PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The University of Northern Iowa football program landed three student-athletes on the 2014 Sports Network preseason All-America team, it was announced today.
The preseason All-America teams include 101 players from 59 schools and 13 FCS conferences. Seniors David Johnson, Jack Rummells and Xavier Williams all landed spots on the prestigious list.
Johnson, who was named to the offensive first team, will look to cap-off his career at UNI with an outstanding senior season. Johnson finished the 2013 season with 1,286 yards on the ground and added 393 yards through the air for 1,679 all-purpose yards.
He started 10 games for the Panthers and led the team in touchdowns with 14. The Clinton, Iowa native is now fourth all-time at UNI in career-rushing yards, tied for fourth all-time in career-rushing touchdowns and is just one of three players in UNI history to record at least 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards rushing in a career.
Rummells joins Johnson on the offensive first team, earning his first preseason All-America recognition. Rummells started all 12 games for UNI, helping to create holes in the opposing defensive line, allowing the UNI running back corps to gain 1,962 yards on the ground this season. They were a part of the offensive line that only allowed 16 sacks during the season and was ranked fifth in the MVFC in tackles for loss allowed.
Williams was named to the defensive second team for the Sports Network preseason All-America list after finishing the 2013 season with an All-American nod from the Beyond Sports Network. Williams finished third on the team in tackles with 74. He notched 39 solo and 35 assisted tackles, including 12 tackles for loss of yardage. He finished second on the team in sacks with 5.5 during his 11 starts at defensive tackle for UNI.
The UNI Panthers will kick-off the 2014 season on Aug. 30 against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The first home game is slated for Saturday, Sep. 20 against the Northern Colorado Bears.
