NDSU Picked to Win Conference Football Title

ST. LOUIS - Three-time defending conference and national champion North Dakota State was picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown in 2014, according to a poll of the league's coaches, media and sports information directors announced Tuesday, July 29.

NDSU has won 24 straight games and 43 of its past 45 games (going 14-1, 14-1, and 15-0).  The Bison earned 24 of a possible 39 first-place votes and 370 total points ahead of second-place South Dakota State and third-place Northern Iowa.

North Dakota State had a league-high eight players on the preseason all-conference team including fullback Andrew Bonnet, wide receiver Zach Vraa, left guard Zack Johnson, defensive end Kyle Emanuel, linebacker Carlton Littlejohn, strong safety Colten Heagle and punter Ben LeCompte.  Free safety and punt returner Christian Dudzik was an honorable mention.

Youngstown State (240 points) and Southern Illinois (237) were a close choice for the fourth- and fifth-place positions. The teams tied with SDSU and Missouri State for second place in 2013.  Illinois State, Missouri State, South Dakota, Western Illinois and Indiana State took the final five spots, in order.

Including North Dakota State the last two seasons, the MVFC preseason favorite has claimed the league crown 16 times in 28 previous polls.  The Bison open at Iowa State on Saturday, Aug. 30, with an 11 a.m. kickoff televised live on FOX Sports 1.

2014 Valley Football Preseason Poll

Team (first-place votes)       Pts.

 1. North Dakota State (24)    370

 2. South Dakota State (8)     330

 3. Northern Iowa (7)           324

 4. Youngstown State           240

 5. Southern Illinois          237

 6. Illinois State              197

 7. Missouri State             180

 8. South Dakota                121

 9. Western Illinois            96

10. Indiana State               50

2014 Missouri Valley Football Preseason Team

Offense

QB-     Austin Sumner, SDSU    6-5     225     Sr.     Brandon (S.D.) Valley High

RB-     David Johnson, UNI     6-3     225     Sr.     Clinton (Iowa) High

        Zach Zenner, SDSU      6-0     220     Sr.     Eagan (Minn.) High

FB-     Andrew Bonnet, NDSU    6-3     245     Jr.     Council Bluffs (Iowa) Underwood High

WR-     Jason Schneider, SDSU  6-5     220     Sr.     Andover (Minn.) High

        Zach Vraa, NDSU         6-2    203     Sr.     Inver Grove Heights (Minn.) Rosemount 

TE-     MyCole Pruitt, SIU     6-3     255     Sr.     St. Louis (Mo.) Kirkwood High

OL-     Robert Booker, MSU     6-3     320     Jr.     Ozark (Mo.) High

        Zack Cooley, MSU       6-5     301     Sr.     Lebanon (Mo.) High

        Richard Galbierz, MSU  6-3     306     Sr.     Fenton (Mo.) Fox High

        Trevor Greger, SDSU    6-5     305     Sr.     Wagner (S.D.) High

        %Zack Johnson, NDSU    6-4     317     Jr.     Apple Valley (Minn.) Eastview High

        Jack Rummells, UNI     6-5     301     Sr.     West Branch (Iowa) High

LS-     Chris Highland, ILS    6-2     225     Sr.     Normal (Ill.) Central Catholic High

PK-     Thomas Kinney, SIU     5-8     175     Sr.     McHenry (Ill.) Johnsburg / Winona State

Defense

DL-     Kyle Emanuel, NDSU     6-3     246     Sr.     Schuyler (Neb.) Central High

        Drew Iddings, USD      6-6     283     Jr.     Rapid City (S.D.) Stevens High

        Cole Langer, SDSU      6-2     255     So.     Dell Rapids (S.D.) High

        Xavier Williams, UNI   6-4     311     Sr.     Kansas City (Mo.) Grandview High

LB-     Andrew Beisel, MSU     6-2     238     Sr.     Fenton (Mo.) Rockwood Summit High

        Auston Johnson, USD    6-0     240     Sr.     Chino Hills (Calif.) El Camino College

        Carlton Littlejohn, NDSU 6-1   216     Sr.     Minneapolis (Minn.) North High

        Pat Meehan, ILS         6-1    230     Jr.     Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East

        *Connor Underwood, INS 6-3     230     Jr.     Washington (Ill.) Community High

DB-     Martinez Davis, WIU    5-10    180     Sr.     Madisonville (Ky.) Air Force Prep

        Makinton Dorleant, UNI 5-11    185     Jr.     Bradenton (Fla.) Lely / Maryland

        Colten Heagle, NDSU    5-11    202     Sr.     Appleton (Wis.) Kimberly High

        Caleb Schaffitzel, MSU 6-0     217     Sr.     Fair Grove (Mo.) High

P-      Ben LeCompte, NDSU     5-10    200     Jr.     Barrington (Ill.) High

RS-     Andre Stubbs, YSU      5-7     165     Jr.     Maple Heights (Ohio) High

Honorable Mention: QB Sawyer Kollmorgen (UNI); TB Martin Ruiz (YSU); FB Drew Potter (USD); WR Kevin Vereen Jr. (UNI); LS Nathan Gibbs (YSU); OL Jermaine Barton (ILS); LB Kevin Kintzel (WIU); LB T.J. Lally (SDSU); DB/RS Christian Dudzik (NDSU).

Every school with minimum of one first-team selection. NDSU represented with a league-high 8 total selections. Northern Iowa (6), South Dakota State (6) and Missouri State (5) were next best.

* Connor Underwood (INS) received votes for DL, but playing LB this year.
% Zack Johnson (NDSU) selected to team but out in 2014 with an injury.