For the second summer in a row, HERO Sports did the FCS Kickoff Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to the FCS Kickoff game, we named the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-1. Here's a look back at how these players did in 2019.
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Preseason Best FCS Players, 99-1
Note: Jersey numbers were based on 2018 rosters.
99: Malik Hamm, Lafayette
Hamm was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American. He had 43 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
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98: Joseph Randolph II, The Citadel
Randolph totaled 36 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and five sacks this season. He was named to the All-SoCon First Team by the coaches and media.
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97: John Daka, James Madison
Daka was named to several All-American teams and the All-CAA First Team. He went off for 67 tackles, 28 TFLs and 16.5 sacks.
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96: Nick Friedel, San Diego
In a season where Friedel earned All-Pioneer Football League First Team honors, he had 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
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95: Chris Terrell, Central Arkansas
Terrell was dismissed from the team for a violation of team standards at the start of August.
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94: Jonah Williams, Weber State
Williams was named to several All-American teams and was the co-Big Sky Defensive MVP. He had 62 tackles, 11 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.
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93: Kam Carter, Duquesne
Carter earned All-NEC First Team honors in a season where he totaled 29 tackles, three TFLs and two sacks.
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92: Nick Wheeler, Colgate
Wheeler was named an All-American by STATS and the AP along with All-Patriot League First Team accolades. He had 34 tackles, 18 TFLs and 9.5 sacks.
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91: Derrek Tuszka, North Dakota State
Tuszka had several All-American honors along with being named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year. He had 48 tackles, 19 TFLs and 13.5 sacks.
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90: Daniel Crosley, Lamar
Crosley earned Second Team All-Southland Conference honors. He totaled 60 tackles, 18.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.
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89: Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland State
Taumoepeau was named to several All-American teams and got another nod on the All-Big Sky First Team. He caught 36 passes for 474 yards and two touchdowns.
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88: JP Shohfi, Yale
A STATS All-American and a First Team All-Conference performer, Shohfi hauled in 62 passes for 1,012 yards and 10 TDs.
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87: Wes Preece, UC Davis
Preece caught 36 passes for 434 yards and 6 TDs. He was named on the All-Big Sky Second Team.
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86: Briley Moore, Northern Iowa
Moore suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Game 1.
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85: Kevin Kassis, Montana State
Kassis was named an All-Conference Third Team WR after totaling 67 receptions for 871 yards and six touchdowns.
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84: Andrew Edgar, Illinois State
Edgar missed October and most of November due to injury. In eight games, he had 19 catches for 321 yards and four TDs.
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83: Matthew Gonzalez, Robert Morris
Gonzalez got an All-American nod and was also named on the All-NEC First Team. He caught 34 passes for 563 yards and four TDs.
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82: Dakarai Allen, South Dakota
Allen had 30 catches for 300 yards and two scores.
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81: Nathan Stewart, Sam Houston State
Stewart had 45 receptions for 779 yards and six TDs.
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80: Adam Anderson, South Dakota State
An All-MVFC Honorable Mention selection, Anderson caught 37 passes for 474 yards and three touchdowns.
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79: P.J. Burkhalter, Nicholls
Burkhalter earned All-American honors and was the Southland Conference's Offensive Lineman of the Year.
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78: Raekwon Allen, Tennessee State
Allen started all 12 games.
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77: Jack Badovinac, Colgate
Badovinac was named to the All-Patriot League First Team.
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76: Mustaffa Ibrahim, Alcorn State
Ibrahim played in 10 games in 2019.
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75: Spencer Blackburn, Eastern Washington
Blackburn earned All-American honors and was named to the All-Conference First Team.
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74: Noah Johnson, Idaho
Johnson was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team.
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73: Marcus Pettiford, North Carolina A&T
Pettiford had multiple All-American honors along with being named the MEAC's Offensive Lineman of the Year.
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72: Brandon Floores, Incarnate Word
Floores earned All-Conference Third Team honors.
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71: Drew Himmelman, Illinois State
Himmelman was named to several All-American teams and made the All-MVFC First Team.
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70: Josh Burger, Wofford
Burger played in all 12 games for Wofford.
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69: Liam Dobson, Maine
Dobson was named to a couple of All-American teams and also got a nod on the All-CAA First Team.
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68: Zack Johnson, North Dakota State
Johnson had numerous All-American honors and was selected to the All-MVFC First Team.
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67: Austin Sanders, Mercer
Sanders was voted onto the All-SoCon Second Team by the coaches and media.
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66: Michael Ralph, Wofford
Ralph earned Second Team All-Conference honors from the SoCon coaches and First Team honors from the media.
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65: Malik Noshi, Northern Arizona
NOTE: Noshi was found deceased at his residence on July 7.
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64: Chris Schlichting, Eastern Washington
Schlichting was named to the All-Big Sky First Team.
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63: Mitch Brott, Montana State
Brott was named a HERO Sports All-American along with a spot on the All-Conference First Team.
