Photo by: Zachary Lucy
Volson, Watson Named to Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team
6/22/2021 10:10:00 AM | Football
FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State offensive lineman Cordell Volson and kick returner Christian Watson were named to the 2021 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team announced Tuesday, June 22.
Volson, a senior from Balfour, N.D., was named the 2020-21 FCS Top Offensive Lineman by the FCS Athletic Directors Association and played all four guard and tackle positions for NDSU last year, including starts at left tackle, right tackle and right guard. He has played in 40 consecutive games for the Bison and started 26 straight.
Watson, a senior from Tampa, Fla., led the FCS and tied the NDSU single-season record with two kickoff return touchdowns in 2020-21, including a 100-yard return in the three-point win at Northern Iowa and a 94-yard score in the FCS quarterfinals at Sam Houston. He led all Bison receivers with 19 catches for 442 yards and one touchdown.
Both players earned first team All-America honors from The Associated Press, Stats Perform, HERO Sports, Phil Steele and Athlon Sports for the 2020-21 season.
2021 ATHLON SPORTS PRESEASON FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Kelley (6-7/260/Sr.) Southeastern Louisiana
RB – Julius Chestnut (6-1/215/Sr.) Sacred Heart
RB – Jah-Maine Martin (5-10/214/Sr.) North Carolina A&T
RB – Otis Weah (5-9/195/Jr.) North Dakota
WR – Avante Cox (5-10/170/Sr.) Southern Illinois
WR – Jakob Herres (6-4/211/Sr.) VMI
WR – Tyler Hudson (6-2/195/Jr.) Central Arkansas
TE – Ryan Miller (6-2/221/Sr.) Furman
OL – P.J. Burkhalter (6-3/330/Sr.) Nicholls
OL – Garret Greenfield (6-6/295/Jr.) South Dakota State
OL – David Kroll (6-7/315/Sr.) Delaware
OL – Cordell Volson (6-7/310/Sr.) North Dakota State
OL – Ty Whitworth (6-4/300/Sr.) Weber State
DEFENSE
DL – Jared Brinkman (6-2/290/Sr.) Northern Iowa
DL – Mike Greene (6-3/285/Sr.) James Madison
DL – Jahari Kay (6-2/255/Sr.) Sam Houston
DL – Jordan Lewis (6-3/195/Sr.) Southern
LB – Logan Backhaus (6-4/205/Sr.) South Dakota State
LB – Conner Mortensen (6-0/215/Sr.) Weber State
LB – Stone Snyder (6-3/225/Jr.) VMI
LB – Tre Walker (6-1/235/Sr.) Idaho
DB – Markquese Bell (6-3/205/Jr.) Florida A&M
DB – Chris Edmonds (6-2/205/Jr.) Samford
DB – Nicario Harper (6-1/205/Jr.) Jacksonville State
DB – Kordell Jackson (5-9/188/Sr.) Austin Peay
DB – Kedrick Whitehead (5-11/195/Sr.) Delaware
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Ethan Ratke (5-10/185/Sr.) James Madison
P – Daniel Whelan (6-6/215/Sr.) UC Davis
LS – Kyle Davis (5-11/210/Sr.) James Madison
KR – Christian Watson (6-4/200/Sr.) North Dakota State
PR – Jequez Ezzard (5-9/190/Grad) Sam Houston
AP – Javon Williams Jr. (6-2/245/Jr.) Southern Illinois
Volson, a senior from Balfour, N.D., was named the 2020-21 FCS Top Offensive Lineman by the FCS Athletic Directors Association and played all four guard and tackle positions for NDSU last year, including starts at left tackle, right tackle and right guard. He has played in 40 consecutive games for the Bison and started 26 straight.
Watson, a senior from Tampa, Fla., led the FCS and tied the NDSU single-season record with two kickoff return touchdowns in 2020-21, including a 100-yard return in the three-point win at Northern Iowa and a 94-yard score in the FCS quarterfinals at Sam Houston. He led all Bison receivers with 19 catches for 442 yards and one touchdown.
Both players earned first team All-America honors from The Associated Press, Stats Perform, HERO Sports, Phil Steele and Athlon Sports for the 2020-21 season.
2021 ATHLON SPORTS PRESEASON FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Kelley (6-7/260/Sr.) Southeastern Louisiana
RB – Julius Chestnut (6-1/215/Sr.) Sacred Heart
RB – Jah-Maine Martin (5-10/214/Sr.) North Carolina A&T
RB – Otis Weah (5-9/195/Jr.) North Dakota
WR – Avante Cox (5-10/170/Sr.) Southern Illinois
WR – Jakob Herres (6-4/211/Sr.) VMI
WR – Tyler Hudson (6-2/195/Jr.) Central Arkansas
TE – Ryan Miller (6-2/221/Sr.) Furman
OL – P.J. Burkhalter (6-3/330/Sr.) Nicholls
OL – Garret Greenfield (6-6/295/Jr.) South Dakota State
OL – David Kroll (6-7/315/Sr.) Delaware
OL – Cordell Volson (6-7/310/Sr.) North Dakota State
OL – Ty Whitworth (6-4/300/Sr.) Weber State
DEFENSE
DL – Jared Brinkman (6-2/290/Sr.) Northern Iowa
DL – Mike Greene (6-3/285/Sr.) James Madison
DL – Jahari Kay (6-2/255/Sr.) Sam Houston
DL – Jordan Lewis (6-3/195/Sr.) Southern
LB – Logan Backhaus (6-4/205/Sr.) South Dakota State
LB – Conner Mortensen (6-0/215/Sr.) Weber State
LB – Stone Snyder (6-3/225/Jr.) VMI
LB – Tre Walker (6-1/235/Sr.) Idaho
DB – Markquese Bell (6-3/205/Jr.) Florida A&M
DB – Chris Edmonds (6-2/205/Jr.) Samford
DB – Nicario Harper (6-1/205/Jr.) Jacksonville State
DB – Kordell Jackson (5-9/188/Sr.) Austin Peay
DB – Kedrick Whitehead (5-11/195/Sr.) Delaware
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Ethan Ratke (5-10/185/Sr.) James Madison
P – Daniel Whelan (6-6/215/Sr.) UC Davis
LS – Kyle Davis (5-11/210/Sr.) James Madison
KR – Christian Watson (6-4/200/Sr.) North Dakota State
PR – Jequez Ezzard (5-9/190/Grad) Sam Houston
AP – Javon Williams Jr. (6-2/245/Jr.) Southern Illinois
Players Mentioned
OT
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