The NAIA football season is still two months away, but already, one Montana State University-Northern Light is being touted.
Northern senior defensive end Will Andrews was recently named to the Victory Sports Network preseason watch list for 2012. Victory Sports is considered the main media outlet for NAIA athletics.
Andrews, an NAIA All American last season, was named the fourth-best defensive linemen in the country on the list and was just one of nine Frontier Conference players named to the elite preseason list. Last season, Andrews was among the Frontier leaders in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. He returned to the field last fall after missing almost two years of football due to a leg injury and it was like he never missed a beat.
Andrews was one of two Frontier defensive linemen named to the list. The other was Carroll College’s Rahkeem Harris, who was voted No. 9 on the list. Other Frontier players to be tabbed included Carroll defensive back Brian Strobel, who made the overall NAIA “Super Six” as one of the best players in the country coming into the season. Carroll also got quarterback Dane Broadhead voted as the No. 4 QB in the country, just behind Eastern Oregon senior Chris Ware. Also making the list for the Saints were offensive linemen Zach Zosel and Connor Godreau, as well as linebacker Lynn Mallory. EOU also got running back Kevin Sampson on the list, as was Rocky Mountain College wide receiver A.J. Tolbert.
The Frontier season begins Sept. 2 when the Lights host the UM-Western Bulldogs in Havre.
Victory Sports Network
NAIA preseason watchlist
Overall Super Six
1. Clarence Anderson, Ottawa University
2. Kaelin Ammons, Georgetown College
3. Junior Allen, Bethany KS
4. Brian Strobel, Carroll
5. Richard Wick, Missouri Valley
6. Ricky Wadlington, Belhaven
Quarterback
1. Kaelin Ammons, Georgetown College
2. John van den Raadt, Azusa Pacific Univ.
3. Chris Ware, Eastern Oregon
4. Dane Broadhead, Carroll College
5. Taylor Parsons, William Penn
6. Brady Wardlaw, Southern Nazarene
Running back
1. Junior Allen, Bethany KS
2. Brandon Smith, Northwestern (Iowa)
3. Terrance Cobb, U Cumberlands
4. Kevin Sampson, EOU
5. Cordarious Mann, Bethel
6. Josh Endres, Dakota Wesleyan
7. Jeran Trotter, Friends
8. Johnell Murphy, Azusa Pacific Univ.
9. Shawn Davis, William Penn
Wide Receivers
1. Clarence Anderson, Ottawa University
2. Ricky Roberts, Kansas Wesleyan
3. Austin Coleman, Saint Francis (Ind.)
4. Stan Warrenhuffman, Campbellsville
5. Andy Skinner, McPherson
6. Jarod Martin, Southern Nazarene
7. Chris Gohman, Georgetown College
8. AJ Tolbert, Rocky Mountain
9. Max Boe, Jamestown College
Offensive Line
1. Joe Bolgnesi, Azusa Pacific Univ.
2. Matt Byrd, Georgetown College
3. Mike Johnson, Saint Xavier
4. Cory Cronk, Saint Francis, IN
5. Dan Pinsky, Kansas Wesleyan
6. Zach Zosel, Carroll College
7. Kyle Pettit, Georgetown College
8. Connor Goudreau, Carroll College
9. Nick Newborn, Shorter
Tight End
1. Juan Redmon, MidAmerica Nazarene
2. Keith Barefield JR, NW Oklahoma State
3. Devin Young, Menlo
Punter
1. Jacob Chancelor, Belhaven
2. Reuben Faber, Dordt
3. Tyler Emmetts, Cumberland TN
Kicker
1. Tom Lynch, Saint Xavier
2. Fabian Miramontes, Missouri Valley
3. Cody Morrow, MidAmerica Nazarene
Returner
1. Daniel Dayton, Cumberland University
2. Gerwan Brewer, Campbellsville
3. Clarence Anderson, Ottawa University
Defensive Linemen
1. Richard Wick, Missouri Valley
2. Mike Prosser, Saint Xavier
3. Jake Jones, Azusa Pacific
4. Will Andrews, MSU-Northern
5. Peter Brooks, NW Oklahoma State
6. Andrew Jones, Georgetown College
7. Anthony Moore, Saint Francis (Ind.)
8. Rhakeem Harris, Carroll College
9. Matt Fraley, Central Methodist
Linebacker
1. Ricky Wadlington, Belhaven
2. Zach Goebel, Georgetown College
3. Lynn Mallory, Carroll College
4. Zak Tazkargy, Southwestern
5. Adam Maher, Missouri Valley
6. Stephon Ransom, Cumberland U
7. Sam Wilson, Lindsey Wilson College
8. Adrian Thomas, Kansas Wesleyan
9. Jon Higgins, Grand View
Defensive Back
1. Brian Strobel, Carroll College
2. Wayne Johnson, St. Francis (Ill.)
3. Brock Wardlaw, NW Oklahoma State
4. Matt Pruitt, Southern Nazarene
5. Dustin Craig, Marian University
6. Patrick VanSant, Georgetown College
7. Jared Goforth, Morningside
8. JD Wood, MidAmerica Nazarene
9. Ken Mitchell, Kansas Wesleyan
