FERRIS STATE’S KEVIN MYERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN

Street & Smith’s College Football Recognizes Talented Bulldogs’ Standout

Myers, FSU’s lone representative, was among 12 student-athletes selected to the defensive unit. Joining him from fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-member institutions were senior defensive lineman Keyonta Marshall of Grand Valley State, Hillsdale’s senior linebacker Josh Mott and junior linebacker John DiGiorgio of Saginaw Valley State. Offensively, Grand Valley State was represented by senior tailback Michael Tennessee while senior linemen Joe Berger of Michigan Tech and Saginaw Valley State’s Todd Herremans rounded out the GLIAC representation.

Ferris State's Kevin Myers named to Street & Smith's Preseason All-America Team.

Two-time defending NCAA-II National Champion Grand Valley State was selected to defend its crown in the publication’s preseason top 25 poll followed by national runnerup North Dakota. North Alabama was third proceeded by Texas A&M-Kingsville with Saginaw Valley State rounding out the top five.

Myers is likely to garner numerous honors in his final Bulldog campaign this fall. He registered a career-best and conference-high 141 tackles (87 solo) in 11 contests for the 2003 campaign as his season tackles total marked the 13th highest total among the school’s single-season all-time leaders. Nationally, the 5-11, 210-pound linebacker finished second in solo tackles (7.9 avg.), fourth in total tackles (12.8 avg.) and fourth in forced fumbles (0.45 avg.). Myers, who was chosen Ferris’ Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player this season, compiled eight double-digit tackle game performances in the 2003 campaign. As a result of his success, the 2003 All-GLIAC First-Team honoree was recognized as an All-American by both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and The Associated Press (AP). He achieved second-team All-America kudos by Daktronics, Inc. and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette while receiving All-America Honorable Mention plaudits by D2Football.com. Prior to those accolades, Myers was named a first-team All-Northeast Region honoree by Daktronics, Inc., the Football Gazette and D2Football.com.

Myers, who recorded eight double-figure tackle game performances a season ago, racked up a career-best 23 tackles (15 solos) against Findlay (11/1) and turned in 16 stops (12 solo) at nationally top-ranked Saginaw Valley State (10/25). He registered his first career touchdown on a 40-yard fumble recovery return versus Northwood (10/4). Myers averaged 16.5 tackles (66 total) in his last four 2003 outings with double-digit tackles in each contest.

As a sophomore in 2002, Myers posted a team-high 112 tackles (66 solos) in 10 games en route to garnering all-conference second-team laurels. He finished the campaign tied for 12th nationally in tackles (11.1 avg.) while placing second among the GLIAC’s leaders. The 5-11, 210-pound defender made 49 tackles as a freshman in 2001 and was recognized as the squad’s Outstanding Defensive Rookie.

In 31 career appearances to date at FSU, Myers has accumulated 302 tackles (174 solos) to currently rank 14th on the Bulldogs’ all-time leaders list while producing 16 double-digit game tackle efforts. He had 9.5 tackles for a loss of 17 yards, one quarterback sack for minus five yards, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 17 pass deflections and six pass interceptions for 41 yards.

Ferris State kicks off its 11-game 2004 schedule Saturday, Aug. 28, hosting conference archrival Grand Valley State at FSU’s Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich. A 7 p.m. (EDT) start time is slated for the season opener.