Jared Brinkman, Trevor Penning earn 2021 AP All-America Football Team honors
12/16/2021 11:10:00 AM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Two Panthers earned spots on the 2021 Associated Press All-America Football Team.Â
Jared Brinkman and Trevor Penning are among 16 Missouri Valley Football Conference student-athletes who earned the national honor. The Panther duo are among five MVFC players who earned first-team honors. The announcement comes on the heels of Brinkman and Penning being named to HERO Sports' FCS All-American First Team for Defense and Offense, respectively.Â
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. He was a Stats Perform Preseason All-American and Phil Steele Preseason All-MVFC choice. He was an integral part of an offensive line that allowed 36 sacks and a loss of 231 yards on the season and helped UNI gain 1,686 rushing yards and 2,679 passing yards. 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 is a two-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Year, having received his second consecutive honor this year. Brinkman notched 22 solo sacks and assisted on 51 this season. He has 15 tackles for a loss of 50 yards. He had 14 against South Dakota on Oct. 16. Brinkman 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. Â
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Jared Brinkman and Trevor Penning are among 16 Missouri Valley Football Conference student-athletes who earned the national honor. The Panther duo are among five MVFC players who earned first-team honors. The announcement comes on the heels of Brinkman and Penning being named to HERO Sports' FCS All-American First Team for Defense and Offense, respectively.Â
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. He was a Stats Perform Preseason All-American and Phil Steele Preseason All-MVFC choice. He was an integral part of an offensive line that allowed 36 sacks and a loss of 231 yards on the season and helped UNI gain 1,686 rushing yards and 2,679 passing yards. 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 is a two-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Year, having received his second consecutive honor this year. Brinkman notched 22 solo sacks and assisted on 51 this season. He has 15 tackles for a loss of 50 yards. He had 14 against South Dakota on Oct. 16. Brinkman 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. Â
2021 AP ALL-AMERICANS FROM MVFC
FIRST TEAMÂ
- RB Pierre Strong, senior, South Dakota State
- OL Trevor Penning, junior, Northern Iowa
- OL Cordell Volson, senior, North Dakota State
- DLÂ Jared Brinkman, senior, Northern Iowa
- DBÂ Darius Joiner, senior, Western Illinois
SECOND TEAM
- OL Cody Mauch, senior, North Dakota State
- OLÂ Matt Waletzko, senior, North Dakota
- OLÂ ZeVeyon Furcron, senior, Southern Illinois
- TEÂ Tucker Kraft, sophomore, South Dakota State
- WR Christian Watson, senior, North Dakota State
- PK Jose Pizano, sophomore, Missouri State
- DB Montrae Braswell, sophomore, Missouri State
THIRD TEAM
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin, junior, Youngstown State.
- WR Dennis Houston, senior, Western Illinois
- DL Brayden Thomas, senior, North Dakota State
- PÂ Grant Burkett, sophomore, Missouri State.
COMPLETE LIST FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
- Quarterback - Cole Kelley, senior, Southeast Louisiana.
- Running backs - Quay Holmes, senior, East Tennessee State; Pierre Strong, senior, South Dakota State.
- Offensive linemen - Trevor Penning, junior, Northern Iowa; P.J. Burkhalter, senior, Nicholls State; Cordell Volson, senior, North Dakota State; Lewis Kidd, senior, Montana State; Braxton Jones, senior, Southern Utah.
- Tight end - Kemari Averett, senior, Bethune-Cookman.
- Receivers - Xavier Gipson, junior, Stephen F. Austin; BJ Byrd, senior, Morehead State; Jalyn Witcher, freshman, Presbyterian.
- All-purpose player - Montrell Washington, senior, Samford.
- Kicker - Ethan Ratke, senior, James Madison.
DEFENSE
- Linemen - Nate Lynn, senior, William & Mary; Vaughn Taylor, senior, Morehead State; Jared Brinkman, senior, Northern Iowa; Isaiah Chambers, senior, McNeese State.
- Linebackers - Troy Andersen, senior, Montana State; Isaiah Land, junior, Florida A&M; Forrest Rhyne, senior, Villanova.
- Defensive backs - Justin Ford, senior, Montana; Christian Benford, senior, Villanova; Darius Joiner, senior, Western Illinois; Johnathan Edwards, senior, Austin Peay; Decobie Durant, senior, South Carolina State.
- Punter - Brian Buschini, sophomore, Montana.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
- Quarterback - Eric Barriere, senior, Eastern Washington.
- Running backs - Geno Hess, senior, SE Missouri State; Isaiah Ifanse, junior, Montana State.
- Offensive linemen - Cody Mauch, senior, North Dakota State; Michael Corbi, senior, Villanova; Matt Waletzko, senior, North Dakota; ZeVeyon Furcron, senior, Southern Illinois; Justin Redd, senior, Norfolk State.
- Tight end - Tucker Kraft, sophomore, South Dakota State.
- Receivers - Taylor Grimes, senior, Incarnate Word; Tyler Hudson, junior, Central Arkansas; Christian Watson, senior, North Dakota State.
- All-purpose player - Jacob Saylors, senior, East Tennessee State.
- Kicker - Jose Pizano, sophomore, Missouri State.
DEFENSE
- Linemen - Jahari Kay, senior, Sam Houston; Devonnsha Maxwell, junior, Chattanooga; Josiah Silver, freshman, New Hampshire; Bryce Carter, senior, James Madison.
- Linebackers - Patrick O'Connell, junior, Montana; Jacob Dobbs, junior, Holy Cross; James Houston, senior, Jackson State.
- Defensive backs - Jordan Jones, junior, Rhode Island; Koby Perry, senior, Austin Peay; Brandon Dowdell, senior, Chattanooga; Devin Hafford, senior, Tarleton State; Montrae Braswell, sophomore, Missouri State.
- Punter - Daniel Whelan, senior, UC Davis.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
- Quarterback - Cole Johnson, senior, James Madison.
- Running backs - Ramon Jefferson, junior, Sam Houston; Jaleel McLaughlin, junior, Youngstown State.
- Offensive linemen - Tre'Mond Shorts, senior, East Tennessee State; Colby Thomas, senior, Sam Houston; Jaylin Hendrix, senior, Central Arkansas; Cole Strange, senior, Chattanooga; Jake Guidone, senior, Dartmouth.
- Tight end - Ryan Miller, senior, Furman.
- Receivers - Dai'Jean Dixon, senior, Nicholls State; Dennis Houston, senior, Western Illinois; Caleb Snead, senior, Campbell.
- All-purpose player - Xavier Shepherd, sophomore, Kennesaw State.
- Kicker - Chris Campos, redshirt freshman, Stephen F. Austin.
DEFENSE
- Linemen - Brayden Thomas, senior, North Dakota State; Clay Patterson, sophomore, Yale; Brevin Allen, senior, Campbell; Josiah Erickson, senior, Sacramento State.
- Linebackers - Kelechi Anyalebechi, senior, Incarnate Word; Matt Shotwell, senior, Cal Poly; David Hoage, sophomore, Northern Colorado.
- Defensive backs - Markquese Bell, senior, Florida A&M; Zy Alexander, sophomore, Southeast Louisiana; Zyon McCollum, senior, Sam Houston; Clayborne Fields III, junior, Marist; Greg Ross, senior, James Madison.
- Punter - Grant Burkett, sophomore, Missouri State.
Players Mentioned
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