
Punt returner Darrius Shepherd earned his first All-America award.
Photo by: Tim Sanger
Eight Bison Named to STATS FCS All-America Team
12/18/2018 12:00:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO - Quarterback Easton Stick, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in FCS, was one of eight players from North Dakota State named to the STATS FCS All-America Team announced Tuesday, Dec. 18.
Stick is up for the Payton along with senior quarterbacks Chandler Burks of Kennesaw State and Devlin Hodges of Samford. Their order on the All-America team will be determined after the banquet.
North Dakota State center Tanner Volson and safety Robbie Grimsley made the first team, offensive tackle Zack Johnson and linebacker Jabril Cox the second team, and defensive end Greg Menard, punter Garret Wegner and punt returner Darrius Shepherd the third team.
It was the first All-America honor for Shepherd, who ranks fourth in the FCS in punt returns with 15.6 yards per return.
No. 1-ranked North Dakota State (14-0) plays third-ranked Eastern Washington (12-2) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
2018 STATS FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
*-Order of quarterbacks to be determined after the STATS FCS Awards Banquet on Jan. 4.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221, North Dakota State
RB – Ryan Fulse, senior, 5-11, 195, Wagner
RB – A.J. Hines, junior, 5-11, 225, Duquesne
FB – Joe Protheroe, senior, 5-11, 230, Cal Poly
WR – Michael Bandy, junior, 5-11, 190, San Diego
WR – Keelan Doss, senior, 6-3, 210, UC Davis
WR – Josh Pearson, junior, 6-4, 205, Jacksonville State
TE – Donald Parham, senior, 6-8, 240, Stetson
OL – B.J. Autry, senior, 6-5, 340, Jacksonville State
OL – Drew Forbes, senior, 6-5, 305, Southeast Missouri
OL – Iosua Opeta, senior, 6-4, 305, Weber State
OL – Matt Pyke, senior, 6-2, 302, ETSU
OL – Tanner Volson, senior, 6-4, 306, North Dakota State
DEFENSE
DL – Darryl Johnson Jr., junior, 6-5, 232, North Carolina A&T
DL – Isaiah Mack, senior, 6-3, 305, Chattanooga
DL – Derick Roberson, senior, 6-4, 250, Sam Houston State
DL – Khalen Saunders, senior, 6-2, 310, Western Illinois
LB – B.J. Blunt, senior, 6-1, 220, McNeese
LB – Zach Hall, junior, 6-0, 230, Southeast Missouri
LB – Dante Olson, junior, 6-3, 237, Montana
LB – Sterling Sheffield, senior, 6-2, 240, Maine
DB – Nasir Adderley, senior, 6-0, 200, Delaware
DB – Robbie Grimsley, senior, 6-0, 194, North Dakota State
DB – Jimmy Moreland, senior, 5-11, 175, James Madison
DB – Isiah Swann, junior, 6-0, 190, Dartmouth
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Roldan Alcobendas, senior, 6-0, 180, Eastern Washington
P – Alex Pechin, senior, 6-0, 200, Bucknell
LS – Patrick Eby, senior, 6-3, 235, Columbia
KR – Jean Constant, junior, 5-9, 177, Bryant
PR – D'Angelo Amos, sophomore, 6-1, 180, James Madison
AP – John Lovett, senior, 6-3, 225, Princeton
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221, North Dakota State
RB – James Robinson, junior, 5-10, 220, Illinois State
RB – Marquis Terry, senior, 5-7, 180, Southeast Missouri
FB – Andre Stoddard, senior, 5-10, 240, Wofford
WR – Jazz Ferguson, junior, 6-5, 223, Northwestern State
WR – Alexander Hollins, senior, 6-1, 170, Eastern Illinois
WR – Jesper Horsted, senior, 6-4, 225, Princeton
TE – Charlie Taumoepeau, junior, 6-3, 240, Portland State
OL – J'Von Brown, junior, 6-3, 350, Central Connecticut State
