Welcome to the 2019 FCS Kickoff Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to the FCS Kickoff game on Aug. 24 between Samford and Youngstown State, HERO Sports is going to name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-1. Starting with No. 99 on May 17 all the way to No. 1, every day will feature a new top player on our running countdown.
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Best FCS Players, 99-1
99: Malik Hamm, Lafayette
Hamm went … off last year. The freshman made a huge impact right away for Lafayette, totaling three sacks and seven tackles for loss in the first four games. … READ MORE
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Lafayette Athletics[/credit]
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98: Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
Randolph stepped up his game from 2017 to 2018 in a big way. The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder improved from 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack to last year's 37 tackles, 14 TFLs, four sacks and four QB hurries. … READ MORE
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The Citadel Athletics[/credit]
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97: John Daka, James Madison
Daka emerged as one of the most disruptive defensive ends in the FCS last year, earning HERO Sports Second Team All-American honors. … READ MORE
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JMU Athletics[/credit]
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96: Nick Friedel, San Diego
While San Diego's 37.83 points per game last year grabbed most of the headlines, Friedel was solid from his defensive end spot. … READ MORE
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San Diego Athletics[/credit]
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95: Chris Terrell, Central Arkansas
Coming off back-to-back First Team All-Southland Conference honors, Terrell is set for a huge senior season. Last year, he totaled 48 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries. … READ MORE
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UCA Athletics[/credit]
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94: Jonah Williams, Weber State
At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Williams is an essential piece to Weber's fantastic defense. … READ MORE
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Weber State Athletics[/credit]
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93: Kam Carter, Duquesne
Carter found himself in a great spot for the Dukes. At 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, he helped Duquesne to the second round of the FCS playoffs and a 9-4 record. … READ MORE
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Duquesne Athletics[/credit]
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92: Nick Wheeler, Colgate
Last year, the 6-foot-2, 255-pounder had 51 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks and five QB hurries. Wheeler finished eighth in the Buck Buchanan Award voting for best defensive player in the FCS. … READ MORE
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Colgate Athletics[/credit]
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91: Derrek Tuszka, North Dakota State
Tuszka showed the nation what he was capable of as a sophomore two seasons ago in the national championship game against James Madison. … READ MORE
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NDSU Athletics[/credit]
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90: Daniel Crosley, Lamar
Crosley has gotten better and better since being inserted into the starting lineup as a freshman in 2016. As a sophomore, he led Lamar with 8.5 tackles for losses and 4.0 sacks. … READ MORE
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Lamar Athletics[/credit]
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89: Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State
The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder improved from his 2017 Big Sky All-Conference Second Team honor to a 2018 First Team selection and Second Team All-American honors from HERO Sports, STATS and Phil Steele. … READ MORE
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Portland State Athletics[/credit]
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88: JP Shohfi, Yale
In nine games, Shohfi caught 55 passes for 836 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 209-pounder earned Second Team All-Ivy League honors. … READ MORE
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Yale Athletics[/credit]
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87: Wes Preece, UC Davis
Preece, the 6-foot-5 and 238-pound tight end, earned Second Team All-Big Sky Conference honors and made the STATS All-American Third Team. … READ MORE
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UC Davis Athletics[/credit]
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86: Briley Moore, Northern Iowa
The 6-foot-3, 242-pounder led the Panthers in receptions (39), receiving yards (536) and receiving touchdowns (four). … READ MORE
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UNI Athletics[/credit]
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85: Kevin Kassis, Montana State
Montana State threw for only 140.5 yards per game, which ranked 114th in the FCS. Of the team's 163 catches, 1,826 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns, Kassis caught 55 passes for 663 yards and three touchdowns. … READ MORE
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Montana State Athletics[/credit]
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84: Andrew Edgar, Illinois State
Edgar, who is wearing No. 4 this year, showed he has an incredibly bright future for the Redbirds with his standout redshirt freshman season in 2018. … READ MORE
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Illinois State Athletics[/credit]
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83: Matthew Gonzalez, Robert Morris
Gonzalez had a breakthrough junior year. In his first two seasons at Robert Morris, he caught 22 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown. Last year, he totaled 40 receptions for 642 yards and 12 touchdowns. … READ MORE
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RMU Athletics[/credit]
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82: Dakarai Allen, South Dakota
