North Dakota State nearly unanimous favorite in Missouri Valley

Published November 20, 2014

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.

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

(Head Coaches, Media and Sports Information Directors)

1. North Dakota State (37 first-place votes), 379 points

2. Northern Iowa, 300

3. Youngstown State, 291

4. Illinois State (1), 287

5. Indiana State, 228

6. South Dakota State, 182

7. Southern Illinois, 167

8. South Dakota, 97

9. Western Illinois, 90

10. Missouri State, 69

PRESEASON ALL-MVFC FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB - Kurt Hess, Youngstown State, Jr.

RB - Shakir Bell, Indiana State, Jr.

RB - Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Sr.

FB - Jordan Neukirch, Illinois State, Jr.

WR - Aaron Rollin, South Dakota State, Sr.

WR - Tyrone Walker, Illinois State, Sr.

TE - MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois, So.

OL - Chris Elkins, Youngstown State, Jr.

OL - Jimmy Holtschlag, Western Illinois, Sr.

OL - FN Lutz, Indiana State, Sr.

OL - Mark Pratt, Youngstown State, Sr.

OL - Bryan Witzmann, South Dakota State, Jr.

Defense

DL - Kenneth Boatwright, Southern Illinois, Sr.

DL - Ben Obaseki, Indiana State, Sr.

DL - Nate Palmer, Illinois State, Sr.

DL - Kayon Swanson, Southern Illinois, Sr.

LB - Aaron Archie, Indiana State, Sr.

LB - Evan Frierson, Illinois State, Sr.

LB - Tyler Starr, South Dakota, Jr.

LB - Jacolby Washington, Indiana State, Sr.

DB - Colten Heagle, North Dakota State, Jr.

DB - Varmah Sonie, Northern Iowa, Sr.

DB - Marcus Williams, North Dakota State, Jr.

DB - Winston Wright, South Dakota State, Jr.

Special Teams

PK - Tyler Sievertsen, Northern Iowa, Jr.

P - Lucas Hileman, Indiana State, Sr.

RS - Steve Strother, Southern Illinois, Sr.

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

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/north-dakota-state-nearly-unanimous-favorite-in-missouri-valley