Monday, July 31, 2017
CHICAGO – San Diego junior offensive lineman Daniel Cooney was named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Second Team, Monday. He highlighted a trio of PFL athletes named to the preseason list.
Cooney was joined on the STATS FCS preseason list by teammate and senior defensive lineman Jonathan Petersen. In addition Drake punt returner Terry Wallen was named to the preseason squads. Petersen and Wallen each earned third team recognition.
In 2016 Cooney earned 1st Team All-PFL honors and was selected to the AFCA FCS Coaches' All-America 2nd Team. Meanwhile, Petersen was a unanimous 1st Team All-PFL pick as the duo helped San Diego claim the 2016 PFL title and reach the second round of the FCS Playoffs, winning a first-round contest against Cal Poly.
Wallen ranked second nationally with a 14.8-yard average per punt return last season. He returned 16 punts for 236 yard to earn All-Pioneer Football honorable mention honors.
The STATS FCS All-America teams were headlined by quarterbacks Jeremiah Briscoe of Sam Houston State and Gage Gubrud of Eastern Washington, Fordham running back Chase Edmonds and South Dakota State’s dynamic receiving duo, tight end Dallas Goedert and wide receiver Jake Wieneke.
All 13 conferences and 55 schools had selections. The Missouri Valley Football Conference gained the most with 17, while CAA Football was second with 14, the Big Sky third with 11 and the Ohio Valley and the Southland tied for fourth with 10 each. Among schools, South Dakota State led the way with six selections each, North Dakota State and Sam Houston State had five each and 2016 FCS champion James Madison collected four.
The three teams included 37 players who gained STATS All-America honors after the 2016 season.