., Sept. 8, at the Fargodome.
Phil Steele's Great West Predictions
1.
2.
3. UC Davis
4. Cal Poly
5.
Great West Players of the Year
OFFENSE: Steve Walker, QB,
DEFENSE: Joe Mays, LB,
Phil Steele's College Preview FCS Preseason Top 25
1. Appalachian State
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. James Madison
8. Southern
9.
10. Northern
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. Eastern
16. Wofford
17.
18. Coastal
19. Furman
20.
21. Harvard
22.
23. UC Davis
24.
25. Holy Cross
Best of the Rest: Penn, Tennessee-Martin, The Citadel, Yale &
Phil Steele's College Preview Preseason All-Great West Teams
OFFENSE
First team
WR Ramses Barden, Jr., Cal Poly
WR Kole Heckendorf, Jr.,
TE Chris Wagner, Sr.,
OL Nate Safe, Sr.,
OL Matt Roan, Sr.,
OL Stephen Field, Jr., Cal Poly
OL Mitch Erickson, Sr.,
OL Preston Crumly, Sr.,
QB Steve Walker, Sr.,
RB James Noble, Jr., Cal Poly
RB Johnny Sanchez, Sr.,
Second team
WR Chris Carter, Jr., UC Davis
WR JaRon Harris, Jr.,
TE Jerimiah Wurzbacher, Jr.,
OL Zach Harrington, Jr.,
OL Jon Compas, Jr., UC Davis
OL Dylan Roddick, Sr., Cal Poly
OL Brandon Guzman, Sr.,
OL Nick Flesner, Jr.,
QB Wes Marshall, Sr.,
RB Cory Koenig, Sr.,
RB Tyler Roehl, Jr.,
DEFENSE
First team
DL James Amos, Sr., UC Davis
DL John Faletoese, Jr., UC Davis
DL Ryan Shotwell, So., Cal Poly
DL Jimmy Judd, Sr.,
LB Justin Kubesh, Sr.,
LB Joe Mays, Sr.,
LB Chris Buck, Sr., UC Davis
DB Adam Cook, Sr., UC Davis
DB D.J. Senter, Jr.,
DB Derrick Brown, Sr.,
DB Nick Schommer, Jr.,
Second team
DL Jason Bonwell, Sr.,
DL Adam Torosian, Sr., Cal Poly
DL Mitch Pontrelli, Sr.,
DL Eric Schroeder, Jr.,
LB Mark Restelli, Jr., Cal Poly
LB Ramon Humber, Jr.,
LB La'Var Porter, Sr.,
DB Jovan Jackson, Sr.,
DB Andre Thomas, Sr., Cal Poly
DB Brock Gentile, Sr.,
DB Richard Bowman, Jr.,
SPECIAL TEAM
First team
K Parker Douglass, Sr.,
P Mike Dragosavich, Sr.,
RS Shamen
Second team
K Shawn Bibeau,
P Tim Chicoine, Sr., Cal Poly
RS James Noble, Sr., Cal Poly
