FHSU Sports Information Department
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Fort Hays State Football had five student-athletes named to the 2015 USA College Football Division II Preseason All-America Watch List, released on Wednesday (June 17). Matt Erbert was named to the second team as an offensive lineman, while linebackers Justin McPhail, Brock Long, and Alex Schmidtberger, and defensive back Daniel Lindsey received honorable mention nods.
With 18,370 players competing on the gridiron for 168 NCAA Division II programs in 2014, USA College Football recognizes the top four percent (4%) of the returning players (750) on their All-America Watch List. Here is a link to all 750 players on the watch list… Watch List.
Erbert started all 11 games for the Tigers on the offensive line last year, earning All-MIAA Second Team honors. At right tackle, he helped anchor a young offensive line. The Tigers finished with 3,432 yards of total offense and he helped the team produce more than 200 rushing yards in four games this year, including the last three.
McPhail earned All-MIAA Third Team honors for the second straight year in 2014. McPhail led the Tiger defense in tackles with 108. He also recorded four sacks, a team-high nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. He was the team leader in tackles for the second straight year and now has 207 for his career.
Long had an impressive 2014 season with the Tigers to earn All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors after transferring from Hutchinson Community College. He finished second on the team in tackles with 93, while also recording 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Schmidtberger, also an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection in 2014, finished his sophomore season with 69 tackles to rank fifth on the team and tie for a team-high three interceptions.
Lindsey, an honorable mention selection at defensive back in 2014, finished with 77 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, six pass break-ups, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. The blocked kick was a big one, preserving the 7-6 win for FHSU at nationally ranked Pittsburg State on a potential go-ahead field goal attempt late in the game.