Kicker adds third All-American honor

By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION

The Associated Press released its NCAA Division II All-America Football Team for 2019. Dante Brown of Fort Hays State is a first-team selection at kicker. A panel of sports information directors and the AP selected the team, presented by Regions Bank.

This is the first time Brown received All-America honors from the AP in his career at FHSU. He also earned All-America honors for the first time earlier this year from the AFCA, getting a second-team nod. He was a first-team selection by the D2CCA for a second-straight year, bringing his total All-America honor count for 2019 to three.

For the 2019 season, Brown averaged 1.72 field goals per game in 2019, succeeding on 19-of-23 attempts. He added in a school-record 52 PAT makes for 109 points on the season. He racked up 232 points over two years, making 47 field goals and 91 PAT tries as the Tigers’ kicker.

In 2018, Brown had one of the most successful kicking seasons in NCAA Division II history, converting 28 field goals out of 33 attempts. His 28 field goals in 2018 were second most for a season in Division II history, only two shy of the record 30 set by Jeff Glas from the University of North Dakota in 2005. Brown broke the MIAA record of 25 made by Simon Mathieson in 2015, but Mathieson set that record in 15 games played compared to just 12 for Brown. Brown also broke Mathieson’s MIAA record for attempts in a season. His 123 points in 2018 set a new FHSU single-season scoring record.

Even with his impressive accolades at kicker, Brown was also an All-America selection at punter in both 2017 and 2018 for Fort Hays State. He served as both the team’s kicker and punter in 2018, earning All-MIAA First Team accolades at both positions. He averaged 41.4 yards per punt in 2018 with 14 attempts going for more than 50 yards. He tied the school record for longest punt with an 84-yard boot. In 2017, he served solely as the team’s punter and averaged 43.5 yards per attempt, which included 21 attempts going for more than 50 yards. Over the two years in a punting role, he averaged 42.4 yards per attempt, second-best in FHSU history.

Brown was a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Placekicker Award for a second straight year. The award is given annually to a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, NAIA or NJCAA placekicker that excels on the football field and in the community. Luis Aguilar of Northern Arizona University (FCS) received the award this year. Brown is one of three kickers from NCAA Division II that made the finalist list.

Below is the Associated Press All-America Team for 2019.

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback – Roland Rivers III, senior, Slippery Rock.

Running backs – Nate Gunn, senior, Minnesota State; Jaleel McLaughlin, sophomore, Notre Dame (Ohio).

Linemen – Tyler Allison, senior, Ferris State; Evan Heim, senior, Minnesota State; Chris Larsen, senior, Slippery Rock; Jason Poe, junior, Lenoir-Rhyne; Grant Stewart, senior, Colorado School of Mines.

Tight end – Zach Davidson, junior, Central Missouri.

Receivers – Zimari Manning, senior, Tarleton State; Shane Zylstra, senior, Minnesota State.

All-purpose player – Dominique Ramsey, junior, Texas A&M-Commerce.

Kicker – Dante Brown, senior, Fort Hays State.


DEFENSE

Linemen – Jaquan Artis, senior, Lenoir-Rhyne; Austin Edwards., senior, Ferris State; Chris Garrett, junior, Concordia-St. Paul; B.J. Jefferson, senior, Tarleton State.

Linebackers – Chris Hoad, senior, Texas-Permian Basin; Rondrow Peebles, junior, Carson-Newman; Drew Seers, junior, Lindenwood.

Secondary – Nick Ciccio, sophomore, Colorado Mesa; Christopher Jefferson, sophomore, Findlay; Lamont McPhatter II, senior, California (Pa.); Prince Robinson, senior, Tarleton State.

Punter – Isaac Parks., junior, North Carolina Pembroke.


SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback – Brook Bolles, senior, Central Missouri.

Running backs – Daniel McCants, senior, Tarleton State; Al McKeller, junior, Indianapolis.

Linemen – Jeff Arnold, senior, Indiana (Pa.); Cori Gooseberry, senior, Ouachita Baptist; Brandon Kemp, senior, Valdosta State; Adonis Sealey, senior, Valdosta State; Amon Simon, junior, Texas A&M-Commerce

Tight end – Jack Pilkerton, senior, Kutztown.

Receivers – Henry Litwin, junior, Slippery Rock; Shae Wyatt, junior, Central Missouri.

All-purpose player – Tobias Harris, sophomore, West Texas A&M.

Kicker – Jordan Walters, senior, East Stroudsburg.

DEFENSE

Linemen – Chauncy Haney, senior, North Greenville; Chad Kuhn, junior, Slippery Rock; Spencer Phillips, senior, Northwest Missouri State; Sha’haun Williams, senior, Notre Dame (Ohio).

Linebackers – Damon Lloyd, senior, Indiana (Pa.); Maurice Wright Jr., senior, Northwestern Oklahoma State; Brad Zaffram, senior, Slippery Rock.

Secondary – James Caesar, senior, Ferris State; Desmond Fairell, senior, Carson-Newman; Michael Junker, senior, Bemidji State; Daryus Skinner, senior, Winston-Salem State. Punter – JoseLuis Moreno, senior, Minot State.

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