CHICAGO – Missouri State football standouts Montrae Braswell and Grant Burkett were recognized Monday (Dec. 20) as members of the STATS Perform FCS All-America Team.
The team has 110 players representing all 15 conferences and 60 schools.
Braswell earned All-America second-team honors at defensive back, while Burkett was named to the All-America third team at punter on this year’s STATS All-America list.
After earning All-MVFC first-team honors at two positions this season, Braswell was named as an AP All-American second-team pick last week after Hero Sports also named him to its Sophomore All-America Team at both DB and return specialist. Defensively, Braswell 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.
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.
