Missouri State linebacker Dylan Cole was recognized as one of the nation’s elite defenders entering the 2016 season, earning first-team STATS FCS Preseason All-America honors Monday.
The senior was one of seven Missouri Valley Football Conference standouts to earn first-team honors, while a total of 99 NCAA Division I FCS players were cited for All-America recognition by STATS.
Last fall, Cole led Bears in total tackles in every game and averaged 15.4 stops per outing during league play en route to picking up first-team All-MVFC recognition. He finished the year as the MVFC leader in tackles per game (13.8), which ranks third among all NCAA Division I FCS defenders. The Rogersville, Mo., product logged nine double-digit tackle totals and averaged 6.6 solo tackles per game, which was tops in the conference and fifth overall in the FCS ranks. Cole completed the season with six straight double-digit tackle performances and 152 total tackles — good for seventh on the Bears’ single-season list.
A 2014 All-MVFC Honorable Mention and 2013 MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection, Cole was named the HERO Sports FCS Defensive Stud of the Week (Oct. 26) following his 21-tackle day against South Dakota and logged a conference season-high of 23 tackles Nov. 14 vs. No. 19 UNI.
The Bears return 39 lettermen and 15 starters under second-year head coach Dave Steckel and his staff. MSU players will report to campus on Aug. 2 for fall camp in preparation for the team's Sept. 1 season opener vs. Southwestern College at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
Bears’ 2016 season tickets are available now by calling (417) 836-8899 or visiting MissouriStateBears.com/tickets for more information.
