University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI football: 4 Panthers earn spots on FCS all-American teams
12/14/2021 12:08:00 PM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Four Panthers from the UNI football team earned spots on HERO Sports' FCS All-American Teams.
UNI seniors Trevor Penning and Jared Brinkman were named to the First Team Offense / Defense Teams for all classes. Matthew Cook was named to the Second Team Special Teams for all classes and also earned a spot on the all-American team reserved for sophomores. Omar Brown also earned a spot on the sophomore defense team.
Penning was the only offensive lineman to be named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. He was the first player to be invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl. Penning is from Clear Lake, Iowa, and majoring in movement and exercise science. He is the son of Jeff and Teresa Penning. His brother, Jared, also plays on the UNI football team.
Brinkman also earned the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year. Brinkman notched 22 solo sacks and assisted on 51. He has 15 tackles for a loss of 50 yards. He had 14 against South Dakota on Oct. 16. Brinkman has forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Brinkman is a senior majoring in physical education. He is a graduate of Regina High School in Iowa City, Iowa. He is the son of Mike and Carla Brinkman.
Cook is a placekicker out of Cedar Falls, Iowa. He was the only FCS player to notch two field goals beyond 50 yards in a single game the week he earned MVFC honors. He ranked first in MVFC and fourth in nation for field goal percentage with 90.5%. He was second in the MFVC and fourth in nation for field goals per game with 1.73. He was perfect on PATS on the season, going 22-22 and averages 58.3 yards on kickoff. Cook is the son of James and Cindy Cook. He is majoring in movement and exercise science.
Brown, a sophomore from Minneapolis, Minn., had his season end early due to injury. In seven games, he was able to notch 24 solo tackles and assisted on nine more. He forced a fumble in the game against Iowa State and broke up three passes this last season. Brown is majoring in movement and exercise science with minors in coaching and sport administration.
UNI seniors Trevor Penning and Jared Brinkman were named to the First Team Offense / Defense Teams for all classes. Matthew Cook was named to the Second Team Special Teams for all classes and also earned a spot on the all-American team reserved for sophomores. Omar Brown also earned a spot on the sophomore defense team.
Penning was the only offensive lineman to be named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. He was the first player to be invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl. Penning is from Clear Lake, Iowa, and majoring in movement and exercise science. He is the son of Jeff and Teresa Penning. His brother, Jared, also plays on the UNI football team.
Brinkman also earned the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year. Brinkman notched 22 solo sacks and assisted on 51. He has 15 tackles for a loss of 50 yards. He had 14 against South Dakota on Oct. 16. Brinkman has forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Brinkman is a senior majoring in physical education. He is a graduate of Regina High School in Iowa City, Iowa. He is the son of Mike and Carla Brinkman.
Cook is a placekicker out of Cedar Falls, Iowa. He was the only FCS player to notch two field goals beyond 50 yards in a single game the week he earned MVFC honors. He ranked first in MVFC and fourth in nation for field goal percentage with 90.5%. He was second in the MFVC and fourth in nation for field goals per game with 1.73. He was perfect on PATS on the season, going 22-22 and averages 58.3 yards on kickoff. Cook is the son of James and Cindy Cook. He is majoring in movement and exercise science.
Brown, a sophomore from Minneapolis, Minn., had his season end early due to injury. In seven games, he was able to notch 24 solo tackles and assisted on nine more. He forced a fumble in the game against Iowa State and broke up three passes this last season. Brown is majoring in movement and exercise science with minors in coaching and sport administration.