OL – Tytus Howard, senior 6-6, 311, Alabama State
OL – Zack Johnson, junior, 6-6, 316, North Dakota State
OL – Matt Kaskey, senior, 6-7, 325, Dartmouth
OL – Oli Udoh, senior, 6-5, 336, Elon
DEFENSE
DL – Ahmad Gooden, senior, 6-2, 245, Samford
DL – Sully Laiche, junior, 6-2, 270, Nicholls
DL – Jay-Tee Tiuli, senior, 6-4, 315, Eastern Washington
DL – Nick Wheeler, junior, 6-2, 255, Colgate
LB – Jabril Cox, sophomore, 6-3, 231, North Dakota State
LB – Cam Gill, junior, 6-3, 230, Wagner
LB – Troy Reeder, senior, 6-3, 245, Delaware
LB – Pete Swenson, senior, 6-3, 230, Western Illinois
DB – Jordan Brown, senior, 6-1, 200, South Dakota State
DB – Abu Daramy-Swaray, junior, 5-10, 190, Colgate
DB – Manny Patterson, senior, 5-10, 180, Maine
DB – Tyree Robinson, sophomore, 5-11, 184, ETSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Austin Errthum, senior, 5-10, 180, UNI
P – Cade Coffey, sophomore, 6-1, 191, Idaho
LS – Steven Wethli, senior, 6-0, 230, Youngstown State
KR – Malik Wilson, senior, 5-11, 166, North Carolina A&T
PR – Booker Chambers, senior, 5-9, 185, Mississippi Valley State
AP – Tyrie Adams, junior, 6-2, 180, Western Carolina
AP – Shane Simpson, junior, 5-9, 200, Towson
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221, North Dakota State
RB – Ra'Quanne Dickens, senior, 5-10, 195, Incarnate Word
RB – James Holland Jr., senior, 5-9, 210, Colgate
RB – De'Shawn Waller, junior, 5-11, 210, Alcorn State
FB – Cal Daniels, senior, 6-2, 255, Stony Brook
WR – Juston Christian, senior, 6-0, 188, Marist
WR – Cade Johnson, sophomore, 5-10, 180, South Dakota State
WR – Kelvin McKnight, senior, 5-8, 186, Samford
WR – Reggie White Jr., senior, 6-3, 210, Monmouth
TE – Charles Scarff, TE, senior, 6-6, 270, Delaware
OL – Spencer Blackburn, senior, 6-2, 285, Eastern Washington
OL – Garrett Bowery, senior, 6-2, 303, Lamar
OL – C.J. Collins, senior, 6-3, 255, Kennesaw State
OL – Daniel Cooney, senior, 6-8, 315, San Diego
OL – Micah Shaw, senior, 6-1, 264, North Carolina A&T
OL – Cal Twait, senior, 6-5, 305, UNI
DEFENSE
DL – Solomon Brown, senior, 6-1, 235, Charleston Southern
DL – Miles Brown, senior, 6-2, 320, Wofford
DL – Rocco Di Leo, senior, 6-3, 285, Dartmouth
DL – Greg Menard, senior, 6-2, 240, North Dakota State
DL – Nasir Player, junior, 6-5, 271, ETSU
LB – De'Arius Christmas, senior, 5-10, 220, Grambling State
LB – Anthony Gore Jr., senior 6-0, 201, Kennesaw State
LB – Jonas Griffith, junior, 6-4, 240, Indiana State
LB – Warren Messer, senior, 5-11, 227, Elon
LB – LeGrand Toia, senior, 6-2, 225, Weber State
DB – Davon Jernigan, senior, 6-0, 208, Lamar
DB – Hakeem Kinard, senior, 5-10, 200, Saint Francis
DB – Davanta Reynolds, senior, 5-10, 200, North Carolina Central
DB – Will Warner, junior, 6-3, 201, Drake
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Aidan O'Neill, junior, 6-1, 199, Towson
P – Chris Faddoul, sophomore, 6-1, 182, Florida A&M
P – Garret Wegner, sophomore, 6-0, 191, North Dakota State
LS – Patrick Keefe, senior, 5-11, 195, The Citadel
KR – Jimmie Robinson, senior, 5-8, 162, Bethune-Cookman
PR – Darrius Shepherd, senior, 5-11, 188, North Dakota State
AP – Troy Anderson, sophomore, 6-3, 215, Montana State
Stick is up for the Payton along with senior quarterbacks Chandler Burks of Kennesaw State and Devlin Hodges of Samford. Their order on the All-America team will be determined after the banquet.
