JERSEY CITY, N.J. – A trio of standout Missouri State football players was recognized Tuesday (Dec. 14) on the Hero Sports FCS All-America Teams, the organization announced.
 
Missouri State's honorees are punter Grant Burkett (Joplin, Mo.), wide receiver Tyrone Scott (Estill, S.C.) and defensive back / return specialist Montrae Braswell (Avon Park, Fla.)
 
Burkett was named as a 2021 FCS All-America third-team selection. He currently ranks second nationally and first in the MVFC with a school-record punting average of 46.2 with 16 punts of at least 50 yards and 15 kicks downed inside the 20. The All-MVFC first-team selection also helped lead the Bears to a No. 2 national ranking in net punting (42.8). As a redshirt freshman in the spring 2021 season, Burkett earned All-MVFC honorable mention laurels prior to his breakout performance this fall. Hero Sports also recognized Burkett on its 2021 Freshman All-America Team, which includes all players with three years of eligibility remaining.
 
Scott was an All-MVFC first-team honoree and MVFC All-Newcomer Team pick this season and landed a spot on the Hero Sports Sophomore All-America Team, representing all players with two seasons of eligibility remaining. The Central Michigan transfer set school single-season records for receptions (66), receiving yards (1,110), receiving touchdowns (8) and 100-yard receiving games (6). He also ranks eighth nationally in total receiving yards, 11^th in receiving yards per game (92.5), 31^st in receptions per game (5.5) and 46^th nationally in yards per reception (16.82). His eight receiving touchdowns also ranks 27^th among all FCS receivers this season.
 
After earning All-MVFC first-team honors at two positions this season – defensive back and return specialist – Braswell repeated the dual honors as a member of the Hero Sports Sophomore All-America Team in both positions. His 29.4 kickoff return average currently ranks sixth nationally and tops in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He was also a two-time MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week this season. Defensively, he finished third in the Valley Defensive Player of the Year voting and currently ranks seventh nationally and tops in the MVFC in passes defended per game (1.4). He also snagged four interceptions and brought down 44 ball carriers with 33 solo stops this season. In the spring of 2021, Braswell earned All-MVFC first team, MVFC All-Newcomer Team and Hero Sports Sophomore All-America Team honors.
 
The Bears finished the 2021 season with an 8-4 overall record after finishing as runners-up in the rugged Missouri Valley Football Conference and earning their second straight NCAA FCS Playoff berth.