CLEVELAND — Missouri State senior
Dylan Cole was honored by the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) as the top linebacker in the nation Wednesday as part of the 2016 FCS ADA All-America Team.
The fourth annual award recognizes the top student-athletes from FCS institutions at 11 different positions. The 2016 class includes student-athletes from 11 different institutions, representing six different conferences. Voting was conducted by a national panel, consisting of media and SIDs.
Cole was one of five Missouri Valley Football Conference standouts selected for the squad, joining North Dakota State's Zack Johnson (OL), UNI's Karter Schult (DL), South Dakota State's Dallas Goedert (TE) and South Dakota's Miles Bergner (P) on the list of honorees.
Cole, who was a unanimous first-team All-America selection this fall, completed his four-year Missouri State career as the nation's leading tackler with an average of 12.9 stops per game during the regular season. The Rogersville, Mo., product recorded at least 13 tackles in nine different games, including 19 in the Bears' win over Southern Illinois. The All-MVFC first-team selection racked up 85 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
Earlier this month, Cole was named one of three finalists for STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award honoring the top defensive player in the nation. He capped his career with 457 tackles in 46 games, finishing third on the Bears' career tackles chart and ninth all-time in Valley history.
Now in its 23
rd year, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. The FCS ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
Cole's Postseason Honors
- First-Team All-American (The Associated Press)
- First-Team All-American (American Football Coaches Association)
- First-Team All-American (Walter Camp Football Foundation)
- First-Team All-American (STATS)
- First-Team All-American (FCS Athletics Directors Association)
- First-Team All-American (HERO Sports)
- FCS ADA Academic All-Star
- STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award finalist
- CoSIDA Academic All-District VI
- First-Team All-MVFC
- First-Team MVFC All-Academic honoree
