ST. LOUIS — On a day with multiple organizations releasing post-season football honors, the Associated Press FCS All-America Football Team was also released late Tuesday (Dec. 14) with three Missouri State players landing spots on the prestigious squad.
Kicker Jose Pizano (Lehi, Utah) and defensive back Montrae Braswell (Avon Park, Fla.) highlight the team for the Bears as AP All-America second-team selections. Punter Grant Burkett (Joplin, Mo.) landed on the third team after being recognized as a second-team All-America selection earlier in the day by Hero Sports.
Pizano made 14 consecutive field goal attempts to end the regular season and ranks third in the nation in field goals per game (1.75). He earned All-MVFC second-team honors for the second straight season after ranking ninth among all FCS kicker in field goal percentage this season (.875) with 21-of-24 makes. In terms of scoring, Pizano’s 109 points this season were the most-ever by a Missouri State place kicker, while his 9.1 points per game ranks seventh nationally and tops in the Valley. He also converted 46-of-47 extra points this season and earned MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week for 13-point output in the team’s win at Dixie State on Nov. 20.
After earning All-MVFC first-team honors at two positions this season, Braswell repeated the dual honors as a member of the Hero Sports Sophomore All-America Team in both positions this season. Defensively, he finished third in the Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year voting and currently ranks seventh nationally and tops in the MVFC in passes defended per game (1.4). He also snagged four interceptions and brought down 44 ball carriers with 33 solo stops this season. On special teams, his 29.4 kickoff return average currently ranks sixth nationally and tops in the MVFC. He was also a two-time MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week this season. In the spring of 2021, Braswell earned All-MVFC first team, MVFC All-Newcomer Team and was on the Hero Sports Sophomore All-America Team also in the spring.
Burkett was named as a 2021 FCS All-America third-team selection by the AP and second-team pick by Hero Sports. He currently ranks second nationally and first in the MVFC with a school-record punting average of 46.2 with 16 punts of at least 50 yards and 15 kicks downed inside the 20. The All-MVFC first-team selection also helped lead the Bears to a No. 2 national ranking in net punting (42.8). As a redshirt freshman in the spring 2021 season, Burkett earned All-MVFC honorable mention laurels prior to his breakout performance this fall. Hero Sports also recognized Burkett on its 2021 Freshman All-America Team, which includes all players with three years of eligibility remaining.
The Bears have accumulated 53 AP All-America honors in program history, most-recently by linebacker Dylan Cole in 2016. Missouri State has not had three AP All-Americans on the same team since 1988.
Coach Bobby Petrino‘s squad finished the 2021 season with an 8-4 overall record after finishing as runners-up in the rugged Missouri Valley Football Conference and earning their second straight NCAA FCS Playoff berth.
