Fort Hays State senior defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd received All-America Second Team honors from the Associated Press for 2017, landing on the organization’s Division II All-America Team. This is Shepherd’s second All-America selection this year after receiving first-team honors from the AFCA.
Shepherd was the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, making it two straight years a player from FHSU earned the distinction. He helped FHSU to its first-ever MIAA Championship as the Tigers posted a perfect 11-0 record in regular season play. Shepherd finished the year with 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks, but constantly disrupted offenses by drawing double and triple teams on the line.
In his three years at Fort Hays State, Shepherd amassed 168 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. He is an All-America selection for the second straight year after earning an honorable mention nod from the Don Hansen Football Committee last year. He is a three-time All-MIAA selection, earning first team this year, second team in 2016, and third team in 2015.
Shepherd will compete in two prestigious all-star games in January. He will participate in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, played at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on January 20. That game will air nationally on Fox Sports 1. A week later on January 27, he will participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, held in Mobile, Alabama. That game will air on NFL Network.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Luis Perez, senior, Texas A&M-Commerce.
Running backs — Marc Jones, senior, Gannon; Cameron Mayberry, sophomore, Colorado School of Mines.
Linemen — Alex Cappa, senior, Humboldt State; Lavonte Hights, senior, Shepherd; Dominic Giunta, senior, Ashland; Harley Vaughan, senior, West Georgia; Gavin De Los Santos, senior, Harding.
Tight end — D.J. Cornish, sophomore, Shepherd.
Receivers — J.T. Luper, senior, Central Oklahoma; Weston Carr, sophomore, Azusa Pacific.
All-purpose player — Devontae Jackson, junior, West Georgia.
Kicker — Casey Bednarski, junior, Minnesota State.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Marcus Martin, senior, Slippery Rock; Bo Banner, senior, Central Washington; Adonis Davis, junior, Florida Tech; Myles Humphrey, senior, Shepherd.
Linebacker — Kevin Haynes, senior, Central Washington; Terry Samuel, junior, West Alabama; Dennis Gardeck, senior, Sioux Falls.
Backs — Tyler Hasty, junior, Central Washington; Tavierre Thomas, senior, Ferris State; J.R. Stevens, sophomore, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Chris Johnson, junior, North Alabama.
Punter — Justin Marcha, senior, Emporia State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Travis Tarnowski, senior, Ashland.
Running back — Walter Fletcher, sophomore, Edinboro; Deshawn Jones, sophomore, Missouri S&T.
Linemen — Andrew Alten, senior, Findlay; Jerron Seales, senior, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Jake Daugherty, senior, Ferris State; Daniel Owens, senior, Wingate; Jared Machorro, senior, Texas A&M-Commerce.
Tight end — Qua Boyd, junior, West Alabama.
Receivers — Marcus Johnson, senior, Slippery Rock; Jalen Tolliver, senior, Arkansas-Monticello.
All-purpose player — Ja’Quan Gardner, senior, Humboldt State.
Kicker — Cole Tracy, senior, Assumption.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Evan Perrizo, senior, Minnesota State; Zach Seiler, junior, Ferris State; Nathan Shepherd, senior, Fort Hays State; John Williamson, junior, West Florida.
Linebacker — Kyle Kitchens, senior, Catawba; Sam Blankenship, junior, Harding; Tyler Morrisey, junior, West Chester.
Backs — Tevin Madison, senior, West Alabama; Cua’ Rose, junior, Arkansas Tech; Aaron Ivory, senior, Findlay; Marvin Conley, junior, West Florida.
Punter — Zach Gaines, sophomore, West Alabama.