UMC Football Picked to Finish 16th in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn.-  The University of Minnesota Crookston was picked to finish 16th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll. In addition, UMC was picked eighth in the NSIC North Division.

NCAA Division II National Runner-Up Minnesota State University, Mankato was picked to finish first with 10 first-place votes, while University of Minnesota Duluth was picked second and University of Sioux Falls third. UMD was picked to win the NSIC North division, while Minnesota State was picked to win the NSIC South Division.

UMD quarterback Drew Bauer was selected the NSIC North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Minot State University defensive lineman Thomas Bryson was selected the NSIC North Division Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. University of Sioux Falls quarterback Luke Papilion, the 2014 NSIC Offensive Player of the Year, was named NSIC South Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Minnesota State defensive end Josh Gordon was named NSIC South Division Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after earning 2014 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Adam Connette (So., WR, Corona, Calif.) was named UMC’s Offensive Player to Watch. He led the Golden Eagles in receiving with 51 catches for 628 yards with five touchdowns as a freshman. He started 10 of 11 games last season for UMC with his breakout game coming against University of Mary with six receptions for 92 yards. Connette had eight catches for 64 yards in his first collegiate game against Augustana in 2014.

Drew Selvestra (Sr., DL, Eagan, Minn.) was named UMC’s Defensive Player to Watch. Selvestra started all 11 games as a junior. He had a breakout year with 88 tackles from his defensive end position, second on the team to All-NSIC First Team pick Greg Lofquist. Selvestra was an All-NSIC Honorable Mention pick in 2014. He led the team with 4.5 sacks and was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
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NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Overall            Points
1. Minnesota State (10)    218
2. Minnesota Duluth (2)    209
3. Sioux Falls (4)        206
4. Augustana             169
5. St. Cloud State        161
6. Winona State        157
7. Northern State        133
8. Concordia-St. Paul        103
9. Bemidji State        101
10. MSU Moorhead        100
11. Southwest Minnesota    85
12. U-Mary            83
T13. Upper Iowa        74
T13. Wayne State        74
15. Minot State        32
16. Minnesota Crookston     15

North Division
                Points
1. Minnesota Duluth (7)    49
2. Northern State        40
3. St. Cloud State (1)        39
4. Bemidji State        26
5. MSU Moorhead        25
6. U-Mary            22
7. Minot State            16
8. Minnesota Crookston    7

South Division
                Points
1. Minnesota State (5)        47
2. Sioux Falls (3)        45
T3. Augustana            34
T3. Winona State        34
5. Concordia-St. Paul        21
6. Southwest Minnesota    20
7. Wayne State        14
8. Upper Iowa            9