CHARLOTTE, N.C.--North Dakota State University's Ryan Smith was named to the College Football Performance Awards FCS Punt Returner Watch List released July 9. Smith, who was also named to the wide receiver watch list, was one of two Missouri Valley Football Conference receivers listed.
Smith, a 5-foot-7,
175-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, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
2012 CFPA FCS Punt
Returner Award Watch List
Ryan
Kirchner, Albany
Terrance
Lewis, Alcorn State
Tee
Howell, Austin Peay
Jordan
Brown, Bryant
Charles
James, Charleston Southern
Niccolo
Mastromatteo, Coastal Carolina
Toms
Bernhards-Callahan, Davidson
Tyler
Hujik, Dayton
Rob
Jones, Delaware
Justin
Bell, Eastern Kentucky
Ricky
Rhodes, Gardner-Webb
Kevin
Macari, Georgetown
Darreion
Robinson, Georgia Southern
Albert
Wilson, Georgia State
Donovan
Harden, Illinois State
D'Andre
Randle, Jacksonville
Alan
Bonner, Jacksonville State
Darius
Carey, McNeese State
Mitchell
Pollard, Monmouth
Patrick
Robertson, Murray State
Joey
Orlando, New Hampshire
Marcus
Cooperwood, Norfolk State
Erik
Mersereau, North Dakota
Ryan Smith, North Dakota State
Taylor
Malenfant, Northern Arizona
Reid
Evans, Old Dominion
Robert
Shaw, Sam Houston State
Sam
Hoekstra, San Diego
Darius
Drummond, South Carolina State
Steven
Murphy, South Carolina State
Virgil
Williams, Southern University
Jordan
Aubrey, Stephen F. Austin
Gralyn
Crawford, Stephen F. Austin
Weldon
Garlington, Tennessee State
Caleb
Mitchell, Tennessee Tech
Trent
White, VMI
