Liberty, Mo. -- The 2011 D2Football.com Preseason All-America Team has been released and it features six student-athletes from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Ashland University is represented on the First Team Defense by sophomore Jamie Meder. Grand Valley State University's lone All-American is senior Danny Richard. Joe Glendening of Hillsdale College is

The 2011 D2Football.com Preseason All-America Team has been released and it features six student-athletes from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Ashland University is represented on the First Team Defense by sophomore Jamie Meder (Parma, Ohio/ Valley Forge). Grand Valley State University's lone All-American is Second Team senior defensive lineman Danny Richard (West Bloomfield, Mich.). Junior Joe Glendening (East Grand Rapids, Mich.), of Hillsdale College, was voted to the Second Team Offense as a running back. Wayne State University had three players voted to the Preseason All-America Team. Senior defensive back Jeremy Jones (Grand Rapids, Mich./ Rockford) and senior offensive lineman Joe Long (Lapeer, Mich./East) were voted to the First Team, with senior linebacker Nick Thomas (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) being named to the Second Team Defense.

Meder was Ashland’s leader in sacks (five) and tackles for loss (10.5-42) in 2010.  He finished tied for eighth in the conference in sacks and tied for 10th in tackles for loss which earned him “Freshman of the Year” accolades.  Meder’s presence helped the Eagles defense  permit just 17.8 points per game and allowed just 309.3 yards per game in total offense.  The Eagles ranked third in the GLIAC in scoring defense and total defense, while tying for second in sacks.

Before receiving a medical redshirt in 2010, Richard was picked as a preseason All-American by both Sporting News and Lindy's. In 2009 he led the GVSU football team tackles for loss (19.5-79) and quarterback sacks (13-62), blocked three kicks, and forced two fumbles. Richard was named a Daktronics, Inc. First-Team All-American, D2Football.com First-Team All-American, Associated Press Second-Team All-American, and Football Gazette Second-Team All-American.

Glendening was an Honorable mention All-American and First Team All-GLIAC running back in 2010. He led the conference in rushing yards (1,485) and rushing touchdowns (15) in his first season as a starter. Glendening set the Hillsdale record for carries in a season (312) and had eight 100 yard rushing games and five games of over 150 yards rushing.

In 2010, Jones became the first Wayne State defensive football player to be named a First Team All-American when he was selected to Daktronics First Team.  He was also voted as a First Team All-GLIAC and D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-American performer. Jones was named the GLIAC “Defensive Player of the Week” (10/25/2011) when he recorded nine tackles and returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against Hillsdale.

Long finished the 2010 season as a First Team All-GLIAC player along with earning D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-American accolades. He has blocked for three consecutive 1,000 yard rushers the past (2008-10) and one Harlon Hill Award winner in 2009.

Thomas had such an impact for the Wayne State defense in 2010 he was voted a First Team All-GLIAC while only playing in five games due to a season ending leg injury. He looks to bounce back from the injury and again be one of the top linebackers in the GLIAC. At the beginning of last season, Thomas was named a to the CDS Pre-Season All-America Second Team, selected to the D2Football.com Pre-Season All-America Second Team, and listed as a 2010 Division II Pre-Season All-American by The Sporting News.