CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Elerson G. Smith was recognized as the FCS National Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and 14 total Panthers were honored as part of Phil Steele's FCS Preseason honors. Spencer Brown and Bryce Flater were also named First-Team Preseason All-Americans.
Joining the trio, Isaiah Weston and Jared Brinkman earned second-team All-American honors and Xavior Williams was named Fourth-Team All-American.
All seven Preseason All-American honorees were named Preseason First-Team All-MVFC. Chris Kolarevic and Omar Brown and Matthew Cook also received First-Team All-MVFC recognition.