DALLAS — Missouri State football standouts Grant Burkett (P, Joplin, Mo.) and Lance Mason (TE, Rockwall, Texas) were both named to the Associated Press FCS Football All-America Team on Tuesday (Dec. 17), the wire service announced.
One of the most-decorated punters in Missouri Valley Football Conference history, Burkett was recently named to the All-MVFC Team for the fifth time and for the fourth time as a first-team selection. Likewise, it is his fourth time earning a spot on the AP All-America Team, earning an honorable mention nod this year.
During the 2024 campaign, the MSU co-captain posted a 44.07 punting average on 45 attempts, which ranks 15th nationally and second in The Valley. Burkett had 15 punts downed inside the 20-yard line in addition to boasting nine punts of 50 yards or more, including a 78-yarder at Illinois State on Oct. 12. The sixth-year standout was also on the 2024 FCS Punter of the Year watch list for the second straight season.
Also an honorable-mention selection, Mason earns his first career All-America laurels as the MVFC leader in yards per pass reception (17.35) which ranks 28th nationally and tops among all FCS tight ends. He finished the season with 34 receptions for 590 yards (15.4 yds per catch) and six touchdowns. Mason’s touchdown total ranks sixth in The Valley and 54th nationally – third among tight ends — while he also ranks 10th in The Valley in receiving yards and receiving yards per game (49.2).
Mason had a 57-yard TD reception at Ball State (Sept. 7) and logged his first 100-yard receiving game in the win over Indiana State (Oct. 19) with 4 catches for 111 yards and an 82-yard TD reception. He is an AP All-America honorable mention selection.
Coach Ryan Beard’s Bears finished the 2024 season with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-2 ledger in MVFC play to finish one game behind the league’s tri-champions. The Bears won eight straight games from Sept. 14 to Nov. 9 and eclipsed 5,000 total yards, 400 points and 3,600 passing yards in their final season in the Missouri Valley and the FCS ranks. The Bears landed 12 players on the All-MVFC teams announced earlier this month.
During its FCS history, the Bears landed 58 Associated Press All-America selections.
The Missouri State program begins its transition to Conference USA and its first season at the FBS level in 2025.