Allen caught 48 passes for 703 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games last year. He was named to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team. … READ MORE
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USD Athletics[/credit]
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81: Nathan Stewart, Sam Houston State
Stewart has been a top receiver in the FCS since he put on a Bearkat uniform. And in the minds of Southland Conference defensive coaches, he's finally a senior. … READ MORE
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SHSU Athletics[/credit]
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80: Adam Anderson, South Dakota State
Anderson had 27 catches for 355 yards and zero touchdowns in 2016 and 2017. Last year, he recorded 47 receptions for 718 yards and seven touchdowns. … READ MORE
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SDSU Athletics[/credit]
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79: P.J. Burkhalter, Nicholls
The big man has been key in Nicholls' success since he stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman in 2017. Burkhalter started in 12 games at guard that year and established himself as one of the top offensive lineman in the Southland Conference. … READ MORE
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Nicholls Athletics[/credit]
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78: Raekwon Allen, Tennessee State
Allen, at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, started nine games after playing his first two years of college ball at Georgia Military College. He's a superb athlete at his size and a name to know in the FCS this year. … READ MORE
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TSU Athletics[/credit]
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77: Jack Badovinac, Colgate
Badovinac is set to start his 21st straight game when Colgate kicks off the 2019 season August 24 against Villanova. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound guard started the last eight games of his freshman season and all 12 games last year. … READ MORE
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Colgate Athletics[/credit]
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76: Mustaffa Ibrahim, Alcorn State
The Braves had two 1,000 yard rushers in 2018, Noah Johnson and De'Shawn Waller. That's not possible without a great offensive line. And in the middle of that offensive line is center Mustaffa Ibrahim. … READ MORE
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Alcorn State Athletics[/credit]
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75: Spencer Blackburn, Eastern Washington
As if the Eagles didn't already have enough offensive firepower returning this season, they got a bonus when it was announced Blackburn is returning for a sixth year after his hardship waiver request was approved. … READ MORE
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EWU Athletics[/credit]
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74: Noah Johnson, Idaho
Add one more to a long list of accolades for Johnson. Since graduating high school early and enrolling at Idaho, the 6-foot-2, 302-pound guard has racked up award after award. … READ MORE
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Idaho Athletics[/credit]
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73: Marcus Pettiford, North Carolina A&T
NC A&T repeated as HBCU national champs last year with Pettiford playing a big role again. He moved from right tackle to left tackle, taking over for Brandon Parker, who was selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Pettiford earned First Team All-Conference honors again as he gave up just one sack on the season. … READ MORE
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NC A&T Athletics[/credit]
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72: Brandon Floores, Incarnate Word
The offense was explosive, and at the center of that unit on the offensive line was Floores. At 6-foot-4, 292 pounds, Floores earned First Team All-Conference honors for his play. … READ MORE
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UIW Athletics[/credit]
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71: Drew Himmelman, Illinois State
A towering figure at 6-foot-10 and 315 pounds, Himmelman has been a steady presence at left tackle for the Redbirds. Outside of missing two games as a redshirt freshman due to injury, Himmelman started all nine games in 2017 and all 11 games last year. … READ MORE
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Illinois State Athletics[/credit]
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70: Josh Burger, Wofford
As just a sophomore in 2018, Burger led the team in knockdown blocks from his right tackle position. He was named to the all-Southern Conference Second Team and also was a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American. … READ MORE
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Wofford Athletics[/credit]
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69: Liam Dobson, Maine
If you look up "Maine Football" in the dictionary, you'll find a photo of Liam Dobson. … READ MORE
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Maine Athletics[/credit]
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68: Zack Johnson, North Dakota State
One of the premier players on that unit is Johnson, who has started all 30 games at right tackle in 2017 and 2018. At 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds, he loaded up on the postseason honors last year. … READ MORE
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Tim Sanger/NDSU Athletics[/credit]
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67: Austin Sanders, Mercer
Making the switch from right tackle to left tackle isn't as easy as some fans would think. Whether it's something as simple as your stance or the bigger challenge of switching your footwork around, the transition is a process. For Sanders, it was a natural switch. … READ MORE
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Mercer Athletics[/credit]
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66: Michael Ralph, Wofford
Ralph, at 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, was a First Team All-Southern Conference performer last year. He'll be a three-year starter when the 2019 season kicks off. … READ MORE
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Wofford A
