(Editor’s note: University of Montana media release)
Montana junior linebacker Dante Olson has picked up his third First-Team All-America award in the past week, and three other Grizzlies have also been named All-Americans in a trio of releases on Monday and Tuesday.
Olson was named to the 2018 STATS FCS All-America Defensive First-Team, the only defensive player in the Big Sky Conference to earn First-Team honors.
Online FCS news outlet HERO Sports also named Jace Lewis and Samuel Akem to its sophomore First-Team All-America list on Tuesday, and Robby Hauck earned a place on its freshman First-Team All-America list as well.
STATS will also honor Olson in January as a top-three finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year on the eve of the National Championship game in Frisco, Texas.
In the last week, the national leader in tackles during the regular season also earned First-Team All-America honors from the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Foundation.
Akem earned second-team All-Big Sky honors after a breakout season hauling in 13 touchdown catches – the sixth-most touchdown in the nation, and the most in the league. The prolific sophomore caught at least one touchdown pass in eight games, and two TD grabs in five games.
Montana’s leading receiver with a Grizzly top-20 total of 863 yards, Akem’s 13 TD catches is the fifth-most in a single season in Grizzly history, tied with legends like Marc Mariani, Marvin Turk, and Mike Rice.
Lewis was named to the HERO Sports First-Team special teams list after earning All-Big Sky second-team honors in 2018. As Montana’s top special teams contributor, he was a key part of UM’s Big Sky-best kickoff coverage unit with 62 tackles on the season, ranking in the league’s top-40.
Hauck was the national leader in tackles for a freshman and was No. 3 in the voting for the Jerry Rice Award for the top freshman in the nation. He received an All-Big Sky honorable mention as UM’s second-leading tackler, finishing the year with 95 total takedowns (41 solo, 54 assisted), the fifth-most in the conference and the most of any freshman, and was the only freshman among the Big Sky’s top-30 tacklers.
Hauck posted four games with double-digit tackle totals, including a career-high 17 in Montana’s win at Cal Poly.
2018 STATS FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
*-Order of quarterbacks to be determined after the STATS FCS Awards Banquet on Jan. 4.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221
RB – Ryan Fulse, senior, 5-11, 195, Wagner
RB – A.J. Hines, junior, 5-11, 225, Duquesne
FB – Joe Protheroe, senior, 5-11, 230, Cal Poly
WR – Michael Bandy, junior, 5-11, 190, San Diego
WR – Keelan Doss, senior, 6-3, 210, UC Davis
WR – Josh Pearson, junior, 6-4, 205, Jacksonville State
TE – Donald Parham, senior, 6-8, 240, Stetson
OL – B.J. Autry, senior, 6-5, 340, Jacksonville State
OL – Drew Forbes, senior, 6-5, 305, Southeast Missouri
OL – Iosua Opeta, senior, 6-4, 305, Weber State
OL – Matt Pyke, senior, 6-2, 302, ETSU
OL – Tanner Volson, senior, 6-4, 306, North Dakota State
DEFENSE
DL – Darryl Johnson Jr., junior, 6-5, 232, North Carolina A&T
DL – Isaiah Mack, senior, 6-3, 305, Chattanooga
DL – Derick Roberson, senior, 6-4, 250, Sam Houston State
DL – Khalen Saunders, senior, 6-2, 310, Western Illinois
LB – B.J. Blunt, senior, 6-1, 220, McNeese
LB – Zach Hall, junior, 6-0, 230, Southeast Missouri
LB – Dante Olson, junior, 6-3, 237, Montana
LB – Sterling Sheffield, senior, 6-2, 240, Maine
DB – Nasir Adderley, senior, 6-0, 200, Delaware
DB – Robbie Grimsley, senior, 6-0, 194, North Dakota State
DB – Jimmy Moreland, senior, 5-11, 175, James Madison
DB – Isiah Swann, junior, 6-0, 190, Dartmouth
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Roldan Alcobendas, senior, 6-0, 180, Eastern Washington
P – Alex Pechin, senior, 6-0, 200, Bucknell
LS – Patrick Eby, senior, 6-3, 235, Columbia
KR – Jean Constant, junior, 5-9, 177, Bryant
PR – D’Angelo Amos, sophomore, 6-1, 180, James Madison
AP – John Lovett, senior, 6-3, 225, Princeton
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221
RB – James Robinson, junior, 5-10, 220, Illinois State
RB – Marquis Terry, senior, 5-7, 180, Southeast Missouri