North Dakota State center Tanner Volson and safety Robbie Grimsley made the first team, offensive tackle Zack Johnson and linebacker Jabril Cox the second team, and defensive end Greg Menard, punter Garret Wegner and punt returner Darrius Shepherd the third team.
It was the first All-America honor for Shepherd, who ranks fourth in the FCS in punt returns with 15.6 yards per return.
No. 1-ranked North Dakota State (14-0) plays third-ranked Eastern Washington (12-2) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
2018 STATS FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
*-Order of quarterbacks to be determined after the STATS FCS Awards Banquet on Jan. 4.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221, North Dakota State
RB – Ryan Fulse, senior, 5-11, 195, Wagner
RB – A.J. Hines, junior, 5-11, 225, Duquesne
FB – Joe Protheroe, senior, 5-11, 230, Cal Poly
WR – Michael Bandy, junior, 5-11, 190, San Diego
WR – Keelan Doss, senior, 6-3, 210, UC Davis
WR – Josh Pearson, junior, 6-4, 205, Jacksonville State
TE – Donald Parham, senior, 6-8, 240, Stetson
OL – B.J. Autry, senior, 6-5, 340, Jacksonville State
OL – Drew Forbes, senior, 6-5, 305, Southeast Missouri
OL – Iosua Opeta, senior, 6-4, 305, Weber State
OL – Matt Pyke, senior, 6-2, 302, ETSU
OL – Tanner Volson, senior, 6-4, 306, North Dakota State
DEFENSE
DL – Darryl Johnson Jr., junior, 6-5, 232, North Carolina A&T
DL – Isaiah Mack, senior, 6-3, 305, Chattanooga
DL – Derick Roberson, senior, 6-4, 250, Sam Houston State
DL – Khalen Saunders, senior, 6-2, 310, Western Illinois
LB – B.J. Blunt, senior, 6-1, 220, McNeese
LB – Zach Hall, junior, 6-0, 230, Southeast Missouri
LB – Dante Olson, junior, 6-3, 237, Montana
LB – Sterling Sheffield, senior, 6-2, 240, Maine
DB – Nasir Adderley, senior, 6-0, 200, Delaware
DB – Robbie Grimsley, senior, 6-0, 194, North Dakota State
DB – Jimmy Moreland, senior, 5-11, 175, James Madison
DB – Isiah Swann, junior, 6-0, 190, Dartmouth
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Roldan Alcobendas, senior, 6-0, 180, Eastern Washington
P – Alex Pechin, senior, 6-0, 200, Bucknell
LS – Patrick Eby, senior, 6-3, 235, Columbia
KR – Jean Constant, junior, 5-9, 177, Bryant
PR – D'Angelo Amos, sophomore, 6-1, 180, James Madison
AP – John Lovett, senior, 6-3, 225, Princeton
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221, North Dakota State
RB – James Robinson, junior, 5-10, 220, Illinois State
RB – Marquis Terry, senior, 5-7, 180, Southeast Missouri
FB – Andre Stoddard, senior, 5-10, 240, Wofford
WR – Jazz Ferguson, junior, 6-5, 223, Northwestern State
WR – Alexander Hollins, senior, 6-1, 170, Eastern Illinois
WR – Jesper Horsted, senior, 6-4, 225, Princeton
TE – Charlie Taumoepeau, junior, 6-3, 240, Portland State
OL – J'Von Brown, junior, 6-3, 350, Central Connecticut State
OL – Tytus Howard, senior 6-6, 311, Alabama State
OL – Zack Johnson, junior, 6-6, 316, North Dakota State
OL – Matt Kaskey, senior, 6-7, 325, Dartmouth
OL – Oli Udoh, senior, 6-5, 336, Elon
DEFENSE
DL – Ahmad Gooden, senior, 6-2, 245, Samford
