University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Photo by: Mike Dunlop
Panthers Land 14 On 2015 All-MVFC Teams
11/30/2015 9:26:00 AM | Football
MVFC RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The University of Northern Iowa football team was honored today with 14 student-athletes being named to the 2015 Missouri Valley Football All-Conference squad.
The Panthers received five first-team nods, five second-team selections and four were named to the honorable mention team. The Panthers have had 46 first-team selections since 2007, the most in the league.
Senior Jacob Rathmacher was named to the offensive first-team, with Karter Schult, Brett McMakin, Defensive Player of the Year Deiondre' Hall and senior Tim Kilfoy all earning defensive first-team. Newcomer of the Year Aaron Bailey and center Robert Rathje were named to the offensive second-team while Isaac Ales, Makinton Dorleant and Sam Kuhter all received defensive second-team.
Rounding out UNI's All-Conference selections are Tyvis Smith, Braden Lehman, Michael Schmadeke, Trent Simpson and Dorleant, who received honorable mention as a return specialist along with his second-team defensive back honors.
Bailey, Rathmacher, Rathje, Smith and Lehman are all part of a UNI offense that has excelled at the run game this season, ranking No. 16 in the FCS and third in the Valley in rushing offense. Rathmacher, Rathje and Lehman, all team captains, have been integral in allowing UNI to rush for 2,745 yards, ranking fifth all-time at UNI.
Lehman, UNI's starting tight end, served dual roles as a blocking and receiving threat for the Panthers, bringing in two touchdowns this year. Smith, who has started nine games this season at running back, has 814 yards on 145 carries and five touchdowns, including three consecutive games with 100-or-more yards.
Bailey and Schmadeke are currently first and second on the team in points, with Bailey scoring 17 touchdowns and Schmadeke knocking in 13 field goals and 44 PATs. Bailey, the school record holder in rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback, is ranked fourth in the FCS in rushing scores and 15th in rushing yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Schult and Ales have been an anchor for the line, pulling in a combined 128 tackles this season. Schult is ranked first in the Valley in tackles for loss and sacks this season, also ranking in the top-15 in the FCS in both categories. Ales has racked up 14.5 tackles for loss this season, giving him 40.5 total in his career, just 2.5 away from setting a new school record.
McMakin, UNI's middle linebacker, leads the team in tackles this season with 101. He ranks 19th in the FCS in solo tackles this year and second in forced fumbles. His six forced fumbles in 2015 ties the school record for forced fumbles in a season and ties him for third all-time as a Panther in career forced fumbles (8).
Hall, Kilfoy and Dorleant are three year starters for UNI's defense, with both Hall and Kilfoy seeing action as true freshmen in 2012. Hall, who broke the school record for interception returns for touchdowns this season, leads the Valley and is ranked No. 8 in the FCS in interceptions per game. Kilfoy has had his fair share of picks this season too, coming up with three, including one pick-six.
Dorleant has 17 pass breakups this season, ranking him eighth all-time at UNI in passes defended in a season and landing him first in the Valley and ninth in the FCS. He doubled as a return specialist this year as well, ranking third in the nation in punt returns that included a 90-yard return for a touchdown.
The Panthers have had a balanced team late this season, including special teams' standouts Kuhter and Simpson. Kuhter is averaging 42.9 yards per punt this season, ranking him sixth all-time at UNI and 14th in the FCS this season. Simpson, UNI's lone long snapper has been integral in Kuhter and Schmadeke's success this season, being a part of every PAT, field goal and punting unit.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The University of Northern Iowa football team was honored today with 14 student-athletes being named to the 2015 Missouri Valley Football All-Conference squad.
The Panthers received five first-team nods, five second-team selections and four were named to the honorable mention team. The Panthers have had 46 first-team selections since 2007, the most in the league.
Senior Jacob Rathmacher was named to the offensive first-team, with Karter Schult, Brett McMakin, Defensive Player of the Year Deiondre' Hall and senior Tim Kilfoy all earning defensive first-team. Newcomer of the Year Aaron Bailey and center Robert Rathje were named to the offensive second-team while Isaac Ales, Makinton Dorleant and Sam Kuhter all received defensive second-team.
Rounding out UNI's All-Conference selections are Tyvis Smith, Braden Lehman, Michael Schmadeke, Trent Simpson and Dorleant, who received honorable mention as a return specialist along with his second-team defensive back honors.
Bailey, Rathmacher, Rathje, Smith and Lehman are all part of a UNI offense that has excelled at the run game this season, ranking No. 16 in the FCS and third in the Valley in rushing offense. Rathmacher, Rathje and Lehman, all team captains, have been integral in allowing UNI to rush for 2,745 yards, ranking fifth all-time at UNI.
Lehman, UNI's starting tight end, served dual roles as a blocking and receiving threat for the Panthers, bringing in two touchdowns this year. Smith, who has started nine games this season at running back, has 814 yards on 145 carries and five touchdowns, including three consecutive games with 100-or-more yards.
Bailey and Schmadeke are currently first and second on the team in points, with Bailey scoring 17 touchdowns and Schmadeke knocking in 13 field goals and 44 PATs. Bailey, the school record holder in rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback, is ranked fourth in the FCS in rushing scores and 15th in rushing yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Schult and Ales have been an anchor for the line, pulling in a combined 128 tackles this season. Schult is ranked first in the Valley in tackles for loss and sacks this season, also ranking in the top-15 in the FCS in both categories. Ales has racked up 14.5 tackles for loss this season, giving him 40.5 total in his career, just 2.5 away from setting a new school record.
McMakin, UNI's middle linebacker, leads the team in tackles this season with 101. He ranks 19th in the FCS in solo tackles this year and second in forced fumbles. His six forced fumbles in 2015 ties the school record for forced fumbles in a season and ties him for third all-time as a Panther in career forced fumbles (8).
Hall, Kilfoy and Dorleant are three year starters for UNI's defense, with both Hall and Kilfoy seeing action as true freshmen in 2012. Hall, who broke the school record for interception returns for touchdowns this season, leads the Valley and is ranked No. 8 in the FCS in interceptions per game. Kilfoy has had his fair share of picks this season too, coming up with three, including one pick-six.
Dorleant has 17 pass breakups this season, ranking him eighth all-time at UNI in passes defended in a season and landing him first in the Valley and ninth in the FCS. He doubled as a return specialist this year as well, ranking third in the nation in punt returns that included a 90-yard return for a touchdown.
The Panthers have had a balanced team late this season, including special teams' standouts Kuhter and Simpson. Kuhter is averaging 42.9 yards per punt this season, ranking him sixth all-time at UNI and 14th in the FCS this season. Simpson, UNI's lone long snapper has been integral in Kuhter and Schmadeke's success this season, being a part of every PAT, field goal and punting unit.
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