ST. LOUIS – North Dakota State is picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference according to a preseason poll of the league's coaches, media and sports information directors announced Tuesday, Aug. 2.
NDSU received 39 of 41 first-place votes followed by South Dakota State, which had two votes. Missouri State was picked third followed by Southern Illinois fourth, Northern Iowa fifth, South Dakota sixth and North Dakota seventh.
Illinois State, Youngstown State, Indiana State and Western Illinois rounded out the poll in order eighth through 11th.
North Dakota State returns 13 full-time starters from last year's 14-1 team that won the program's ninth NCAA national championship in 11 seasons. The Bison claimed their 10th MVFC title with a 7-1 record in conference play.
Twelve NDSU players were named to the Preseason All-MVFC Team including four on the first team: fullback
North Dakota State is scheduled to host Drake in the season opener at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. Tickets are on sale at
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB Jason Shelley, Missouri State
RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State
RB/AP Javon Williams, Southern Illinois
FB
Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State
WR Avante Cox, Southern Illinois
WR Jaxon Janke, South Dakota State
WR Tyrone Scott, Missouri State
TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
OL Landon Bebee, Missouri State
OL Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State
OL
Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
OL Mason McCormick, South Dakota State
OL Alex Jensen, South Dakota
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Kevin Ellis, Missouri State
DL
Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State
DL Caleb Sanders, South Dakota State
DL Reece Winkelman, South Dakota State
LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State
LB Spencer Cuvelier, Northern Iowa
LB Brock Mogensen, South Dakota
LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
DB Montrae Braswell, Missouri State
DB PJ Jules, Southern Illinois
DB Kyriq McDonald, Missouri State
DB Benny Saap III, Northern Iowa
DB
Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State
FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
LS Dalton Godfrey, South Dakota
PK Matthew Cook, UNI
P Grant Burkett, Missouri State
RS Montrae Braswell, Missouri State
AP Carter Bell, South Dakota
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State
RB
Kobe Johnson, North Dakota State
RB Cole Mueller, Illinois State
FB Jacob Garrett, Southern Illinois
WR Carter Bell, South Dakota
WR Bo Belquist, North Dakota
WR Dante Hendrix, Indiana State
TE
Noah Gindorff, North Dakota State
OL Drew Bones, Illinois State
OL
Nash Jensen, North Dakota State
OL Erik Sorensen, Northern Iowa
OL Donny Ventrelli, North Dakota
OL Jaison Williams, Youngstown State
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL Braydon Deming, Illinois State
DL Nick Gaes, South Dakota
DL Caden Houghtelling, Northern Iowa
DL Devin Rice, Northern Iowa
DL
Spencer Waege, North Dakota State
LB Greg Benton Jr., Youngstown State
LB Bryce Flater, Northern Iowa
LB
James Kaczor, North Dakota State
LB Devon Krzanowski, North Dakota
DB Clayton Bush, Southern Illinois
DB Korby Sander, Northern Iowa
DB C.J. Siegel, North Dakota
DB
Destin Talbert, North Dakota State
DB
Dawson Weber, North Dakota State
SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
LS Joey Malinowski, Illinois State
PK Jose Pizano, Missouri State
P Cade Peterson, North Dakota
RS
Jayden Price, North Dakota State
AP/WR Quan Hampton, Northern Iowa
