Veldman, Smith Highlight Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Selections
11/30/2011 10:17:00 PM | Football
ST. LOUIS, Mo.--North Dakota State University tight end Matt Veldman was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic first team, while wide receiver/return specialist Ryan Smith earned second team honors.
Forty student-athletes, including 14 who earned first-team honors were announced by the league office today. Six of the 14 first-teamers also earned 2011 Capital One Academic All-District plaudits, as selected by College Sports Information Directors (CoSIDA).
North Dakota State (10-1) hosts James Madison (8-4) at 3:05 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs at the Fargodome.
Four NDSU players -- defensive lineman Ryan Drevlow, fullback Andrew Grothmann, offensive lineman Jesse Hinz and defensive lineman Justin Juckem -- earned honorable mention.
TE Matt Veldman, North Dakota State (Becker, Minn./Becker H.S.), 6-7, 257, Sr., 3.53 Marketing -- Putting together best season of career … 2011 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference 2nd team ... Third on the team with 22 receptions for 257 yards and three TDs ... Averaging 11.7 yards per reception and 23.4 yards per game ... Had a career-high five receptions vs. Missouri State ... Made at least one reception in 10 of 11 games started ... Nominated for NFF Campbell Trophy ... Earned MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking field goal attempt vs. Illinois State ... Caught game-winning TD vs. Southern Illinois ... Missouri Valley Football Conference President's Council Award ... MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award ... MVFC Honor Roll.
WR/RS Ryan Smith, North Dakota State (Wahpeton, N.D./Wahpeton H.S.), 5-7, 174, So., 3.48 Business Administration -- Two-year performer … Honorable mention 2011 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team … MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week ... Averaging 85..6 all-purpose yards per game ... Has returned 23 punts for 250 yards (10.9 avg/r) and one TD, a 41-yard score at South Dakota State ... Leads the Valley and ranks 13th nationally in punt returns ... Has returned seven kickoffs for 191 yards, averaging 27.3 yards per return ... Has started 10 games at wide receiver after making switch from running back ... Has 40 receptions for 471 yards ... Averaging 11.8 yards per reception and 42.8 yards per game ... Caught a season-high seven passes at Indiana State ... Made at least one reception in all 11 games ... MVFC Honor Roll.
Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale). Student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing at their institutions (freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution. League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.
2011 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team
(voting by league SIDs)
FIRST TEAM
Student-Athlete, School Ht. Wt. Yr. GPA Major Hometown/High School
#DT Ben Boothby, UNI 6-0 280 Gr. 3.89 Physical Ed: Kinesiology Clinton (Iowa) High
#DL Eric Brunner, Illinois State 6-2 285 Sr. 3.36 Accounting Greendale (Wis.) High
P Jordan Chiles, Missouri State 5-11 178 Sr. 3.46 Exercise & Movement Science Hillsboro (Ill.) High
WR/PR Myers Hendrickson, WIU 5-11 190 Sr 3.90 Supply Chain Management Macomb (Ill.) High
#WR Jarred Herring, UNI 5-9 170 Sr. 3.61 Psychology Burlington (Iowa) High
QB Kurt Hess, Youngstown State 6-3 235 So. 3.28 Early Childhood Education Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade-Julienne
TE Brad Iverson, S. Dakota State 6-4 235 Sr. 4.00 Pre-Medicine/ Biochemistry Sioux Falls (S.D.) Roosevelt High
LB Connor James, Southern Illinois 6-1 221 Gr. 4.00 Sports Administration Mattoon (Ill.) High
OL FN Lutz, Indiana State 6-3 290 Jr. 3.26 Criminal Justice West Lafayette (Ind.) Lafayette Harrison
#CB Mike McElroy, S. Illinois 6-1 212 Sr. 3.73 Health Education Lowell (Mich.) High
LB Kevin Palermo, Western Illinois 6-1 225 Sr. 3.51 Construction Management West Chicago (Ill.) Driscoll Catholic
#OL David Pickard, S. Illinois 6-5 306 Gr. 4.00 Public Administration Oak Park (Ill.) High
#DB Alex Sewall, Indiana State 6-1 210 Sr. 3.73 Exercise Science Western Springs (Ill.) Lyons Township
TE Matt Veldman, N. Dakota State 6-7 257 Sr. 3.53 Marketing Becker (Minn.) High
SECOND TEAM
P Kyle Bernard, UNI 6-3 198 Jr. 3.77 Movement & Exercise Science Cedar Falls (Iowa) High
DB Julian Easterly, Indiana State 6-0 190 Sr. 3.97 English Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech
FB Mike Harmon, Western Illinois 5-11 240 Jr. 3.87 Exercise Science Peoria (Ill.) Central High
DB Bo Helm, South Dakota State 5-10 190 Jr. 3.46 Biology Childress (Texas) High
WR Brandon Hubert, S. Dakota St. 5-11 185 So. 3.53 Pre-Pharmacy / Gretna (Neb.) High
Certified
ACS Chemistry
DT Andrew Johnson, Youngstown St. 6-4 285 Sr. 3.63 Sociology Detroit (Mich.) Southeastern High
QB Marc Kanetsky, Youngstown St. 6-0 195 Sr. 3.87 Biology Hubbard (Ohio) High
LB Joe Okon, Southern Illinois 6-3 241 Sr. 3.32 Psychology Arlington Heights (Ill.) Rolling Meadows
OL Alex Olinger, S. Dakota State 6-3 295 Jr. 3.98 Pre-Med./Pharmacy/Biology Ames (Iowa) High
P Austin Pucylowski, S. Illinois 6-4 236 So. 4.00 Pre-Med. New Berlin (Wis.) Catholic Memorial
WR/RS Ryan Smith, N. Dakota St. 5-7 174 So. 3.48 Business Administration Wahpeton (N.D.) High
OL Taylor Suess, S. Dakota State 6-3 290 So. 3.93 Mechanical Engineering Columbus (Neb.) Scotus Central Catholic
TE Matt Thayer, Missouri State 6-4 235 Jr. 3.36 Criminology Bellevue (Neb.) Bellevue East High
DE Colton Underwood, Illinois State 6-4 245 So. 3.39 Marketing Washington (Ill.) High
HONORABLE MENTION
Indiana State: TE Michael Mardis • Missouri State: PK Austin Witmer • Southern Illinois: LS Jason Stegman • South Dakota State: OL Zach Buchner, TE Seth Daughters, RB Tyrel Kool, LB Ross Shafrath • Western Illinois: OL Jordan Valle • North Dakota State: DL Ryan Drevlow, FB Andrew Grothmann, OL Jesse Hinz, DL Justin Juckem
# - denotes Capital One Academic All-District Selections