All-American Teams (All Classes)
First Team Offense
- QB Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington
- RB Pierre Strong, Jr., South Dakota State
- RB Quay Holmes, East Tennessee State
- FB Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State
- WR Dai'Jean Dixon, Nicholls
- WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
- WR Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin
- TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
- OL Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
- OL Cole Strange, Chattanooga
- OL Cordell Volson, North Dakota State
- OL Mason McCormick, South Dakota State
- OL Braxton Jones, Southern Utah
- OL Nick Zakelj, Fordham
- AP Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State
First Team Defense
- DL Jared Brinkman, Northern Iowa
- DL Daniel Hardy, Montana State
- DL Mike Greene, James Madison
- DL Titus Leo, Wagner
- DL Josiah Erickson, Sacramento State
- LB Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
- LB Patrick O'Connell, Montana
- LB Troy Andersen, Montana State
- LB Forrest Rhyne, Villanova
- LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State
- DB Christian Benford, Villanova
- DB Markquese Bell, Florida A&M
- DB Justin Ford, Montana
- DB Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State
- DB Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston
First Team Special Teams
- K Ethan Ratke, James Madison
- P Brian Buschini, Montana
- LS Kyle Davis, James Madison
- RS Isaiah Bolden, Jackson State
Second Team Offense
- QB Cole Johnson, James Madison
- RB Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State
- RB Ramon Jefferson, Sam Houston
- FB Coy Williams, Davidson
- WR Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas
- WR Antwane Wells Jr., James Madison
- WR Taylor Grimes, Incarnate Word
- TE Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman
- OL Liam Fornadel, James Madison
- OL Matt Waletzko, North Dakota
- OL David Kroll, Delaware
- OL P.J. Burkhalter, Nicholls
- OL Tre'mond Shorts, East Tennessee State
- OL Lewis Kidd, Montana State
- AP Montrell Washington, Samford
Second Team Defense
- DL Joseph Wallace, Sam Houston
- DL Vaughn Taylor Jr., Morehead State
- DL Devonnsha Maxwell, Chattanooga
- DL Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
- DL Nate Lynn, William & Mary
- LB Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross
- LB James Houston, Jackson State
- LB Tre Walker, Idaho
- LB Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, James Madison
- LB Stone Snyder, VMI
- DB Anthony Adams, Portland State
- DB Koby Perry, Austin Peay
- DB Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
- DB Darius Joiner, Western Illinois
- DB Qua Brown, Southern Illinois
Second Team Special Teams
- K Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa
- P Daniel Whelan, UC Davis
- LS Matthew O'Donoghue, Montana
- RS Malik Flowers, Montana
Third Team Offense
- QB Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana University
- RB Malik Grant, Sacred Heart
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State
- FB Logan Kendall, Idaho
- WR BJ Byrd, Morehead State
- WR Talolo Limu-Jones, Eastern Washington
- WR Dennis Houston, Western Illinois
- TE Noah Gindorff, North Dakota State
- OL Keenan Forbes, Florida A&M
- OL Colby Thomas, Sam Houston
- OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
- OL Zeveyon Furcron, Southern Illinois
- OL Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington
- OL AJ Farris, Monmouth
- AP Jake Chisholm, Dayton
Third Team Defense
- DL Brevin Allen, Campbell
- DL Antwan Owens, Jackson State
- DL Isaiah Chambers, McNeese
- DL Brayden Thomas, North Dakota State
- DL Chase Benson, Montana State
- DL Shaundre Mims, Charleston Southern
- LB Donovan Manuel, East Tennessee State
- LB Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
- LB Jack Cochrane, South Dakota
- LB Jace Lewis, Montana
- LB Aubrey Miller Jr., Jackson State
- DB Johnathon Edwards, Austin Peay
- DB Greg Ross, James Madison
- DB Jordan Perryman, UC Davis
- DB Robby Hauck, Montana
- DB Tyree Robinson, East Tennessee State
Third Team Special Teams
- K Kevin Macias, Montana
- P Grant Burkett, Missouri State
- LS Robert Soderholm, VMI
- RS Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
Sophomore All-American Team
Sophomore Offense
- QB Cameron Ward, Incarnate Word
- QB Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State