FB – Andre Stoddard, senior, 5-10, 240, Wofford
WR – Jazz Ferguson, junior, 6-5, 223, Northwestern State
WR – Alexander Hollins, senior, 6-1, 170, Eastern Illinois
WR – Jesper Horsted, senior, 6-4, 225, Princeton
TE – Charlie Taumoepeau, junior, 6-3, 240, Portland State
OL – J’Von Brown, junior, 6-3, 350, Central Connecticut State
OL – Tytus Howard, senior 6-6, 311, Alabama State
OL – Zack Johnson, junior, 6-6, 316, North Dakota State
OL – Matt Kaskey, senior, 6-7, 325, Dartmouth
OL – Oli Udoh, senior, 6-5, 336, Elon
DEFENSE
DL – Ahmad Gooden, senior, 6-2, 245, Samford
DL – Sully Laiche, junior, 6-2, 270, Nicholls
DL – Jay-Tee Tiuli, senior, 6-4, 315, Eastern Washington
DL – Nick Wheeler, junior, 6-2, 255, Colgate
LB – Jabril Cox, sophomore, 6-3, 231, North Dakota State
LB – Cam Gill, junior, 6-3, 230, Wagner
LB – Troy Reeder, senior, 6-3, 245, Delaware
LB – Pete Swenson, senior, 6-3, 230, Western Illinois
DB – Jordan Brown, senior, 6-1, 200, South Dakota State
DB – Abu Daramy-Swaray, junior, 5-10, 190, Colgate
DB – Manny Patterson, senior, 5-10, 180, Maine
DB – Tyree Robinson, sophomore, 5-11, 184, ETSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Austin Errthum, senior, 5-10, 180, UNI
P – Cade Coffey, sophomore, 6-1, 191, Idaho
LS – Steven Wethli, senior, 6-0, 230, Youngstown State
KR – Malik Wilson, senior, 5-11, 166, North Carolina A&T
PR – Booker Chambers, senior, 5-9, 185, Mississippi Valley State
AP – Tyrie Adams, junior, 6-2, 180, Western Carolina
AP – Shane Simpson, junior, 5-9, 200, Towson
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
*QB – Chandler Burks, senior, 5-10, 190, Kennesaw State; Devlin Hodges, senior, 6-1, 205, Samford; or Easton Stick, senior, 6-2, 221
RB – Ra’Quanne Dickens, senior, 5-10, 195, Incarnate Word
RB – James Holland Jr., senior, 5-9, 210, Colgate
RB – De’Shawn Waller, junior, 5-11, 210, Alcorn State
FB – Cal Daniels, senior, 6-2, 255, Stony Brook
WR – Juston Christian, senior, 6-0, 188, Marist
WR – Cade Johnson, sophomore, 5-10, 180, South Dakota State
WR – Kelvin McKnight, senior, 5-8, 186, Samford
WR – Reggie White Jr., senior, 6-3, 210, Monmouth
TE – Charles Scarff, TE, senior, 6-6, 270, Delaware
OL – Spencer Blackburn, senior, 6-2, 285, Eastern Washington
OL – Garrett Bowery, senior, 6-2, 303, Lamar
OL – C.J. Collins, senior, 6-3, 255, Kennesaw State
OL – Daniel Cooney, senior, 6-8, 315, San Diego
OL – Micah Shaw, senior, 6-1, 264, North Carolina A&T
OL – Cal Twait, senior, 6-5, 305, UNI
DEFENSE
DL – Solomon Brown, senior, 6-1, 235, Charleston Southern
DL – Miles Brown, senior, 6-2, 320, Wofford
DL – Rocco Di Leo, senior, 6-3, 285, Dartmouth
DL – Greg Menard, senior, 6-2, 240, North Dakota State
DL – Nasir Player, junior, 6-5, 271, ETSU
LB – De’Arius Christmas, senior, 5-10, 220, Grambling State
LB – Anthony Gore Jr., senior 6-0, 201, Kennesaw State
LB – Jonas Griffith, junior, 6-4, 240, Indiana State
LB – Warren Messer, senior, 5-11, 227, Elon
LB – LeGrand Toia, senior, 6-2, 225, Weber State
DB – Davon Jernigan, senior, 6-0, 208, Lamar
DB – Hakeem Kinard, senior, 5-10, 200, Saint Francis
DB – Davanta Reynolds, senior, 5-10, 200, North Carolina Central
DB – Will Warner, junior, 6-3, 201, Drake
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Aidan O’Neill, junior, 6-1, 199, Towson
P – Chris Faddoul, sophomore, 6-1, 182, Florida A&M
P – Garret Wegner, sophomore, 6-0, 191, North Dakota State
LS – Patrick Keefe, senior, 5-11, 195, The Citadel
KR – Jimmie Robinson, senior, 5-8, 162, Bethune-Cookman
PR – Darrius Shepherd, senior, 5-11, 188, North Dakota State
AP – Troy Anderson, sophomore, 6-3, 215, Montana State
HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Team
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
NOTE: AP- All Purpose selection; ATH- Dual-threat QB; RS- Return specialist on special teams; ST- Special teams standout
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
QB Caylin Newton Howard
RB Wesley Dugger Davidson
RB Aaron Shampklin Harvard
RB Elijah Dotson Sacramento State
FB Clint Ratkovich Western Illinois
WR Bryce Nunnelly Chattanooga
WR Samuel Akem Montana
TE Owen Cosenke Western Carolina
OL Jack Badovinac Colgate
OL Drew Himmelman Illinois State
OL Liam Fornadel James Madison
