CHARLOTTE, N.C.--North Dakota State University's Ryan Smith was named to the College Football Performance Awards FCS Wide Receiver Watch List announced this week. Smith was one of four Missouri Valley Football Conference receivers listed.

Smith, a 5-foot-7, 174-pound junior from Wahpeton, N.D. (Wahpeton H.S.), was second on the team with 44 receptions for 531 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.1 yards per catch.

Smith ranked 13th nationally in NCAA Division I FCS punt returns, taking in 25 for 261 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 10.48 yards per return.

Smith was honorable mention on the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference team. He also earned player of the week honors and MVFC all-academic second team honors.

North Dakota State won the program's first NCAA Division I Football Championship with a 17-6 win over Sam Houston State on Jan. 7 and also claimed the program's first Missouri Valley Football Conference title. The Bison were 14-1 overall and 7-1 in MVFC.

The Bison open the 2012 season against Robert Morris at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, in the Fargodome.

College Football Performance Awards FCS Wide Receiver Watch List

G'Alonzo Milton, Alabama A&M

Devin Stark, Austin Peay

Jordan Harris, Bryant

Jesse Grandy, Central Arkansas

Nathan Perera, Charleston Southern

Kurt Ondash, Cornell

Luke Tasker, Cornell

Lanny Funsten, Davidson

Nihja White, Delaware

Chris Wright, Eastern Illinois

Nicholas Edwards, Eastern Washington

Greg Herd, Eastern Washington

*Aaron Mellette, Elon

Albert Wilson, Georgia State

Gerald Mistretta, Holy Cross

Rodrick Rumble, Idaho State

Tyrone Walker, Illinois State

Rico Richardson, Jackson State

Alan Bonner, Jacksonville State

Mark Ross, Lafayette

Ryan Spadola, Lehigh

Donte Sawyer, Morehead State

R.J. Harris, New Hampshire

Xavier Boyce, Norfolk State

Ryan Smith, North Dakota State

Jace Davis, Northern Colorado

Dominic Gunn, Northern Colorado

Larry Pinkard, Old Dominion

Justin Monahan, Portland State

Spencer Nelson, Prairie View A&M

Kelsey Pope, Samford

*Richard Sincere, Sam Houston State

Will Powell, South Dakota

Aaron Rollin, South Dakota State

Gralyn Crawford, Stephen F. Austin

Cordell Roberson, Stephen F. Austin

Quentin Sims, UT-Martin

Norman White, Villanova

Shaydon Kehano, Weber State

*--returning recipient