PHILADELPHIA — Missouri State football standouts Caden Bolz and Grant Burkett were among 24 players from the Missouri Valley Football Conference selected today to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team.
Bolz, a senior long snapper from Overland Park, Kan., was honored as a second-team selection. He was named the Preseason All-MVFC Team last week and was an honorable mention All-MVFC selection last season. He was perfect on 93 long-snap opportunities in 2023, including 43 extra point tries, 37 punts and 13 field goal attempts. Likewise, he was a Phil Stele Preseason All-America fourth-team honoree a year ago as well as a Preseason All-MVFC first-team selection.
Burkett, a senior punter from Joplin, Mo., is a third-team selection on the preseason All-America Team. He is a four-time All-MVFC selection and a three-time All-American who averaged 44.0 yards per punt last season with 11 kicks of 50 yards or more. His punting average led the MVFC and was good enough to finish seventh nationally while he was a finalist for FCS Punter of the Year in 2023. He was also a Preseason All-MVFC first-teamer, announced last week.
Second-year head coach Ryan Beard returns 19 offensive and defensive starters from a year ago when the Bears ended the 2023 campaign ranked No. 5 nationally in passing offense and put together a memorable November surge to end the season.
Missouri State opens its 2024 season on August 31 at Montana with the club’s home opener slated for Saturday, Sept. 14 against Lindenwood.
