CEDAR FALLS — On Tuesday morning, Statsperform.com released their 2023 FCS All-American teams. Placekicker Matthew Cook, offensive lineman Jared Penning, and defensive lineman Khristian Boyd were selected from Northern Iowa. Cook was featured on the Second Team and Penning and Boyd made appearances on the Third Team.
MATTHEW COOK – K
A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and possibly the best kicker to come through FCS football, Matthew Cook finished his career a perfect 155-155 in PATs with 31 coming this season. He scored 88 total points on the season, the second-highest mark in the MVFC, and became the second player in MVFC history to reach 400 career points. Cook recorded a league-high 1.73 field goals per game and a 90.48 field goal percentage while making the most field goals in the MVFC this season (19) with a long of 50 yards against Indiana State. This season, Cook broke the UNI scoring record set by David Johnson in 2014. Cook was a preseason All-American First Team selection from Stats Perform.
JARED PENNING – OL
An offensive lineman from Clear Lake, Iowa, Jared Penning anchored an offensive line on a UNI offense that was the second-best passing team in the MVFC with 2,950 total passing yards and 268.18 passing yards per game. Penning was named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week on October 23.
KHRISTIAN BOYD – DL
A defensive lineman from Kansas City, Missouri, Khristian Boyd recorded 43 total tackles and 6.5 tackles for a loss of 28 yards, a career-high. The 2023 team captain tied his career-high with 3.5 sacks for 23 yards.
