By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State tight end Hunter Budke added a third All-America First Team honor to his collection for the 2021 season on Wednesday (Dec. 15). He was named a first team selection by the Associated Press at tight end, after receiving first team honors from the AFCA and D2CCA.
Budke was one of the top receiving tight ends in the nation in 2021, finishing with 47 receptions for 620 yards and eight touchdowns. He twice had over 100 receiving yards in a game in 2021 with nine catches for 122 yards as his season high at Missouri Western. He produced four or more receptions in seven of 11 contests and led the Tigers in receiving touchdowns for the season. Budke ranked eighth in the MIAA in receptions per game, all among a top 10 list that only included wide receivers aside from him. He was fourth in the MIAA in receiving touchdowns.
Below is the AP Division II All-America Team for 2021.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Tyson Bagent, junior, Shepherd.
Running backs – Cody Schrader, sophomore, Truman State; Dwayne McGee, freshman, Lenoir-Rhyne.
Linemen – Dylan Pasquali, senior, Ferris State; Ralph Singleton, senior, Valdosta State; Brandon Nicholson, senior, Notre Dame College; Mark Murphy, junior, Bowie State; Tanner Owen, senior, Northwest Missouri State.
Tight end – Hunter Budke, junior, Fort Hays State.
Receivers – Henry Litwin, senior, Slippery Rock; L’liott Curry, senior, Henderson State; Danny Kittner, junior, University of Mary.
All-purpose player – James Letcher, senior, Washburn.
Kicker – McLean Robertson, senior, Wingate.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Linemen – Chad Kuhn, senior, Slippery Rock; Ikenna Onwuasoanya, senior, Colorado State Pueblo; Joey Wehrkamp, senior, Sioux Falls; Jonathan Ross, sophomore, Bowie State.
Linebackers – Drew Seers, senior, Lindenwood; Guam Lee, senior, Notre Dame College; Carter Duxbury, junior, Winona State.
Defensive backs – Jerman Martin, junior, California (Pa.); Tobias Harris, junior, West Texas A&M; D’Anthony Bell, senior, West Florida; KiShawn Walker, senior, Kentucky Wesleyan; Chance Olson, senior, Northern State.
Punter – Jed Quackenbush, senior, Ohio Dominican.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Austin Reed, sophomore, West Florida
Running backs – Michael Zeman, senior, Colorado School of Mines; Al McKeller, senior, Northwest Missouri State.
Linemen – Andrew Strickland, senior, Wingate; Mike Dilla, senior, West Florida; Logan Bailey, senior, Findlay; Matt Armendariz, senior, Colorado School of Mines; Willis Patrick, sophomore, Angelo State.
Tight end – Ty Snelson, senior, Mars Hill.
Receivers – Tywan Pearce, senior, Concord; Senika McKie, sophomore, Erskine; Brendan Beaulieu, junior, Bemidji State.
All-purpose player – Marcus Taylor, junior, Ferris State.
Kicker – Anthony Beitko, freshman, California (Pa.).
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Linemen – Sam Roberts, senior, Northwest Missouri State; Will Lydle, senior, Western Colorado; Carl Igweh, senior, Frostburg State; Caleb Murphy, senior, Ferris State.
Linebackers – Nick Moss, senior, Valdosta State; Hunter Kyle, senior, Angelo State; Marvin Terry, senior, Delta State.
Defensive backs – Tristan Rankin, sophomore, Mars Hill; Damar’ren Mitchell, senior, Colorado Mesa; Ty’Shonan Brooks, senior, Minnesota State; Nick Whiteside, senior, Saginaw Valley State; Anthony Blue, senior, Newberry.
Punter – Justin Dwinell, sophomore, Colorado State Pueblo.