DL – Sully Laiche, junior, 6-2, 270, Nicholls
DL – Jay-Tee Tiuli, senior, 6-4, 315, Eastern Washington
DL – Nick Wheeler, junior, 6-2, 255, Colgate
LB – Jabril Cox, sophomore, 6-3, 231, North Dakota State
LB – Cam Gill, junior, 6-3, 230, Wagner
LB – Troy Reeder, senior, 6-3, 245, Delaware
LB – Pete Swenson, senior, 6-3, 230, Western Illinois
DB – Jordan Brown, senior, 6-1, 200, South Dakota State
DB – Abu Daramy-Swaray, junior, 5-10, 190, Colgate
DB – Manny Patterson, senior, 5-10, 180, Maine
DB – Tyree Robinson, sophomore, 5-11, 184, ETSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Austin Errthum, senior, 5-10, 180, UNI
P – Cade Coffey, sophomore, 6-1, 191, Idaho
LS – Steven Wethli, senior, 6-0, 230, Youngstown State
KR – Malik Wilson, senior, 5-11, 166, North Carolina A&T
PR – Booker Chambers, senior, 5-9, 185, Mississippi Valley State
AP – Tyrie Adams, junior, 6-2, 180, Western Carolina
AP – Shane Simpson, junior, 5-9, 200, Towson
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221, North Dakota State
RB – Ra'Quanne Dickens, senior, 5-10, 195, Incarnate Word
RB – James Holland Jr., senior, 5-9, 210, Colgate
RB – De'Shawn Waller, junior, 5-11, 210, Alcorn State
FB – Cal Daniels, senior, 6-2, 255, Stony Brook
WR – Juston Christian, senior, 6-0, 188, Marist
WR – Cade Johnson, sophomore, 5-10, 180, South Dakota State
WR – Kelvin McKnight, senior, 5-8, 186, Samford
WR – Reggie White Jr., senior, 6-3, 210, Monmouth
TE – Charles Scarff, TE, senior, 6-6, 270, Delaware
OL – Spencer Blackburn, senior, 6-2, 285, Eastern Washington
OL – Garrett Bowery, senior, 6-2, 303, Lamar
OL – C.J. Collins, senior, 6-3, 255, Kennesaw State
OL – Daniel Cooney, senior, 6-8, 315, San Diego
OL – Micah Shaw, senior, 6-1, 264, North Carolina A&T
OL – Cal Twait, senior, 6-5, 305, UNI
DEFENSE
DL – Solomon Brown, senior, 6-1, 235, Charleston Southern
DL – Miles Brown, senior, 6-2, 320, Wofford
DL – Rocco Di Leo, senior, 6-3, 285, Dartmouth
DL – Greg Menard, senior, 6-2, 240, North Dakota State
DL – Nasir Player, junior, 6-5, 271, ETSU
LB – De'Arius Christmas, senior, 5-10, 220, Grambling State
LB – Anthony Gore Jr., senior 6-0, 201, Kennesaw State
LB – Jonas Griffith, junior, 6-4, 240, Indiana State
LB – Warren Messer, senior, 5-11, 227, Elon
LB – LeGrand Toia, senior, 6-2, 225, Weber State
DB – Davon Jernigan, senior, 6-0, 208, Lamar
DB – Hakeem Kinard, senior, 5-10, 200, Saint Francis
DB – Davanta Reynolds, senior, 5-10, 200, North Carolina Central
DB – Will Warner, junior, 6-3, 201, Drake
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Aidan O'Neill, junior, 6-1, 199, Towson
P – Chris Faddoul, sophomore, 6-1, 182, Florida A&M
P – Garret Wegner, sophomore, 6-0, 191, North Dakota State
LS – Patrick Keefe, senior, 5-11, 195, The Citadel
KR – Jimmie Robinson, senior, 5-8, 162, Bethune-Cookman
PR – Darrius Shepherd, senior, 5-11, 188, North Dakota State
AP – Troy Anderson, sophomore, 6-3, 215, Montana State
Players Mentioned
Monday, February 09
Monday, December 08
Saturday, December 06
Tuesday, December 02

























