Edwards Tabbed Super Region Defensive MVP As Bulldogs Compile Region-Best Six Mentions
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Big Rapids, Mich. - The honors continue to come in for the Ferris State University Bulldogs as six standouts have earned Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Super Region Three accolades for the 2019 season as the all-region squads were announced on the eve of the D2 National Quarterfinals this weekend.
Ferris State's six representatives were the most of any school in the region and included senior defensive end Austin Edwards (Lansing/Waverly), who was chosen as the Super Region Three Defensive Player of the Year.
Edwards was joined on the first team by senior offensive guard Tyler Allison (Clinton Township) along with senior defensive back James Ceasar (Detroit). The Bulldogs' second-team honorees included junior offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali (Trenton) along with senior linebacker Avonte Bell (Lansing) and senior safety Delon Stephenson (Sayreville, N.J.).
Overall, Ferris State had six of the 11 total representatives on the all-region squad from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and three of the five first-place honorees. The six matches last year's region-best total as FSU has headlined the all-region squad each of the past two seasons.
The Super Region Three Defensive Player of the Year, Edwards became the first defensive player to win the GLIAC Player of the Year Award since 2005 after leading the Bulldogs to an undefeated regular season, a second consecutive GLIAC Championship and a No. 2 ranking nationally. He followed up an All-America-caliber season in 2018 with his third All-GLIAC First Team selection and was tabbed this week as the 2019 recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award.
Anchoring one of the stingiest defenses in Division II, Edwards enters the NCAA Quarterfinals with 49 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Through 11 games, the Bulldogs' defense ranks eighth nationally in total defense, first in third down conversion defense and third in scoring defense. Yesterday, he was also chosen to the 2019 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team and was a candidate for the 2019 Harlon Hill Trophy presented to Division II's top all-around performer.
The Bulldogs will host Northwest Missouri State in the D2 National Quarterfinals on Saturday (Dec. 7) at Top Taggart Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (ET). The winner of the Super Region Three Championship game will advance to the national semifinals next week.