North Dakota State nearly unanimous favorite in Missouri Valley
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Defending FCS national champion North Dakota State was nearly a unanimous favorite in the Missouri Valley Football Conference poll announced on Thursday.
The Bison, the 2011 Missouri Valley champions, received 37 of 38 first-place votes in the conference's poll of head coaches, media and sports information directors.
Illinois State claimed the other first-place vote, but finished fourth overall behind No. 2 Northern Iowa and No. 3 Youngstown State. Indiana State was fifth, followed by South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, conference newcomer South Dakota, Western Illinois and Missouri State.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}North Dakota State, which finished 14-1 last season, had only two players on the All-MVFC preseason first team, cornerback Marcus Williams and safety Colten Heagle.
Indiana State had the most players on the first team with six.
MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(Head Coaches, Media and Sports Information Directors)
1. North Dakota State (37 first-place votes), 379 points
2. Northern Iowa, 300
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}3. Youngstown State, 291
4. Illinois State (1), 287
5. Indiana State, 228
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}6. South Dakota State, 182
7. Southern Illinois, 167
8. South Dakota, 97
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}9. Western Illinois, 90
10. Missouri State, 69
PRESEASON ALL-MVFC FIRST TEAM
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Offense
QB - Kurt Hess, Youngstown State, Jr.
RB - Shakir Bell, Indiana State, Jr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}RB - Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Sr.
FB - Jordan Neukirch, Illinois State, Jr.
WR - Aaron Rollin, South Dakota State, Sr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WR - Tyrone Walker, Illinois State, Sr.
TE - MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois, So.
OL - Chris Elkins, Youngstown State, Jr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}OL - Jimmy Holtschlag, Western Illinois, Sr.
OL - FN Lutz, Indiana State, Sr.
OL - Mark Pratt, Youngstown State, Sr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}OL - Bryan Witzmann, South Dakota State, Jr.
Defense
DL - Kenneth Boatwright, Southern Illinois, Sr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DL - Ben Obaseki, Indiana State, Sr.
DL - Nate Palmer, Illinois State, Sr.
DL - Kayon Swanson, Southern Illinois, Sr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LB - Aaron Archie, Indiana State, Sr.
LB - Evan Frierson, Illinois State, Sr.
LB - Tyler Starr, South Dakota, Jr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LB - Jacolby Washington, Indiana State, Sr.
DB - Colten Heagle, North Dakota State, Jr.
DB - Varmah Sonie, Northern Iowa, Sr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DB - Marcus Williams, North Dakota State, Jr.
DB - Winston Wright, South Dakota State, Jr.
Special Teams
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PK - Tyler Sievertsen, Northern Iowa, Jr.
P - Lucas Hileman, Indiana State, Sr.
RS - Steve Strother, Southern Illinois, Sr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}HONORABLE MENTION (minimum of five votes):
QB - Matt Brown, Illinois State; WR - Will Powell, South Dakota; TE - Matt Thayer, Missouri State; OL - Misha Danilov, Northern Iowa; OL - Billy Turner, North Dakota State; OL - Tim Ross, South Dakota; PK - Kevin Robb, South Dakota; DE - Cole Jirik, North Dakota State; DL - Andy Mink, South Dakota State; DL - Dwight Harris, Western Illinois; LB - Teven Williams, Youngstown State; LB - Andrew Beisel, Missouri State; LB - Travis Beck, North Dakota State; DB - Kieron James, Western Illinois; DB - Garrett Scott, Northern Iowa; P - Cole Zwiefelhofer, South Dakota; RS - Ryan Smith, North Dakota State