NDSU’s Koonce Named to MVFC All-Newcomer Team

ST. LOUIS - North Dakota State punter Jackson Koonce was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team on Tuesday, Nov. 29, by a vote of the league's media, head coaches and sports information directors.

Koonce, a junior from Oceanside, Calif., transferred to NDSU after graduating early from Southern Methodist University.  He is averaging 36.9 yards on 52 punts with 31 fair catches with 12 inside the 20-yard line and a long of 54 yards.

NDSU ranks sixth in the conference in net punting, but Koonce's hang-time punts have helped NDSU allow only three opponent punt returns for an FCS-record 0.0 yards per return.  The Bison have a net punting average of 35.5 yards.

North Dakota State, 10-1 overall, earned a share of its sixth straight MVFC championship with a 7-1 league record.  The Bison are the No. 1 overall seed for the FCS playoffs and will host San Diego (10-1) in a second round game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team
Offense
Trevor Allen, RB, Northern Iowa
Alonge Brooks, WR, South Dakota
Coleman Clanton, OL, Missouri State
D.J. Davis, RS, Southern Illinois
Jamie Gilmore, RB, Western Illinois
Vitas Hrynkiewicz, C, Youngstown State
Jerry Nunez, K, Indiana State
Jalen Rima, WR/RS, Northern Iowa
Spencer Schnell, WR, Illinois State
Josh Straughan, QB, Southern Illinois
Chris Streveler, QB, South Dakota
Miles Thompson, WR, Indiana State
Chase Vinatieri, K, South Dakota State

Defense
Hezekiah Applegate, DL, Northern Iowa
B.J. Bello, LB, Illinois State
Elijah Campbell, DB, Northern Iowa
Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
Cedric Doxy, LB, Indiana State
McNeece Egbim, LB, Missouri State
Craig James, CB, Southern Illinois
Jackson Koonce, P, North Dakota State
Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State
Mark Schuler, P, Youngstown State
Anthony Washington, CB, South Dakota State
Malcolm Washington, DB, Northern Iowa
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