North Dakota State senior offensive lineman Cordell Volson and kick returner Christian Watson have been named to the 2021 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-American Team.
Volson was named the 2020-21 FCS Top Offensive Lineman by the FCS Athletic Directors Association. He has played in 40 consecutive games for NDSU including starting in 26 straight games.
Watson led the FCS and tied the NDSU single-season record in 2020-21 with two kickoff return touchdowns. He also led all Bison receivers with 19 catches for 442 yards and one touchdown.
In the 2020-21 season both players earned first team All-American honors from the Associated Press, Stats Perform, HERO Sports, Phile Steele, and Athlon Sports.
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