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62: Kevin Hall, Alcorn State
Hall earned a spot on the All-SWAC Second Team.
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61: Liam Shanahan, Harvard
Shanahan earned All-Ivy League First Team accolades.
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60: Tyler Whisenhunt, Cal Poly
Whisenhunt was named on the All-Big Sky Second Team.
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59: Desmond Johnson Jr., Kennesaw State
Johnson Jr. earned First Team honors in the Big South. He had 41 tackles, 17 TFLs and seven sacks.
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58: Zach Larsen, Southern Utah
Larsen nabbed multiple All-American awards and was also named on the All-Big Sky First Team.
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57: Reily Radosevich, Princeton
Radosevich was not listed on the 2019 roster and did not play in a game.
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56: Eagan Lickiss, South Dakota State
Lickiss started 11 games this season for the Jackrabbits.
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55: Mason Bennett, North Dakota
Bennett was named an AP All-American. Playing in 10 games, he recorded 39 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks.
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54: Haden Haas, The Citadel
Haas started all 12 games for The Citadel.
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53: Cole Karcz, North Dakota State
Karcz totaled 31 tackles, two TFLs and 1.5 sacks.
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52: McNeece Egbim, Missouri State
Egbim was selected to the All-MVFC First Team. He racked up 94 tackles and 10 TFLs.
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51: Jack Traynor, Dartmouth
Traynor added another First Team All-Ivy League honor. He had 75 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and two interceptions.
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50: Robert Heyward, Towson
Heyward was honored on the All-CAA Second Team after totaling 88 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and two interceptions.
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49: Solomon Muhammad, Alcorn State
STATS named Muhammad an All-American along with the SWAC honoring him on the All-Conference First Team. He had 87 tackles, 11 TFLs and two interceptions.
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48: Evan Veron, Nicholls
Veron did not play in a game due to injury.
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47: Deshawn Stevens, Maine
Stevens suffered a season-ending injury in the opening game.
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46: Jonas Griffith, Indiana State
Griffith earned multiple All-American honors and was named to the All-MVFC First Team. He had 106 tackles, seven TFLs and four sacks.
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45: Nasir Player, East Tennessee State
Player had multiple All-American and All-SoCon First Team honors. He recorded 45 tackles, 10 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.
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44: Darin Greenfield, South Dakota
Greenfield was named to the All-MVFC Second Team after picking up 43 tackles, 11 TFLs and five sacks.
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43: Chris Faddoul, Florida A&M
Faddoul racked up several All-American honors again. He averaged 46.03 yards per punt with 19 being downed inside the 20-yard line.
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42: Jabril Cox, North Dakota State
Cox hauled in multiple All-American honors and was named on the All-Conference First Team. He totaled 92 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks.
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41: Christian Benford, Villanova
Benford missed a month of action, but in 10 games he had 31 tackles and five pass breakups.
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40: Ulonzo Gilliam, UC Davis
Gilliam was named a HERO Sports and STATS All-American along with being on the All-Big Sky Second Team. He rushed for 1,249 yards and 11 TDs along with catching 57 passes for 354 yards and one TD.
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39: Jon Sot, Harvard
With a punting average of 42.4 yards, Sot was named to the All-Ivy League First Team.
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38: Kody Graves, Idaho State
Graves was named to the All-Big Sky Third Team after racking up 99 tackles along with 7.5 TFLs.
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37: Bryce Sterk, Montana State
With multiple All-American honors and a nod on the All-Big Sky Second Team, Sterk totaled 65 tackles, 19 TFLs and 15 sacks.
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36: Maurice Jackson, Richmond
Named on the All-CAA Second Team, Jackson tallied 54 tackles, 14 TFLs and eight sacks.
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35: Nick Ioanilli, Colgate
Ioanilli picked up All-Patriot League Second Team honors. He had 87 tackles and 6.5 TFLs.
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34: Khristian Mims, Nicholls
Mims landed on the All-Southland Conference Third Team after racking up 97 tackles.
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33: Dante Olson, Montana
The co-Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and Buck Buchanan Award winner had plenty of All-American awards as well. Olson tallied 179 tackles and 11 TFLs.
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32: A.J. Hines, Duquesne
Named to the All-NEC Second Team, Hines played in nine games and rushed for 780 yards and six TDs.
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31: Noah Wanzek, North Dakota
Wanzek hauled in 74 catches for 996 yards and four TDs.
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30: Karekin Brooks, Penn
Brooks earned First Team All-Ivy League honors after rushing for 1,003 yards and eight TDs in nine games.
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29: Mac McCain III, North Carolina A&T
McCain was named to the All-MEAC Second Team. In eight games played, he had 21 tackles, five pass breakups and five passes defended.
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28: Josh Davis, Weber State
A HERO Sports All-American, Davis rushed for 1,136 yards and 11 TDs along with having 133 receiving yards and 155 kick return yards.
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27: Darien Reynolds, Gardner-Webb
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