Ferris State's Austin Edwards and Tyler Allison Named To AFCA All-America Team
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Big Rapids, Mich. - A pair of Ferris State University football standouts have earned 2019 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America honors as announced today by the national coaches organization.
Bulldog senior defensive end Austin Edwards (Lansing/Waverly) has been named to the AFCA All-America First Team with senior offensive guard Tyler Allison (Clinton Township/Chippewa Valley) tabbed as a second-team All-America choice.
It marks the third consecutive year the Bulldogs have had two representatives on the coaches' All-America listing and the sixth consecutive year the Bulldogs have had at least one selection, which is the longest active streak in the country.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves. Beginning last year, the AFCA has started selecting a first and second team and voting is done by member head coaches.
The AFCA's Division II All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
A total of 19 Ferris State players have now been named to the AFCA All-America team a combined 23 times, which is tied for the second-most all-time among NCAA Division II schools. It also marks the sixth year in a row the Bulldogs have had a player on the AFCA All-America team. Two-Time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jason Vander Laan became the first Bulldog player named to the AFCA squad since former defensive tackle Jake Visser in 2008 by being chosen as the squad's quarterback in both 2014 and 2015 before standout defensive tackle Zach Sieler was a two-time choice in 2016 and 2017 with cornerback Tavierre Thomas garnering laurels in 2017 as well. Vander Laan, Sieler and Thomas are all three currently with National Football League (NFL) organizations. Last year, in 2018, Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jayru Campbell was a first-team pick with offensive tackle Devon Johnson named to the second-team.
Prior to Vander Laan, Visser's selection in 2008 had marked the sixth consecutive season in which a Bulldog player had achieved AFCA All-America First Team status. Former linebacker Kevin Myers was a two-time honoree in 2003 and 2004 followed by wide receiver Carlton Brewster in 2005, linebacker Mike Klobucher in '06 and Visser in both 2007 and 2008. In addition to Visser, Myers, Klobucher and Brewster, Ferris' impressive list of AFCA All-America picks also includes flanker Clarence Coleman (2001), kicker-punter Doc Proctor (1999), defensive tackle Kelly Chisholm (1996), quarterback Bill Love (1995), tailback Tyree Dye (1994), defensive tackle Ed Philion (1993), outside linebacker Monty Brown (1992), and running back Chuck Evans (1976) in addition to Vander Laan, Sieler, Thomas, Campbell and Johnson.
Edwards and Allison represented two of the four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) picks named to one of the two AFCA All-America squads along with Wayne State linebacker Leon Eggleston and Ashland linebacker Clay Shreve, who were both second-team choices. FSU was also one of only seven schools in the country with multiple picks on this year's AFCA All-America squad.
The GLIAC Player of the Year, Edwards led the Bulldogs to a second consecutive GLIAC Championsip and an unbeaten regular-season. As the leader of one of the nation's top defensive units, Edwards has compiled 14 tackles for loss (-87 yards) along with 8.5 sacks (-72 yards) and 49 total stops this campaign with both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The three-year starter is a three-time All-GLIAC honoree and two-time All-American who has helped FSU to its sixth consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearance this year and the region's top seed. The two-time All-GLIAC First Team pick was a finalist for the 2018 Cliff Harris Award as one of the nation's top small college performers and is a highly-regarded NFL prospect. He's currently a national finalist for this year's Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year honor.
Finally, the GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, Allison has had a standout campaign up front for the Bulldogs, helping FSU to its second consecutive GLIAC Championship and an unbeaten regular-season. The four-year starter has has paved the way for one of the nation's top offensive units throughout his career and is a three-time All-GLIAC choice. This season, he's helped the Bulldogs rank among the nation's top 10 teams in total offensve, averaging 514.4 yards per game, and the Bulldogs are also ranked in the top 15 in rushing at 268.1 yards a contest. Allison is a four-year letterwinner and has helped FSU to its sixth consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearance this year and the region's top seed along with a fourth consecutive berth into the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals.
The Bulldogs, who are currently 11-0 this year, will hsot Northwest Missouri State in the national quarterfinals this Saturday, Dec. 7, at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff for the Super Region Three Championship game is set for 1 p.m. (ET).