SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State return specialist Deion Holliman garnered a spot on STATS' 2017 FCS Preseason All-America third team, the organization announced Monday.

Holliman has been a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference pick as one of the top FCS return specialists in each of the last two seasons. The Camden, Ark., product ranked seventh in the FCS in combined kick return yardage (950) last fall and second in the MVFC in kickoff returns (23.5) and third in all-purpose yardage (119.6 ypg.) after topping the 100-yard mark for kickoff returns in four different contests. Holliman brought the season's opening kick back 91 yards for a touchdown and returned a punt 57 yards for a score vs. Southern Illinois, making him the only FCS returner to record both a kickoff and punt return for a touchdown in each of the last two seasons.

Holliman's selection helps make up a solid collection of an FCS-high 17 MVFC players named preseason All-Americans by STATS. All told, seven MVFC players earned spots on the top squad.

Fellow MVFC players joining Holliman on STATS FCS Preseason All-America teams include: (First Team) - WR Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State; TE Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State; OL Jacob Ohnesorge, South Dakota State; LB Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State; LB Christian Rozeboom, South Dakota State; LB Brett Taylor, Western Illinois; LS James Fisher, North Dakota State; (Second Team) – OL Jacob Judd, Western Illinois; DE Greg Menard, North Dakota State; LB Jared Farley, UNI; DB Tre Dempsey, North Dakota State; DB Davontae Harris, Illinois State; (Third Team) – QB Taryn Christion, South Dakota State; FB Kane Louscher, South Dakota State; OL Justin Spencer, Youngstown State; DB Robbie Grimsley, North Dakota State.

MSU returns 41 letterwinners and 17 starters under third-year head coach Dave Steckel. The Bears open the 2017 season Sept. 2 with a trip to Memorial Stadium in Columbia to take on the Missouri Tigers, before playing their first home contest on Sept. 16 with a 2 p.m. game against Murray State.

Single-game tickets for MSU's season opener at Missouri will be available for purchase through the MSU Athletics box office beginning Tuesday (Aug. 1). Tickets will be available for $50 (Sections 1 and 2), with no limit on quantities for MSU fans wishing to purchase seats. All tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans wishing to purchase seats may call (417) 836-7678 or visit the Old Missouri Bank Box Office at JQH Arena during summer hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).