Tigers tabbed No. 9 by D2football.com; Jibowu selected preseason All-American

FHSU Athletics
Ryan Prickett, Sports Information Director

Fort Hays State received another Top 10 preseason national ranking on Friday when D2Football.com tabbed the Tigers as the No. 9 ranked team. D2Football.com produces a weekly poll throughout the season in supplement to the AFCA Top 25 Poll. The Tigers were picked No. 5 in the AFCA Preseason Poll.

Fort Hays State is one of two MIAA teams ranked in the Top 10 of the poll. Northwest Missouri State received the No. 5 ranking in the poll. Central Missouri and Pittsburg State also represent the MIAA in the D2Football.com Top 25 at No. 19 and No. 23 respectively.

Fort Hays State and Central Missouri collide in the season opener on Thursday, August 30 in Hays. Game time is 7 pm at Lewis Field Stadium. The Tigers won last year’s meeting with the Mules in Hays by a score of 35-6.

Gaining recognition individually was senior defensive back Doyin Jibowu, selected as a Preseason All-America First Team selection by D2Football.com. With a team-best five interceptions last year to go with 62 tackles, Jibowu looks to continue his strong play in the secondary for the Tigers. As season’s end in 2017, Jibowu earned All-America Honorable Mention status from the Don Hansen Football Committee. He was also strong in the classroom, earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. He is a two-time All-MIAA selection.

Below is the D2Football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll, along with its Preseason All-America Team.

Team 2017 Record
1 Minnesota State 13-1
2 Texas A&M-Commerce 14-1
3 West Florida 11-4
4 Indiana (Pa.) 13-1
5 Northwest Missouri State 9-3
6 Central Washington 11-1
7 Ferris State 11-2
8 Midwestern State 10-1
9 Fort Hays State 11-1
10 Harding 11-4
11 West Alabama 10-3
12 Indianapolis 11-1
13 CSU-Pueblo 9-3
14 Grand Valley State 8-3
15 Shepherd 10-1
16 Ashland 11-2
17 Winona State 10-2
18 Sioux Falls 9-3
19 Central Missouri 9-3
20 Assumption 11-2
21 West Georgia 9-4
22 Findlay 10-3
23 Pittsburg State 8-4
24 Virginia State 10-1
25 Ouachita Baptist 9-3

2018 D2Football.com Preseason All-America Team
August 16, 2018

First Team
QB  Amir Hall  6-4, 180, Jr.  Bowie State 
RB  Marc Jones 5-11, 225, Sr. Gannon
RB  Cameron Mayberry  5-11, 200, Jr.  Colorado School of Mines 
WR  Weston Carr 6-2, 200, Jr. Azusa Pacific
WR  Shane Zylstra  6-5, 220, Jr.  Minnesota State 
TE  Seth Hebert 6-4, 225, Sr. Central Missouri
OL  Devon Johnson  6-7, 315, Sr. Ferris State
OL  Justin Gooseberry 6-4, 300, Jr. Ouachita Baptist
OL  James Moore 6-5, 300, Sr. Central Washington
OL  Derek Puni 6-6, 300, Sr. Central Missouri
OL  Trey Pipkins 6-7, 300, Sr. Sioux Falls
DL  James Prater 6-1, 253, Sr. Ashland
DL  Markus Jones 6-3, 255, Sr. Angelo State
DL  Adonis Davis  6-3, 257, Sr.  Florida Tech 
DL  Michael Onouha 6-5, 255, Sr. Texas A&M-Commerce
LB  Brandon Payer 6-4, 248, Jr. CSU-Pueblo
LB  Tyler Morrissey  6-3, 256, Sr.  West Chester 
LB  Kirby Hora  6-2, 210, Sr.  Augustana
DB  Darius Williams 6-0, 180, Jr. CSU-Pueblo
DB Doyin Jibowu 6-2, 190, Sr. Fort Hays State
DB  Cua Rose  5-10, 183, Sr.  Arkansas Tech 
DB  Corey Ballentine 6-0, 204, Sr. Washburn
Casey Bednarski 6-1, 230, Sr. Minnesota State
Zach Davidson 6-7, 230, So. Central Missouri
AP  Deonte Harris 5-6, 170, Sr. Assumption
Second Team
QB  Brook Bolles  6-3, 190, Sr.  Central Missouri 
RB  Walter Fletcher  5-10, 191, Jr.  Edinboro 
RB  Nate Gunn  6-1, 215, Jr.  Minnesota State
WR  Austin Ryan 6-0, 185, So. Bentley
WR  Brody Oliver 6-3, 210, Sr. Colorado School of Mines
TE  D.J. Cornish  6-2, 260, Jr.  Shepherd 
OL  Colin McAllister 6-2, 290, Jr. IUP
OL  Brandon Anderson 6-3, 285, Jr. West Alabama
OL  Phillip McDowell 6-5, 315, Jr. Carson-Newman
OL  Nick Fish 6-7, 300, Sr. Grand Valley
OL  Evan Heim 6-3, 300, Jr. Minnesota State
DL  John Cominsky 6-5, 275, Sr. Charleston
DL  Davondrick Lison  6-3, 225, Sr.  Southern Arkansas 
DL  Derrick Tate 6-3, 210, Sr. Bowie State
DL  Tyrell Thompson 6-4, 300, Sr. Tarleton State
LB  Terry Samuel  6-2, 193, Sr.  West Alabama 
LB  Justin Jackson 6-2, 230, Sr.  Angelo State
LB  Jalen Nelson  6-2, 230, Sr.  Charleston
DB  Sterling Hammond  6-1, 210, Jr.  Virginia Union 
DB  Lamont McPhatter 5-11, 190, Jr. California
DB  Tyler Hasty  6-0, 190, Sr.  Central Washington 
DB  Gunner Olszewski 5-10, 170, Sr. Bemidji State
Aaron Ball 5-8, 195, Sr. West Virginia State
Brendan Paulison 6-0, 210, Sr. West Chester
AP  Drew Harris  5-10, 185, Sr.  Ouachita Baptist

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