- QB Tony Muskett, Monmouth
- QB Draylen Ellis, Austin Peay
- RB Ailym Ford, Chattanooga
- RB Devon Starling, Tennessee State
- RB Niko Duffey, Alcorn State
- RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
- RB Caleb Johnson, Mississippi Valley State
- WR Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas
- WR Tyrone Scott, Missouri State
- WR Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin
- WR Will Huzzie, East Tennessee State
- WR Kahtero Summers, Saint Francis
- WR Shaquan Davis, South Carolina State
- WR Freddie Roberson, Eastern Washington
- WR Jalen Coker, Holy Cross
- WR Graham Walker, Brown
- WR Terez Traynor, Idaho
- TE Marshel Martin, Sacramento State
- TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
- TE McCallan Castles, UC Davis
- OL Luke Newman, Holy Cross
- OL Tylan Grable, Jacksonville State
- OL Nick Kidwell, James Madison
- OL Nash Jones, Incarnate Word
- OL Prince Pines, Sam Houston
- OL Noah Atagi, Weber State
- OL Tavon Matthews, East Tennessee State
- OL Jaison Williams, Youngstown State
- OL Michael Shanahan, UT Martin
- AP Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
Sophomore Defense
- DL Terrell Allen, Austin Peay
- DL Logan Jessup, Central Arkansas
- DL Jonathan Hammond, Davidson
- DL Joshua Jerome, Eastern Washington
- DL Ty French, Gardner-Webb
- DL Alex Gubner, Montana
- DL Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State
- DL Jeblonski Green, South Carolina State
- DL Clay Patterson, Yale
- DL Will Buck, San Diego
- LB Jason Johnson, Eastern Illinois
- LB Donovan Manuel, East Tennessee State
- LB William McRainey, Gardner-Webb
- LB Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
- LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State
- LB Jacob Roberts, North Carolina A&T
- LB David Hoage, Northern Colorado
- DB Ryan Stapp, Abilene Christian
- DB Davion Ross, Eastern Kentucky
- DB Clayton Isbell, Illinois State
- DB Nicario Harper, Jacksonville State
- DB Lance Wise, Mercer
- DB Montrae Braswell, Missouri State
- DB Marcis Floyd, Murray State
- DB Omar Brown, Northern Iowa
- DB Eddie Heckard, Weber State
Sophomore Special Teams
- K Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa
- K Jerry Rice, VMI
- K Adrian Olivo, North Carolina Central
- P Max Quick, Stephen F. Austin
- P Austin Dunlap, Southeastern Louisiana University
- P Jack Culbreath, VMI
- RS Solomon Vanhorse, James Madison
- RS Montrae Braswell, Missouri State
Freshman All-American Team
Freshman Offense
- QB Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
- QB Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant
- QB Tyler Riddell, East Tennessee State
- RB Darius Hale, Central Arkansas
- RB Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls
- RB Zak Wallace, UT Martin
- RB Fred Davis, Mercer
- RB Kevin Daniels, Northern Arizona
- RB Damonta Witherspoon, Murray State
- WR Antwane Wells Jr., James Madison
- WR Jalyn Witcher, Presbyterian
- WR Drae McCray, Austin Peay
- WR Jacari Carter, Merrimack
- WR Raphael Williams, Western Carolina
- WR Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington
- TE Cole Grossman, Montana
- OL Justin Lairy, Central Arkansas
- OL Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky
- OL Reese Moore, Abilene Christian
- OL Justice Guillory, Stephen F. Austin
- OL Evan Roussel, Nicholls
- AP Tyson Thompson, Houston Baptist
Freshman Defense
- DL Thor Griffith, Harvard
- DL Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
- DL Jared Verse, UAlbany
- DL Jaden Taylor, North Carolina Central
- DL Nick Gaes, South Dakota
- LB James Conway, Fordham
- LB Rodney Dansby, Houston Baptist
- LB Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri State
- LB Tyler King, Stony Brook
- LB Jackson Ambush, UAlbany
- DB Tyrell Grayson, Dixie State
- DB Esaias Guthrie, Delaware State
- DB Alijah Huzzie, East Tennessee State
- DB Kobe Singleton, Southern Utah
- DB Gregory Reddick, Saint Francis
- DB Dominick Poole, The Citadel
Freshman Special Teams
- K Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin
- K Alex Schmoke, Saint Francis
- K Patrick Nations, Eastern Kentucky
- P Brian Buschini, Montana
- P Grant Burkett, Missouri State
- LS Brady McKnight, Morehead State
- LS Steele Judy, The Citadel
- RS Calvin Jones, Western Carolina
- RS Lan Larison, UC Davis
Players Mentioned
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