Our 2025 PFSN FCS All-America teams highlight the very best that we’ve seen this fall. It’s a celebration of pass-catching prowess, rare running backs boasting mind-boggling rushing yard totals, defensive line demons who instilled fear in every lineman they faced, and lockdown defensive backs who were as sticky as tape. Oh, and some game-changing quarterbacks.
PFSN FCS All-America First Team Offense
- QB: Cole Payton, North Dakota State
- RB: L.J. Phillips Jr., South Dakota
- RB: Rodney Nelson, Monmouth
- WR: Michael Wortham, Montana
- WR: Nico Brown, Yale
- TE: Chris Corbo, Dartmouth
- OL: Braden Zimmer, Montana State
- OL: Chris Moreno, Monmouth
- OL: Alex Ramirez, Idaho State
- OL: Karl Khuns, Central Connecticut State
- OL: Seth Anderson, North Dakota
The 2025 PFSN FCS All-America First Team Offense is anchored by a pair of dominant running backs who each eclipsed the 1,700-yard mark and a dual-threat quarterback from a national power.
North Dakota State’s Cole Payton proved to be an efficient and explosive signal-caller, guiding the Bison offense to a nation-leading 16.6 yards per pass completion, showcasing his ability to lead scoring drives for the top-ranked team in the playoffs.
On the ground, L.J. Phillips Jr. of South Dakota led the entire FCS with 1,921 net rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns over 15 games, becoming the fastest player in program history to reach 1,000 yards in a single season. Meanwhile, Monmouth’s Rodney Nelson tallied 1,802 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, posting three 200-yard rushing performances.
The offensive line group, featuring Braden Zimmer of Montana State, Chris Moreno of Monmouth, Alex Ramirez of Idaho State, Karl Khuns of Central Connecticut State, and Seth Anderson of North Dakota, collectively paved the way for several top-tier rushing attacks and protected some of the most dynamic passers in the FCS.
PFSN FCS All-America First Team Defense
- EDGE: Joshua Stoneking, Furman
- EDGE: Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth
- DT: Ky Thomas, Stephen F. Austin
- DT: Brandon Maina, Wofford
- LB: Tye Niekamp, Illinois State
- LB: James Conway, Fordham
- CB: Mikey Munn, South Dakota
- CB: Kenzel Lawler, Montana
- CB: Ayinde Johnson, Rhode Island
- SAF: Koa Akui, Sacramento State
- SAF: Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State
The PFSN FCS All-America First Team Defense is characterized by an elite collection of pass rushers and a deep, playmaking secondary.
The edge duo of Joshua Stoneking from Furman and Lamont Lester Jr. of Monmouth consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks, with their relentless effort contributing to their respective teams’ defensive successes.
Inside, defensive tackles Ky Thomas of Stephen F. Austin and Brandon Maina of Wofford proved to be stout against the run while also generating interior pressure.
At the safety positions, Koa Akui of Sacramento State and Christopher Jean of Central Connecticut State were dominant, with Jean ranking second among active FCS players with 31 career passes defended.
PFSN FCS All-America First Team Special Teams
- K: Nick Reed, New Hampshire
- P: Landon Ogles, Eastern Washington
- KR: Ryan Ricketti, Valparaiso
- PR: Bugs Mortimer, Stephen F. Austin
Nick Reed didn’t boast the best conversion rate in the FCS this fall, but no one made more field goals (25), providing a valuable points-scoring presence for New Hampshire. Eastern Washington’s Landon Ogles put up the third-most punt yards in the nation (3,167 yards) and managed an average of 40.6 yards per punt despite a high punt volume.
MORE: PFSN College Football Defensive Impact Metric
Valparaiso’s Ryan Ricketti ranked fifth nationally with 711 kick return yards and was one of just five kick returners to log multiple touchdowns (two). Bugs Mortimer of Stephen F. Austin utilized his vision and elusiveness to break away for major gains and touchdowns, leading the FCS with 537 punt return yards, more than 150 yards more than the next closest returner.
PFSN FCS All-America Second Team Offense
- QB: Beau Brungard, Youngstown State
- RB: Kente Edwards, Lafayette
- RB: Joshua Dye, Southern Utah
- WR: Jalen Jones, Alabama State
- WR: Josh Derry, Monmouth
- TE: Ryder Kurtz, Cornell
- OL: Trace Thaden, North Dakota
- OL: Jake Hellmann, Idaho State
- OL: Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado
- OL: Shalik Hubbard, Monmouth
- OL: Xavier Jennings, Mercer
Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard led a high-powered unit and was particularly effective late in the year, helping the Penguins secure an FCS Playoff berth. Running backs Kente Edwards of Lafayette and Joshua Dye of Southern Utah both ranked in the top 10 for rushing yards in 2025, with Dye leading the nation with 28 rushing touchdowns.
