GRAND FORKS, N.D. - A quartet of Fighting Sioux football players were named to Phil Steele's All-Great West preseason first team, while four more were named to the second team after the publication released its inaugural Football Championship Subdivision Preview Magazine on Wednesday.
Seniors Dan Hendrickson (Minot, N.D.) and Dominique Hawkins (Plymouth, Minn.) were named to the first team defense along with junior Ross Brenneman (Omaha, Neb.). Sophomore wideout Greg Hardin (Bellevue, Neb.) was the lone Sioux offensive player named to the first team.
Hendrickson led the team with 78 tackles from his linebacker position a season ago, while Hawkins ranked fourth on the team with 52 take downs. Brenneman was the team's top sack man, collecting four in 2010. He also shared team-high honors with Hendrickson, posting eight tackles for a loss. Hardin accounted for 10 touchdowns during his redshirt freshman campaign and led UND with 41 catches for 736 yards.
Another trio of Sioux defenders were named to the second team with seniors Mitch Goertz (Rothschild, Wis.) and Broc Bellmore (West Fargo, N.D.) joining sophomore defensive back Chavon Mackey (Jacksonville, Fla.) on that unit. Junior tight end Seth Wisthoff joined Hardin on the offensive squad, landing a spot on the second team.
Goertz teamed up with Hendrickson in the middle of the linebacking corps, finishing 2010 third on the team with 54 tackles. He had 15 in the season finale at South Dakota to earn GWC Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Bellmore had 35 stops and two tackles for a loss from his defensive end post. Mackey led all Sioux defenders with six pass break-ups and added 45 tackles.
Wisthoff is one of the top blocking tight ends in the GWC and also added six receptions for 67 yards last season.
The 240-page magazine with a full-page preview on each FCS team is available for purchase at PhilSteele.com.
The Fighting Sioux will open the 2011 season at home against Drake on Thursday, Sept. 1.
- Go Sioux -
