CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa football team landed four student-athletes on the 2014 Associated Press FCS All-America team, it was announced today.
Junior placekicker Michael Schmadeke and senior offensive lineman Jack Rummells were named to the first-team while seniors David Johnson and Xavier Williams picked up third-team nods. UNI has now had 104 AP All-America selections since 1947.
Rummells, a senior from West Branch, Iowa, was a four-year starter for the Panthers on the offensive line, helping UNI to 2,353 yards on the ground that included 28 rushing touchdowns to rank sixth all-time at UNI during the 2014 season. He was an anchor for the line, helping UNI’s offense to finish first in the MVFC and the FCS in redzone offense.
Schmadeke led the team in points with 132, setting a new UNI record, which led all FCS and FBS placekickers in points. He finished the season 27-of-29 from field goal range for a new FCS record for field goals made in a season on the way to earning All-MVFC first-team and several All-America team recognitions.
Johnson, who finished the season with a career-high 1,553 yards on the ground, broke 15 school records throughout the course of the season. He notched 2,527 all-purpose yards to finish first in the MVFC and third in the FCS. He had eight games this season where he rushed for 100 or more yards and six games with 200 or more all-purpose yards. The Clinton, Iowa native is the first player in UNI history to have three consecutive seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards.
Williams started and anchored a veteran defensive line in all 14 games this season. He was a part of the defense that ranked first in the FCS in team sacks and first all-time at UNI in tackles for loss and yards from tackles for loss. He racked up 93 tackles, including eight sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss to rank himself fifth all-time at UNI in career TFL.