OL Dillon Radunz North Dakota State
OL Ty Whitworth Weber State
ATH Troy Andersen Montana State
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
DL Romeo McKnight Illinois State
DL Jacob Bergstrom San Diego
DL Anthony Knighton Southern Illinois
DL Bryce Carter Towson
LB Jabril Cox North Dakota State
LB Glenn Cunningham Fordham
LB Bryson Armstrong Kennesaw State
LB Deshawn Stevens Maine
DB Tyree Robinson ETSU
DB Hayden Bourgeois Northwestern State
DB Zyon McCollum Sam Houston State
AP Cade Johnson South Dakota State
FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
PK Trey Tuttle Weber State
P Chris Faddoul Florida A&M
RS D’Angelo Amos James Madison
RS Rashid Shaheed Weber State
ST Jace Lewis Montana
HONORABLE MENTION
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
AP Dejoun Lee Delaware
QB Grant Breneman Colgate
QB Eric Barriere Eastern Washington
QB Zerrick Cooper Jacksonville State
RB Aaron Dawson Central Connecticut
RB Tyray Devezin Mercer
RB Pete Guerriero Monmouth
RB Isaiah Totten N.C. Central
RB Kyran Jackson Sam Houston State
RB Emilio Martinez San Diego
WR Jorge Portorreal Lehigh
WR Dai’Jean Dixon Nicholls
WR Tren’Davian Dickson Texas Southern
WR Jabari Allen Towson
WR Jared Harrell UC Davis
WR Kris Thornton VMI
TE Trae Barry Jacksonville State
TE Nick Muse William & Mary
OL Connor Mignone Central Connecticut
OL Zion Johnson Davidson
OL Brian Foley Holy Cross
OL Liam Dobson Maine
OL Lewis Kidd Montana State
OL Josh Burger Wofford
OL Blake Jeresaty Wofford
DL Simeon Page Bucknell
DL Nick Friedel San Diego
DL Malik Fisher Villanova
LB Andrew Lutgens Dayton
LB Wesley Bowers Georgetown
LB Charlie Patrick Kennesaw State
LB Ty Harris Western Carolina
DB Qwynnterrio Cole Alcorn State
DB DJ Exilhomme Central Connecticut
DB Justin Terry Monmouth
DB Evan Horn New Hampshire
DB Mac McCain III North Carolina A&T
DB Xavior Williams Northern Iowa
DB Korby Sander Northern Iowa
DB Bydarrius Knighten SEMO
DB D.J. Freeman SEMO
PK Grayson Atkins Furman
P Cade Coffey Idaho
P Garret Wegner North Dakota State
P D.J. Arnson Northern Arizona
HERO Sports Freshman All-America Team
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
NOTE: AP – All-Purpose; ATH- Dual-threat QB; RS- Return Specialist on Special teams;
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
QB Jon Copeland Incarnate Word
RB Pierre Strong South Dakota State
RB Ulonzo Gilliam UC Davis
WR DeJuan Miller Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WR Caleb Snead Campbell
WR Kyndel Dean James Madison
TE Jordan Murray Missouri State
OL Jayvion Queen Colgate
OL Connor Wood Montana State
OL Kyle Nunez Stony Brook
OL Haden Haas The Citadel
OL Jake Parks UC Davis
AP Josh Davis Weber State
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
DL Mickey Kane Butler
DL Mitchell Johnson Eastern Washington
DL Malik Hamm Lafayette
DL Krockett Krolikowski South Dakota State
LB Adrian Hope Furman
LB Ryan Greenhagen Fordham
LB Keontre Hampton Jackson State
LB Chris Kolarevic Northern Iowa
DB Dreylan Hines Davidson
DB Robby Hauck Montana
DB Christian Benford Villanova
DB Ronald Kent Jr. Western Carolina
AP Quay Holmes ETSU
FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
PK Skyler Davis Elon
P Matthew Campbell The Citadel
RS Dakota Caton Indiana State
RS Isaac Foster Kennesaw State
HONORABLE MENTION
POS PLAYER SCHOOL
QB Jack Cook Dayton
QB Ty Brock Sam Houston State
FB Garnett Nicolas Jacksonville
RB Ramon Jefferson Maine
RB Juwon Farri Monmouth
RB Isaiah Ifanse Montana State
WR Dev Holmes Albany
WR Andrew Boston Eastern Washington
WR Xavier Smith Florida A&M
WR Andrew Edgar Illinois State
TE Jakob Herres VMI
TE Dalton Kincaid San Diego
TE Miles Joiner Youngstown State
OL Tremond Shorts ETSU
OL Connor Pettek UC Davis
DL Devonnsha Maxwell Chattanooga
DL John Singleton Gardner-Webb
DL Spencer Waege North Dakota State
DL Nelson Jordan Samford
DL Jordan Lewis Southern U.
LB Jarrett Nagy Presbyterian
LB Luke Giegling Southern Illinois
LB Brett Howell VMI
DB Yul Gowdy Jacksonville State
DB Mohammed Diakite Penn
DB Chris Beverly The Citadel
DB Colin Loftis VMI
AP David Durden Mercer
P Steve Dawson Murray State
PK Adam Lippy N.C. Central
AP Deion McShane Northern Iowa
RS Myles Ward Northwestern State
