CLEVELAND – The Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA), in coordination with the 13 FCS conference offices, announced the 2015 FCS ADA All-America team on Thursday. The third annual award recognizes the top student-athletes from FCS institutions at 11 different positions. The 2015 class includes student-athletes from 10 different institutions, representing six different conferences. Voting was conducted by a national panel, consisting of media and SIDs.
“On behalf of our association’s officers, executive committee and members, I would like to congratulate this year’s FCS ADA All-America award winners,” stated FCS ADA President Jeff Tingey, director of athletics, Idaho State University. “Each of these student-athletes accomplished great things both on and off the football field this season, and the FCS ADA is proud to recognize their achievements.”
From the 11 players listed below, a national Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year will be announced at a later date and recognized at the National Championship Game in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 9, during an on-field presentation.
Related: FCS Championship hub
The following student-athletes will earn 2015 All-America honors from the FCS ADA, as the top players from each of their positions-- the bios that follow below are regular-season statistics.
QB Eli Jenkins, Jr., Jacksonville State
OVC Offensive Player of the Year…Has led team to first-ever No. 1 ranking and 2nd-straight OVC title and just third back-to-back 8-0 OVC seasons in league history…Is 26-0 as starter in career against non-FBS competition in the regular season…Leads offense that ranks fourth nationally in total offense (503.0 yards/game), 7th in rushing offense (278.7 yard/game) and 9th in scoring offense (37.5 points/game)…In 1st half this season has led 70 drives in which team has scored 30 touchdowns and punted only 17 times; with big leads he has sat out 8 full second half quarters…Ranks 25th nationally in passing efficiency, throwing for 18 touchdowns against only 5 interceptions; has also rushed for 8 scores…Passed for 277 yards and TD in overtime loss to Auburn.
RB Marshaun Coprich, Sr., Illinois State
MVFC Offensive Player of the Year .. Led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,720), touchdowns (20), yards per game (156.4), all-purpose yards per game (169.0) and scoring (11.1) … rushed for over 100 yards in nine of 11 games and posted three games with over 200 yards rushing … posted seven multiple touchdown games and six games with over 150 yards rushing … rushed for season-high 254 yards and three touchdowns at SIU (Nov. 14) … followed that with 251 yards and tied career-high with four touchdowns vs. South Dakota (Nov. 21) … three-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week.
TE Eric Saubert, Sr., Drake
First-Team All-PFL selection. Saubert led the Bulldog receiving corps with 55 catches for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. He led all FCS tight ends with 5.0 receptions per game. Saubert's 57.5 reception yards per game were ied for 2nd and his seven TD receptions were tied for 3rd among FCS tight ends.
WR Cooper Kupp, Jr., Eastern Washington
The 2012 graduate of Davis High School in Yakima, Wash., led FCS in five categories – receptions, receptions per game (10.4), reception yards (1,642), reception yards per game (149.3) and touchdown receptions (19). The players closest to him in FCS were eight catches, 298 yards and four TDs behind him.
LT Joe Haeg, Sr., North Dakota State
2014 All-American and FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year…Added to STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year watch list…Former walk-on who is a team captain and has started 56 of 57 games in his career including the last 27 at left tackle…Five-time MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week, including two this year…Led NDSU with 12 knockdowns and graded 92 percent against Weber State…Eight knockdowns and 94 percent grade at South Dakota State…Has 45 total knockdowns and season grades of 91% technique and 99% assignment on 749 reps…Anchors a unit that allows the fewest sacks (1.00/game) and tackles for loss (4.09/game) in the league…NDSU leads the league in rushing offense (244.0), time of possession (36:20) and third down conversions (50%).
PK Lance Geesey, Jr., Saint Francis
First Team All-NEC selection … Led the FCS in field goal percentage (.941). … Made 16 of 17 FG attempts with his lone miss being a 47-yarder on the road at ETSU. … Went a perfect 11-for-11 on kicks inside of 40 yards. … Made extra points at a league-leading .966 clip. … Has connected on 45 FG in three seasons, sitting one shy of the NEC’s career record. … Handled kickoffs, accounting for a 60.2 average and 10 touchbacks. … also periodically served as punter. … Three-time NEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Set NEC single-game record by hitting all five FG attempts, including two 46-yarders, in 22-13 win over Central Connecticut. … Became SFU’s all-time FG leader in 38-20 win over Georgetown.
DE James Cowser, Sr., Southern Utah
Cowser finished the season with 11 sacks and 17 tackles-for-loss on his way to setting new national FCS records. Cowser also got into the end zone for the first time in his career when he returned two fumble recoveries for 100 yards in a single game, one of them for a touchdown. James also had three quarterback hurries as part of his 62 tackles. Cowser is now a two-time first team player in the Big Sky, the only consensus pick on the defensive squad, and is a strong candidate for National Defensive Player of the Year.
LB Christian Kuntz, Jr., Duquesne
STATS Defensive Player of Year candidate … NEC Defensive Player of the Year … Two-time All-NEC First Team honoree … Earned All-America status (Sports Network) in 2013 before a preseason injury cost him the entire 2014 season. … Returned to start all 11 games for the conference champs and lead the NEC in tackles for loss. … His 23.0 TFL were tied for second-most in the nation at regular season’s end. … Led the league in interceptions (4). … Logged 8.0 sacks, second-most in NEC. … He made one of his league-leading four interceptions during a 26-7 road victory over Patriot League member Bucknell. … In a game at PFL champion Dayton, a fellow FCS postseason qualifier, Kuntz logged 2.5 TFL and forced one fumble.
DB Deiondre’ Hall, Sr., UNI
MVFC Defensive Player of the Year .. led MVFC in interceptions with six, returning two for touchdowns … also ranks No. 5 in the FCS in interceptions per game … broke the school record for career interception returns for touchdowns (4) … ranks fifth all-time at UNI in career interceptions (13) … the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Award watch list nominee earned CSM National Defensive Player of the Week and MVFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Eastern Washington ... finished the regular season with 69 total tackles, including 48 solo and six for loss of yardage … had two forced fumbles and three pass breakups, scoring 12 points during the season.
P Ben LeCompte, Sr., North Dakota State
2014 All-American…Two-time All-MVFC…Leads MVFC and ranks second in FCS with a 46.1 punting average…Career 44.5 punting average ranks No. 1 in NDSU and MVFC history, and No. 4 in FCS history…Bison lead the MVFC and rank fourth nationally in net punting (39.25)…Has punted 48 times with 20 inside the 20-yard line and 17 punts of 50-plus yards including a season-long of 73…Averaging 62.4 yards on 71 kickoffs with 29 touchbacks…Also holds for the PAT/FG unit.
Related: FCS Tournament Bracket
RS Khris Gardin, So., N.C. A&T
First-team All-MEAC...He is two yards shy of breaking the NCAA FCS single-season record for punt return yards in a season...With one game remaining he has 666 punt return yards and he is averaging 60.55 yards per return...If it stands through the last game of the season that will also be an NCAA FCS record...Had two punt returns for touchdowns this season, a 71-yarder at Hampton and an 82-yarder against Howard...Had four punt returns for 203 yards at Hampton on Oct. 3...Was named MEAC and FCS STATS Special Teams Player of the Week following his Hampton performance.
Of the 11 student-athletes, seven participated in the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship, including three who will appear in a semifinal games this weekend.
About the FCS ADA: Now in its 22nd year, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association’s mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. For more information on the FCS ADA, please visit www.fcsada.com. The FCS ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 51st year. For more information on NACDA and the 15 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
