BROOKFIELD, Ill. — The University of Sioux Falls Football Team, which was ranked #8 in the final AFCA poll after a NCAA DII program-best 12-1 record, has had five players named to the 2016 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-Super Region Three squad, which was announced today (Dec. 20) by the Don Hansen Committee.
 
Junior running back Max Mickey of Holden, Mo., and senior offensive guard Antonio Green of Dublin, Ga., were named first team while senior linebacker Michael Mehling of Las Vegas, Nev., and senior cornerback Delvin Batiste of Upland, Calif., were selected second team with junior wide receiver/kick return specialist Kyle Groeneweg of Inwood, Iowa making third team for the Cougars, which won its first-ever NSIC Championship. Mickey, Green, Mehling and Batiste now advance to a national ballot for the 2016 Don Hansen NCAA DII All-American team to be announced early 2017.
 
This group of all-region honorees 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). 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.

Green, a senior sports management major, was recently named to second team offense on the AP Little All-American Tea, becoming the third straight Cougars' student-athlete (Solomon St. Pierre, 2014, 2015) named. Green became USF's 106th All-American, including five this season. Named to the CCA Second Team on the offensive line earlier this month, Green has four overall All-American honors. 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 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.
 
Mickey, who was named first team All-NSIC, has earned two All-American honors after being named to the second team on the American Football Coaches Association team and the D2CCA Squad.

One of the nation's top backs all season, Mickey was named one of 42 candidates for the Harlon Hill Award as the DII's top player. The junior standout from Holden, Mo., currently ranks first in NCAA DII in rushing yards per carry at 8.6 and ranks fifth nationally in rushing yards per game at 135.7 per game while sitting second in DII in rushing yards with 1,764. 

Mickey, who has 13, 100-yard rushing games in his career and ranked in the top five nationally in six categories, set school records in yards per carry,  average yards per game and total yards in a season. He and Green were part of an offense that finished third in NCAA DII in rushing yards at 308.1 yards per game and seventh in total offense at 511.3 yards per game.

In the first round of the playoffs,  Mickey, a business administration major, rushed for 164 yards on 22 carries with three TDs. Six times this season, he had 150 yards or more yards against in a game as he set a career-high with 207 yards and a TD. Mickey, a was named NSIC Player of the Week on Oct. 10 after averaging 10.3 yards per carry with 15 carries for 156 yards and four total TDs in a win over SMSU. In that game, the Cougars rolled up 670 yards in total offense, the best total by the program at the DII level.
 
Mehling was named to the D2 CCA All-American Team, which is the first in his career. He was a leader on the USF defense that ranked second in the league in total defense (348.1) and scoring defense (19.6 ppg).
 
A senior media studies and theatre major, Mehling led in the league in tackles with 127, including a league-high 83 solo stops with his 6.4 per game ranking 10th nationally.  In fact his 83 solo stops was the second most in NCAA DII. Mehling, who had double digit tackles seven times with a career-best 14 in a playoff loss to Harding, recorded 5.5 sacks and 15.0 TFLs (-69 yards) which ranks second in the league and first among linebackers.  He had a TFL in nine different games this season.

Nominated for the Cliff Harris Award as national DII player of the year, Mehling, who was NSIC Player of the Week on Oct. 24, has also forced two fumbles, recorded a pick six for 36 yards against Minot State as well as registered three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. 
 
Groeneweg, who earned his first all-region honor, was named All-NSIC First Team. An explosive performer at wide receiver and kick return specialist, he made big plays in a multitude of ways and consistently. Groeneweg, who ranked seventh in NCAA DII and first in the NSIC in combined kick returns with 891 yards, had 304 and 587 kick returns yards. He was 16th in DII in punt return average at 13.2 on 23 returns. He also ranked 44th in DII in kick returns at 25.5 yards per return.

An exercise science major, he also had 24 receptions for 402 yards with five TDs, including a 74-yard pitch and catch thrown by Clint Sigg on a tight end option play. He also had a 39-yard TD reception from Brady Rose on an H-back option throw. He averaged 16.8 yards per reception. He had a 62-yard kickoff return and a 53 yard punt returns.
 
Batiste, who was named the NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year, recorded 41 tackles, 28 solo stops, three sacks, 5.5 TFLs and three interceptions (58 yards in returns) along with eight pass breakups, which ranked eighth in the league. Batiste, who also blocked a kick, recorded at least four tackles five times, including a high of eight against Winona State. 

The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.  Don Hansen's Football Gazette began selecting Division II All-Region squads in 2003.