SIOUX FALLS -- Antonio Green of the #4 University of Sioux Falls Football Team has been named to the Associated Press Little All-American Team, as announced by the AP today (Dec. 16).

Green, a senior sports management major from Dublin, Ga., was named to second team offense. He becomes the third straight Cougars' student-athlete (Solomon St. Pierre, 2014, 2015) named to the AP Little All-America Team, which is composed of NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA players. Green becomes USF's 106th All-American, including five this season.

In 2016, Green helped the Cougars win their first ever NSIC championship and record its first-ever unbeaten regular season at the DII level. The Cougars, which finished a DII-program best 12-1, recorded the school's 12th unbeaten regular season overall (11-0 in NSIC).

Green played a key role as the Cougars earned its third straight postseason appearance and second straight NCAA DII playoff appearance. USF hosted two home playoff games for the first time, including its first playoff win (Azusa Pacific, 34-21) before falling in the second round in overtime to Harding, 27-24.
 
Named to the CCA Second Team on the offensive line earlier this month, Green earned his fourth overall All-American award. USF's first-ever finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award as DII's top lineman, Green, who is one of two USF players (John Tidwell) named to the All-NSIC first team three straight seasons, was named to a pair of preseason All-American teams, including Lindy 's Sports and Game Plan.  
 
Over his career, Green graded out at average of 89 percent, produced 194 knockdowns and allowed no sacks in 38 starts for USF. For the second year in a row, Green was been a leader on one of the nation's best offensive lines. A year ago, the USF offensive line allowed just four sacks, which led NCAA DII. This year, they have allowed a total of 11, which ranks ninth nationally and first in the NSIC, despite a new zone blocking scheme, which has resulted in one of the nation's top running attacks.  

The Cougars set a school record with 4,005 rushing yards or 308.1 per game which ranks third in NCAA DII.  USF averaged 6.9 per carry, which was more than a half-yard better than Wayne State (Mich.) at 6.24 and Harding at 6.18.  Green was part of an offensive line that opened space to produce six games of 300 yards or more rushing, including three over 400 yards. The offense featured three of the top 11 leading per carry rushers (Max Mickey, 8.65 ypc, first; Luke Papilion, 7.48 ypc, third; and Justin Fulks, 6.55 ypc, 14th) in NCAA DII.