Northwest Missouri State University seniors Cahleel Smith and Jake Fisher were selected to the 2024 Don Hansen Football Gazette NCAA Div. II All-America team.

Smith (Independence, Mo.) and Fisher (Smithville, Mo.) each gained spots as honorable mention picks for the second straight year. It marks the 20th consecutive season the Bearcats have had a member named to the Don Hansen All-America team.

Smith became only the third Bearcat to earn four first-team all-MIAA selections joining receiver/returner Jamaica Rector (2001-2004) and offensive lineman Red Graham (1924-1928). Smith saw action in nine games and drew nine starts at cornerback. He recorded 17 tackles and was credited with six pass defenses. Smith finished his Bearcat career having played in 45 games and totaling 120 career tackles. Smith posted four interceptions and 28 pass defenses in his collegiate career. 

Fisher procured his third All-America award this season after being named a second team choice by the American Football Coaches Association and Associated Press. He was named the 2024 MIAA Defensive Lineman of the Year. He gained first-team all-MIAA and first-team all-D2CCA status this season. Fisher started all 11 games on the Bearcat defensive line. The Bearcat defense ranked No. 3 in the nation by allowing 67.7 rushing yards per game, including a league-best 52.9 rushing yards per game in MIAA contests. Fisher led the team in tackles-for-loss (13.5) and quarterback sacks (6.5). He ranked No. 3 in the MIAA in sacks and TFLs. Fisher totaled 35 total tackles, including a season-high eight vs. Northeastern State. Fisher was an honorable mention all-MIAA pick in 2023 and a third-team all-MIAA honoree in 2022. He served as team captain in 2023 and 2024.

The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.

Northwest's All-Time Don Hansen FB Gazette All-America Selections
1996 Matt Uhde DL, 2nd
1997 Aaron Crowe, LB, 2nd
1998 Aaron Becker, DL, 1st
1998 Steve Coppinger, OL, 1st
1998 Aaron Crowe, LB, 1st
1998 Chris Greisen, QB, 1st
1998 Twan Young, DB, 1st
1998 Sherman Wilderness, OL, 3rd
1999 Chad Thompson, OL, 1st
1999 David Purnell, K, 1st
1999 Tony Miles, AP, 2nd
1999 David Jansen, RB, 3rd
2000 Aaron Becker, DL, 1st
2000 Tony Miles, KR, 1st
2000 Brian Williams, LB, 1st
2001 Seth Wand, OL, 1st
2002 Seth Wand, OL, 1st
2002 Jamaica Rector, WR, 3rd
2004 Luis Berlanga, K, 2nd
2004 Brad Schneider, OL, 2nd
2004 Adam Long, LB, 3rd
2004 Jamaica Rector, WR, 3rd
2005 Dave Tollefson, DL, 2nd
2005 Josh Lamberson, QB, 3rd
2005 Andre Rector, WR, 3rd
2005 Ryan Waters, DL, 3rd
2006 Mike Peterson, TE, 1st
2006 Reid Kirby, OL, 2nd
2006 Ryan Waters, DL, 2nd
2006 Kyle Kaiser, DL, 2nd
2006 Xavier Omon, RB, 3rd
2006 Kendall Wright, WR, 3rd
2007 Xavier Omon, RB, 1st
2007 Mike Peterson, TE, 1st
2007 Jeremy Davis, OL, 1st
2007 Reid Kirby, OL, 1st
2007 Terry Bilbro, DL, 2nd
2007 Dallas Flynn, DL, 3rd
2007 Jared Erspamer, LB, 3rd
2008 Jeremy Davis, OL, 1st
2008 Myles Burnsides, S, 1st
2008 LaRon Council, RB, 2nd
2008 Sean Paddock, DL, 3rd
2009 Jake Soy (ROY), WR, 1st
2009 Brett Grozinger, OL, 1st
2009 Myles Burnsides, S, 2nd
2009 Tyler Roach, DL, 3rd
2009 LaRon Council, RB, 3rd
2010 Ryan Jones, DB, 1st
2010 Chad Kilgore, LB, 2nd
2010 Blake Bolles, QB, 3rd
2010 Roberto Davis, DL, 3rd
2011 Cody Johnson, OL, 1st
2011 Chad Kilgore, LB, 1st
2011 Kyle Kilgore, TE, 3rd
2011 Josh Lorenson, DT, HM
2011 Jordan Simmons, AP, HM
2011 James Franklin, RB, HM
2012 Rod Williams, OL, 2nd
2012 Kyle Goodburn, P, HM
2012 Nate DeJong, S, HM
2012 Collin Debuyese, LB, HM
2012 Travis Chappelear,LB, HM
2013 Matt Longacre, DL, 1st
2013 Cody Carlson, OL, 1st
2013 Eric Reimer, LB, 1st
2013 Brandon Dixon, CB, 1st
2013 Brandon Yost, DL, 2nd
2013 D.J. Gnader, LB, 3rd
2013 Trevor Adams, QB, HM
2014 Matt Longacre, DE, 2nd
2014 Eric Reimer, LB, 3rd
2014 Brandon Yost, DL, 3rd
2014 D.J. Gnader, LB, HM
2014 C.J. Keeney, OL, HM
2015 Shane Smith, OL, 1st
2015 Simon Mathiesen, PK, 1st
2015 Brandon Yost, DT, 1st
2015 Collin Bevins, DE, 2nd
2015 Kevin Berg, S, 2nd
2015 Brady Bolles, QB, 3rd
2015 Jacob Vollstedt, LB, 3rd
2015 Bryce Enyard, CB, 3rd
2015 Jordan Grove, FB, HM
2016 Jacob Vollstedt, LB, 1st
2016 Kyle Zimmerman, QB, 2nd
2016 Jamie Thieman, OL, 2nd
2016 Collin Bevins, DL, 2nd
2016 Kevin Berg, S, 2nd
2016 Chase Sherman, OL, 3rd
2016 Jordan Grove, FB, HM
2016 Simon Mathiesen, K, HM
2016 Cass Weitl, DL, HM
2017 Ben Althoff, LB, 3rd
2017 Marcus Jones, DB, HM
2017 Austen Eskew, DL, HM
2017 Zach Flott, OL, HM
2017 Caleb Mather, DL, HM
2018 Austen Eskew, DL, 3rd
2018 Zach Flott, OL, HM
2018 Anthony Lane, DB, HM
2018 Sam Roberts, DL, HM
2019 Blake Bayer, DB, HM
2019 Tanner Owen, OL, HM
2019 Spencer Phillips, DL, 2nd
2019 Parker Sampson, K, HM
2021 Jackson Barnes, LB, 1st
2021 Zach Howard, DL, HM
2021 Al McKeller, RB, 1st
2021 Tanner Owen, OL, 1st
2021 Sam Roberts, DL, 1st
2021 Cahleel Smith, DB, HM
2022 Elijah Green, DL, 1st
2022 Zach Howard, DL, HM
2022 Cole Lammel, PK, HM
2022 Cahleel Smith, DB, HM
2022 Isaac Vollstedt, LB, HM
2023 Jay Harris, RB, 1st
2023 Jake Fisher, DL, HM
2023 Cahleel Smith, DB, HM
2024 Jake Fisher, DL, HM
2024 Cahleel Smith, DB, HM