CHICAGO — A trio of Missouri State football standouts has been recognized by STATS Perform on its FCS Preseason All-America Team, the organization announced Monday (Aug. 1).
Consensus All-American punter Grant Burkett (So., Joplin, Mo.) was named as a first-team selection, while quarterback Jason Shelley (Sr., Frisco, Texas) and defensive back Montrae Braswell (Jr., Avon Park, Fla.) were honored as second-team honorees.
Burkett ranked second in the nation with a school-record punting average of 46.2 per attempt last season, while helping the Bears rank second nationally as a team in net punting (42.81). He had 16 punts of 50 yards or better with 15 attempts downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. In addition to being an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first-team selection, Burkett made four FCS All-America teams in 2021, including second-team selections by the AFCA, STATS Perform and Hero Sports, and a third-team selection by the Associated Press.
Shelley was named the 2021 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and MVFC Newcomer of the Year after throwing for a school-record 3,347 yards and racking up another program record 3,789 yards of total offense, both of which led the conference. He was also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and the CFPA Player of the Year in addition to earning All-MVFC first-team selection at QB. Shelley finished his first season at MSU ranked 11th nationally in points responsible for (194), seventh in yards per completion (14.24), ninth in passing yards (3,347), 14th in passing yards per game (278.9), 18th in passing touchdowns (22), and 22nd in passing efficiency (142.69). The two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week became the first MSU quarterback to throw for 200 yards or more in every game (12) for the season, while snapping addition Bears records for plays (555), passing attempts (400) and completions (235). Shelley engineered four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter last season and was a three-time MVFC Newcomer of the Week.
After earning All-MVFC first-team honors at two positions in 2021, Braswell was named as an All-America second-team selection by the AP and STATS 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 ranked 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. On special teams, his 29.4 kickoff return average ranked fifth nationally and tops in the MVFC. He was also a two-time MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Both Braswell and Burkett landed on the STATS FCS All-America Team at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Braswell earned All-America second-team honors at defensive back, while Burkett was named to the All-America third team at punter. All three are coming off All-MVFC first-team campaigns.
All told, 22 players on the 2022 STATS Peform FCS Preseason All-America Team represent the Missouri Valley Football Conference, including six from North Dakota State, six from South Dakota State and three from Missouri State.
The Bears kick off the 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Central Arkansas before the club’s home opener on Sept. 8 in a playoff rematch against UT Martin at Robert W. Plaster Stadium
