Northwest Missouri State University senior defensive lineman
Elijah Green has added another accolade by being named to the Associated Press First-Team All-America squad.
Green, a native of Maryville, Mo., earned his third All-America honor after putting together a stellar senior season for the Bearcats. Green led the MIAA in sacks (12) and tackles-for-loss (22) in being named the league's Defensive MVP. Green was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Division II Defensive Lineman of the Year Award. He was also a nominee for the Harlon Hill Award and the Cliff Harris Award. Green notched MIAA First-Team and D2CCA First-Team All-Super Region 3 honors this season. Green helped lead a Bearcat defensive unit that ranked No. 3 in the nation in fewest rushing yards allowed per game (64.2). The Bearcat defense ranked No. 12 in the country in points allowed per game (16.1). Northwest's defense ranked No. 8 in the nation in sacks per game (3.54).
Green is the 57th Bearcat football player to earn Associated Press All-America honors in the history of the program. He is the 28th Bearcat to earn first-team Associated Press All-America status.
The Division II All-America team, which is sponsored by Regions Bank, was selected in conjunction with COSIDA.
2022 Associated Press NCAA Div. II All-America Teams
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — John Matocha, senior, Colorado School of Mines
Running backs — Mario Anderson, sophomore, Newberry; Ronnie Brown, junior, Shepherd.
Linemen — Matt Armendariz, Senior, Colorado School of Mines; Quinton Barrow, senior, Grand Valley State; Joey Fisher, senior, Shepherd; Nicolas Meslop, graduate, Delta State; Dalton Simpler, senior, West Florida.
Tight end — Brian Walker, senior, Shepherd.
Wide receivers — Brendan Beaulieu, senior, Bemidji State; Jarod Bowie, junior, Concord; Marquis Gray, junior, Southeastern Oklahoma State.
All-purpose players — David Durden, senior, West Florida.
Kicker — Nick Herber, sophomore, Delta State
Defense
Linemen — D.J. Adediwura, senior, Slippery Rock; Elijah Green, senior, Northwest Missouri State; Zollie Kaplan, senior, Bemidji State; Caleb Murphy, senior, Ferris State.
Linebackers — Michael Anderson, graduate; West Alabama; Grant Bruner, senior, Washburn; Davon Gilmore, sophomore; Wingate.
Defensive backs — Daniel Bone, sophomore, Colorado State Pueblo; Nyzier Fourqurean, sophomore; Grand Valley State; Tre Morrison, junior, Wingate; Andrew Pitts, redshirt freshman, Angelo State; Darius Swanson, senior, Nebraska-Kearney.
Punter — Ethan Evans, senior, Wingate.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback — Tyson Bagent, senior, Shepherd
Running backs — Jada Byers, sophomore, Virginia Union; TJ Cole, senior, Ouachita Baptist.
Linemen — Ty Cobb, junior, Bemidji State; Jake Long, redshirt freshman, Angelo State; Adam Seiler, senior, Ferris State; Peyton Stafford, senior, Ouachita Baptist; Evan Surgeon, graduate, Wingate.
Tight end — Devon Garrison, junior, Pittsburg State.
Wide receivers — Duane Brown, senior, Indiana (Pa.); Xavier Malone, senior, Henderson State; Max McLeod., junior, Colorado School of Mines.
All-purpose players — Gage Porter, senior, Southern Nazarene.
Kicker — Cameron Shirkey, junior, Notre Dame (Ohio).
Defense
Linemen — DJ Horne, senior, Wingate; Ian Marshall, graduate, Northern State; Joshua Pryor, senior, Bowie State; Kyle Smith, graduate, Shepherd.
Linebackers — Daron Allman, junior, Angelo State; Abe Swanson, junior, Grand Valley State; Jackson Taylor, junior, West Chester.
Defensive backs — Kijana Caldwell, graduate, Findlay; Robert Carter, senior, West Georgia; Wendell McClain, redshirt freshman, Notre Dame (Ohio); Mason Pierce, senior, Colorado School of Mines; Joey Sinclair, senior, Western Oregon.
Punter — Myles Prosser, graduate, North Greenville.
Bearcats Chosen as AP Little All-America Selections
1939 Marion Rogers, OL, 1st
1984 Steve Hansley, WR, 1st
1985 Steve Hansley, WR, 1st
1989 Jason Agee, DB, 1st
1991 Erik Petersen, DE, 2nd
1996 Matt Uhde, DL, 1st
1997 Adam Dorrel, OL, 2nd
1997 Twan Young, DB, 3rd
1998 Aaron Becker, DL, 1st
1998 Aaron Crowe, LB, 1st
1998 Chris Greisen, QB, 1st
1998 Steve Coppinger, OL, 2nd
1998 Twan Young, DB, 2nd
1998 Sherman Wilderness, OL, 3rd
1999 Tony Miles, WR, 1st
1999 David Purnell, K, 1st
1999 Chad Thompson, OL, 2nd
2001 Seth Wand, OL, 1st
2001 Jamaica Rector, WR, 3rd
2002 Seth Wand, OL, 1st
2003 Jamaica Rector, WR, 2nd
2004 Jamaica Rector, WR, 1st
2005 Dave Tollefson, DL, 1st
2006 Mike Peterson, TE, 2nd
2007 Xavier Omon, RB, 1st
2007 Mike Peterson, TE, 2nd
2007 Reid Kirby, OL, 3rd
2007 Jared Erspamer, LB, 3rd
2008 Jeremy Davis, OL, 1st
2008 Myles Burnsides, DB, 1st
2008 LaRon Council, RB, 3rd
2009 Brett Grozinger, OL, 1st
2009 Jake Soy, WR, 2nd
2009 Myles Burnsides, DB, 2nd
2010 Brett Grozinger, OL, 1st
2010 Ryan Jones, DB, 1st
2010 Josh Baker, TE, 2nd
2011 Chad Kilgore, LB, 1st
2011 Rod Williams, OL, 2nd
2012 Nate Dejong, S, 2nd
2012 Brandon Dixon, DB, 3rd
2013 Cody Carlson, OL, 1st
2013 Matt Longacre, DL, 1st
2014 Matt Longacre, DL, 1st
2015 Collin Bevins, DL, 1st
2015 Shane Smith, OL, 2nd
2015 Kevin Berg, DB, 3rd
2016 Collin Bevins, DL, 1st
2016 Kyle Zimmerman, QB, 2nd
2016 Kevin Berg, DB, 3rd
2016 Chase Sherman, C, 3rd
2018 Austen Eskew, DL, 2nd
2019 Spencer Phillips, DL, 2nd
2021
Tanner Owen, OL, 1st
2021
Al McKeller, RB, 2nd
2021
Sam Roberts, DL, 2nd
2022
Elijah Green, DL, 1st
