Two NDSU Bison Are Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-Americans

     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