University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Six Panthers Lead FCS in STATS All-American List
9/3/2020 4:56:00 PM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Six UNI Panther football players were named to the Stats Perform Preseason All-American team released Wednesday, the most of any team in the nation.
Elerson G. Smith led the way as a first-team defensive line selection for the Panthers. Isaiah Weston, Spencer Brown, Jared Brinkman and Omar Brown were honored with second-team All-FCS recognition and Bryce Flater was named to the Third Team.
North Dakota State, Montana and Weber State all placed five players on the team.
Smith finished last season as an AFCA First-Team All-American and finished in the top-10 of the Buck Buchanan voting. He was named the FCS Preseason Player of the Year by Phil Steele in August.
Weston became the first Panther receiver to hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark in over a decade and was named a finalist for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year.
Spencer Brown was named second-team All-MVFC last season and national sportswriter Bruce Feldman named him to his preseason College Football Freaks list.
Brinkman was also second-team All-MVFC last year and earned Phil Steele Preseason Second-Team All-American honors.
Omar Brown was named the Phil Steele Defensive Freshman of the Year last season and earned First-Team All-MVFC honors after leading the league in interceptions.
Flater was a second-team All-MVFC honoree and a Phil Steele First-Team All-American.
UNI's season was moved to the spring and a schedule has yet to be announced.
Elerson G. Smith led the way as a first-team defensive line selection for the Panthers. Isaiah Weston, Spencer Brown, Jared Brinkman and Omar Brown were honored with second-team All-FCS recognition and Bryce Flater was named to the Third Team.
North Dakota State, Montana and Weber State all placed five players on the team.
Smith finished last season as an AFCA First-Team All-American and finished in the top-10 of the Buck Buchanan voting. He was named the FCS Preseason Player of the Year by Phil Steele in August.
Weston became the first Panther receiver to hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark in over a decade and was named a finalist for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year.
Spencer Brown was named second-team All-MVFC last season and national sportswriter Bruce Feldman named him to his preseason College Football Freaks list.
Brinkman was also second-team All-MVFC last year and earned Phil Steele Preseason Second-Team All-American honors.
Omar Brown was named the Phil Steele Defensive Freshman of the Year last season and earned First-Team All-MVFC honors after leading the league in interceptions.
Flater was a second-team All-MVFC honoree and a Phil Steele First-Team All-American.
UNI's season was moved to the spring and a schedule has yet to be announced.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballUNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 5)
Wednesday, September 24
Todd Stepsis Press Conference Sep. 22, 2025
Tuesday, September 23
PST: Todd Stepsis - Sept. 19, 2025 (Part 2 of 3)
Friday, September 19
PST: Todd Stepsis - Sept. 19, 2025 (Part 1 of 3)
Friday, September 19