ST. LOUIS - North Dakota State was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference according to a poll of the league's media, head coaches and sports information directors announced Tuesday, July 27.

The Bison took 10 spots on the Preseason All-MVFC team highlighted by senior wide receiver Christian Watson, who was named to the first team as a wide receiver and return specialist.

Six other NDSU preseason first team picks included fullback Hunter Luepke, offensive linemen Cordell Volson and Cody Mauch, defensive end Spencer Waege, linebacker James Kaczor and safety Michael Tutsie.

Bison tight end Noah Gindorff and defensive tackle Eli Mostaert were named to the preseason second team, and tight end Josh Babicz was an honorable mention.

South Dakota State, the national runner-up in the spring 2021 season, earned 24 first-place votes to top the preseason poll with 454 points over second-place North Dakota State's 18 first-place votes and 435 points.

North Dakota was picked third, Southern Illinois fourth and Northern Iowa fifth followed by Missouri State, Illinois State, South Dakota, Youngstown State, Indiana State and Western Illinois in order.

North Dakota State has 20 of 22 starters back from its spring 2021 team that finished the season with a 7-3 record and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the 11th consecutive year.

2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Poll

Team (First-Place Votes)	Pts
1. South Dakota State (24)	454
2. North Dakota State (18)	435
3. North Dakota	357
4. Southern Illinois	345
5. Northern Iowa (1)	311
6. Missouri State	256
7. Illinois State	196
8. South Dakota	163
9. Youngstown State	126
10. Indiana State	112
11. Western Illinois	83

2021 Preseason All-MVFC Team
First Team
QB - Tommy Schuster, RSo. North Dakota
RB - Pierre Strong Jr., Jr., South Dakota State
RB - Otis Weah, RJr., North Dakota
FB - Hunter Luepke, Jr., North Dakota State
TE - Zach Heins, So., South Dakota State
WR - Avante Cox, Jr., Southern Illinois
WR - Christian Watson, Sr., North Dakota State
WR - Dennis Houston, Sr., Western Illinois
OL - Cordell Volson, Sr., North Dakota State
OL - ZeVeyon Furcron, Sr., Southern Illinois
OL - Garret Greenfield, So., South Dakota State
OL - Matt Waletzko, Sr., North Dakota
OL - Cody Mauch, Sr., North Dakota State
DL - Jared Brinkman, Gr., UNI
DL - Caleb Sanders, Jr., South Dakota State
DL - Spencer Waege, Sr., North Dakota State
DL - Jordan Berner, Sr., Southern Illinois
LB - James Kaczor, Sr., North Dakota State
LB - Logan Backhaus, Sr., South Dakota State
LB - Spencer Cuvelier, Sr., UNI
LB - Grant Dixon, Sr., Youngstown State
DB - Don Gardner, Sr., South Dakota State
DB - Qua Brown, Sr., Southern Illinois
DB - Montrae Braswell, So., Missouri State
DB - James Ceasar, Sr., Southern Illinois
DB - Michael Tutsie, Sr., North Dakota State
P -   Brady Schutt, Sr., South Dakota
PK - Matthew Cook, Jr., UNI
LS - Dalton Godfrey, Jr., South Dakota
AP - Javon Williams Jr., So., Southern Illinois
RS - Christian Watson, Sr., North Dakota State
 
Second Team
QB - Stone Labanowitz, Sr., Southern Illinois
RB - Isaiah Davis, Fr., South Dakota State
RB - Jaleel McLaughlin, Sr., Youngstown State
FB - Jason Garrett, Jr., Southern Illinois
TE - Noah Gindorff, Sr., North Dakota State
WR - Jaxon Janke, So., South Dakota State
WR - Tony Tate, Sr., Western Illinois
WR - Caleb Vander Esch, Sr., South Dakota
OL - Mason McCormick, So., South Dakota State
OL - Dan Becker, Sr., Youngstown State
OL - Landon Bebee, Jr., Missouri State
OL - Wes Genant, Sr., South Dakota State
OL - Trevor Penning, Sr., UNI
DL - Kevin Ellis, Sr., Missouri State
DL - Eric Johnson, Sr., Missouri State
DL - Anthony Knighton, Sr., Southern Illinois
DL - Eli Mostaert, So., North Dakota State
LB - Devon Krzanowski, Sr., North Dakota
LB - Bryson Strong, Jr., Southern Illinois
LB - Brock Mogensen, So., South Dakota
LB - Tylar Wiltz, Sr., Missouri State
DB - Evan Holm, 5th Year, North Dakota
DB - Austin Evans, Gr., UNI
DB - Kyriq McDonald, Sr., Missouri State
DB - Zaire Jones, Sr., Youngstown State
DB - Omar Brown, Jr., UNI
P -   Jack Colquhoun, Sr., Southern Illinois
PK - Jose Pizano, Jr., Missouri State
LS - Bradey Sorenson, Sr., South Dakota State
AP - Deion McShane, Sr., UNI
RS - Tony Tate, Sr., Western Illinois
 
Honorable Mention
QB - Will McElvain, Jr., UNI
QB - Connor Sampson, Sr., Western Illinois
RB - Tyler Hoosman, Sr., UNI
FB - Tim McCloyn, Sr., Illinois State
TE - Josh Babicz, Sr., North Dakota State
WR - Isaiah Weston, Sr., UNI
WR - Dante Hendrix, RJr., Indiana State
OL - Isaiah Edwards, RSr., Indiana State
OL - William Waddell, Sr., Western Illinois
OL - Mason Scheidegger, Sr., South Dakota
DL - Inoke Moala, RSr., Indiana State
DL - Reece Winkelman, Jr., South Dakota State
DL - James Jackson, Sr., Youngstown State
DL - Jacob Matthew, Sr., South Dakota
LB - Jack Cochrane, Sr., South Dakota
LB - Jaxson Turner, 5th Year, North Dakota
DB - Michael Thomas, RJr., Indiana State
DB - Benny Sapp III, Sr., UNI
DB - Jordan Canady, 5th Year, North Dakota
DB - Myles Harden, Fr., South Dakota
P -   Adam Fellner, Sr., Western Illinois
PK - Nico Gualdoni, Sr., Southern Illinois
LS - Dan Heilbron, Jr., Southern Illinois
AP - Christian Turner, Sr., Youngstown State
RS - Luke Skokna, Jr., North Dakota