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