Similarly, Alabama State’s Jalen Jones and Monmouth’s Josh Derry were among the most productive receivers in the country this fall. Jones ranked third in the nation, with 1,167 yards through 12 games. Idaho State allowed just 0.25 sacks per game, the best in the country, so it’s no surprise to see Jake Hellmann representing the program on the second team.
PFSN FCS All-America Second Team Defense
- EDGE: Andrew Zock, Mercer
- EDGE: Thomas Johnson, North Carolina Central
- DT: Michael Otty, Bryant
- DT: Joshua Barker, South Carolina State
- LB: Joe Ollman, South Dakota State
- LB: John Perdue, Brown
- CB: Shadwel Nkuba II, Illinois State
- CB: Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford
- CB: Jalen Mayo, Stephen F. Austin
- SAF: Maximus Pulley, Wofford
- SAF: Nate Robinson Jr., Marist
The PFSN FCS All-America Second Team Defense is an athletic group highlighted by edge rushers Andrew Zock of Mercer and Thomas Johnson of North Carolina Central, who were constant disruptive forces off the edge, earning high marks for their pass-rushing win rates.
Good luck throwing on the secondary of this unit, with Nate Robinson Jr. and Jalen Mayo tied for second nationally with four interceptions. Meanwhile, Joe Ollman was a force in all phases for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, logging 94 total tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception.
PFSN FCS All-America Second Team Special Teams
- K: Andrew Brown, North Carolina A&T
- P: Gabriel Russo, Idaho State
- KR: Ky Wilson, Youngstown State
- PR: Dkhai Joseph, SE Louisiana
MORE: PFSN College Football Offensive Impact Metric
The PFSN All-America Second Team Special Teams unit is headlined by Southeastern Louisiana punt returner Dkhai Joseph, who finished the season with 372 punt return yards as a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hand. Ky Wilson led the nation with 883 return yards, part product of an insane workload and part product of an insane skill set.
PFSN FCS All-America Third Team Offense
- QB: Keali’i Ah Yat, Montana
- QB: Justin Lamson, Montana State
- RB: Luke Yoder, Lehigh
- RB: Josh Pitsenberger, Yale
- WR: Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island
- WR: Ernest Campbell, Sacramento State
- TE: Connor Hulstein, Marist
- OL: Jake Pope, Illinois State
- OL: Landon Woodard, Illinois State
- OL: John Ohnegian, Bucknell
- OL: Frank Thompson, Northern Colorado
- OL: Logan Weedman, Tennessee Tech
The PFSN FCS All-America Third Team offense posed a problem, so we took a unique approach to solving it. Montana’s Keali’i Ah Yat and Montana State’s Justin Lamson will do battle in the Brawl of the Wild Part II for a spot in the FCS National Championship Game, and their performances this season deserve equal merit.
Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan led the nation with 1,337 yards through 14 games, while Ernest Campbell proved a devastating weapon with 755 yards on just 37 targets. Illinois State’s offensive line paved the way for one of the most-surprising FCS Playoff runs (and it’s not over yet), with Jake Pope and Landon Woodard a significant part of that success.
PFSN FCS All-America Third Team Defense
- EDGE: A.J. Pena, Rhode Island
- EDGE: Michael Wells, Youngstown State
- DT: Garret Steffen, Illinois State
- DT: Scoop Gardner Jr., LIU
- LB: Malachi McNeal, North Dakota
- LB: Kyree Anderson, East Texas A&M
- CB: Antonio Bluiett, North Dakota
- CB: RJ Stewart, South Dakota
- CB: Jarod Washington, South Carolina State
- SAF: Kevin Dodard, Lafayette
- SAF: Eli Campbell, Wofford
Rhode Island’s A.J. Pena toyed with the transfer portal in the offseason but opted to return and was dominant in doing so. His 11 sacks tied eighth among all FCS players, while his 21 tackles for loss were bettered only by Furman’s Stoneking. SC State’s Jarod Washington’s 21 passes defended were a significant contributor to the program’s run to a Celebration Bowl victory.
PFSN FCS All-America Third Team Special Teams
- K: Sload Calder, Weber State
- P: Luke Silvernale, North Dakota
- KR: Keylijah Williams, Bryant
- PR: Max Mosey, Holy Cross
The PFSN All-America Third Team Special Teams unit centers on the kicking exploits of Weber State’s Sload Calder, who converted 85.7% of his attempts this season as one of the most reliable kickers in the FCS. Luke Silvernale’s booming leg led to a 44.4-yard punt average, while Bryant’s Keylijah Williams was one of the most dangerous kick returners in the country this fall.
