2019 AFCA All-America Team
First Team
DL Austin Edwards, Ferris State, Sr.
Ferris State University senior defensive end Austin Edwards led the Bulldogs to a second consecutive GLIAC Championsip and an unbeaten regular-season. As the leader of one of the nation's top defensive units, Edwards has compiled 13.5 tackles for loss (-83 yards) along with eight sacks (-68 yards) and 45 total stops this campaign with both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The three-year starter is a three-time All-GLIAC honoree and two-time All-American who has helped FSU to its sixth consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearance this year and the region's top seed after three-straight trips to the national quarterfinals or beyond. The two-time All-GLIAC First Team pick was a finalist for the 2018 Cliff Harris Award as one of the nation's top small college performers and is a highly-regarded NFL prospect.
Second Team
OL Tyler Allison, Ferris State, Sr.
Ferris State University senior offensive guard Tyler Allison has had a standout campaign up front for the Bulldogs, helping FSU to its second consecutive GLIAC Championship and an unbeaten regular-season. The four-year starter has has paved the way for one of the nation's top offensive units throughout his career and is a three-time All-GLIAC choice. This season, he's helped the Bulldogs rank among the nation's top 10 teams in total offensve, averaging 513.3 yards per game, and the Bulldogs are also ranked in the top 15 in rushing at 257.7 yards a contest. Allison is a four-year letterwinner and has helped FSU to its sixth consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearance this year and the region's top seed after three-straight trips to the national quarterfinals or beyond.
LB Leon Eggleston, Wayne State, R-Sr.
Leon Eggleston, who was voted to the All-GLIAC First Team, was a three-time GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2019 as well as being a Harlon Hill nominee. He led the conference in tackles for loss (14.5), tied-for-first in fumble recoveries (2), finished second in solo tackles (55), tied-for-third in interceptions (4), while placing fifth in total tackles (93). Eggleston had a turnover in five consecutive games with two pick six's while the other two interceptions came in the end zone preventing the opponent from scoring. Eggleston was most recently named one of the 2019 Harlon Hill Trophy nominees from Super Region 3.
LB Clay Shreve, Ashland, Sr.
This fall, Shreve led Ashland's defense with 96 total tackles (36 solo) and 8½ tackles for loss, while adding a half-sack and a fumble recovery. In his career, Shreve racked up 263 total stops (109 solo), 7½ sacks, 26 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries. In addition to the AFCA All-American and three first-team All-GLIAC laurels, Shreve also was the program's 2019 nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team and the National Football Foundation (NFF) Campbell Trophy, is a 2019 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District honoree, was a 2018 NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) second-team all-region choice, and has been on the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team twice.