BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The University of Sioux Falls Football Team, which has advanced to the postseason in four of the past five seasons, has been picked to finish third overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), according to the NSIC Preseason Coaches Football Poll released by the league office on Wednesday, August 7.
 
USF, which was 7-4 overall, including 5-2 in the South Division in 2018, earned 187 points overall in the poll. For the second straight year, USF was picked third overall and also picked third with 37 points in the South Division preseason poll.  

Senior running back Gabriel Watson of USF, who finished fifth in the Harlon Hill Trophy balloting in 2018, has been named the NSIC South Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.  Watson, who has been named to eight All-American teams, including three in the preseason of 2019, led NCAA DII in rushing per game with 177.9 yards per game. Watson, who rushed for a school record 1,957 yards on 269 carries, led NCAA DII with 26 rushing touchdowns. A year ago, he was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and also named Super Region 4 Player of the year by both the D2CCA and Don Hansen media organizations. He rushed for 100 yards in 11 straight games and over 200 yards three times. He also set a school mark with 320 yards rushing in a win over MSU Moorhead on the road.  Defensive back Hakeem Johnson, who was named All-NSIC and honorable mention All-American by Don Hansen, was USF's Defensive Player to Watch.

Other preseason honors included NSIC South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Nick Pridgeon, Winona State; NSIC North Preseason Offensive Player of the Year John Larson, Minnesota Duluth;and NSIC North Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Gabe Ames, Bemidji State.
 
Minnesota State was tapped the favorite in both the NSIC overall and South Division polls. MSU received 15 first-place votes and 224 points, Minnesota Duluth was the North Division favorite (49 points) and was voted second overall (see coaches polls below).
 
USF was picked to finish third in the league, accumulating 187 points, which placed the Cougars behind MSU and UMD and ahead of Winona State with 194 and Bemidji State, 165, UMD received seven-of-eight first place votes and 49 points to finish ahead of Bemidji State at 42 in the North Division. MSU Moorhead was third with 35 points

USF, which has recorded seven wins or more for the fifth straight year, will look to make a run at the NSIC title with a team heavy on experience and talent.  USF, which has earned three NCAA DII playoff berths since 2015, returns nine starters to an offense that led the NSIC total offense and ranked 14th in NCAA DII at 466.5 yards per game.
 
Led by Watson, the Cougars led the NSIC and ranked fifth nationally with 274.2 rushing yards per game.  Senior quarterback Caden Walters (2,033 passing yards, 14 TDs), who led the NSIC in pass efficiency at 155.8, returns along with three starters on the offensive front which includes second team All-NSIC guard Nolan Kern, who has 163 career knockdowns and over 80 percent career grade. Honorable Mention All-NSIC center Nick Zimmerman, who has career grade of 83 percent and 185 career knockdowns, and two-year starter Elijah Perine (154 knockdowns and 79 percent grade) will lead the offensive front. USF will be deep at tight end with All-NSIC senior tight end Clint Sigg (26 receptions, four TDs) back while All-NSIC WR/KR Nate Johnson and Ty Smith lead a deep wide receiver group.
 
Senior All-NSIC (2017) DE Logan Dykstra (71 career tackles, 11.5 TFLs, three sacks) is among 10 returning starters on the USF defense, which ranked third in the NSIC in scoring defense (19.0 ppg) in 2018. Dykstra leads a veteran group on the defensive front which includes returners Joey Wehrkamp (38T, eight TFLs, tree sacks, 3 PDs, FR), Aaron Ortiz (12T, sack), David Varges (31T, sack, 2 TFLs, FR), and Nick Zimmerman (17T, 2.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks), among others.  Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-American, All-NSIC and USF's Defensive Player to Watch DB Hakeem Johnson (25T, interception, six PDs), HM All-NSIC safety Tucker Stout (53T, 2 TFLs, FR), Parker Gregston (37T, sack, TFL, 6 PB, 10 PD, 4 int.) and Nate Durfee (41T, TFL, interception)  lead the secondary. All-NSIC LB Brody Grantham (70T, 7 TFLs) and HM All-NSIC Harvey (Michael) Enalls (64T) lead the linebacking corps.
 
USF's opener will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 against Concordia St. Paul at Sea Foam Stadium. USF will host its home opener on Military Appreciation Day at 1 p.m., on Sept. 14 against Winona State at Bob Young Field.

The NSIC Football schedule  will be broken into two divisions of North and South. Each team plays 11 conference games, including seven divisional games, which will count towards the NSIC North/South Division Championships. An overall winner will be earned along with North and South Division winners. Ties will not be broken for overall or the division champions. Divisional games will be held weeks one through four and nine through 11. Four cross division matchups comprise weeks five through eight.  
 
2019 Preseason NSIC Football Coaches Poll
1. Minnesota State (14), 224
2. Minnesota Duluth (2), 208
3. Sioux Falls, 187
4. Winona State, 182
5. Bemidji State, 169
6. Augustana, 158
7. MSU Moorhead, 138
8. St. Cloud State, 134
9. Concordia-St. Paul, 109
10. Northern State, 90
11. Southwest Minnesota State, 79
11. Upper Iowa, 79
13. Wayne State, 73
14. U-Mary, 39
15. Minot State, 36
16. Minnesota Crookston, 15
Preseason South Division Poll
1. Minnesota State (7), 49
2. Winona State, 39
3. Sioux Falls, 37
4. Augustana (1), 34
5. Concordia-St. Paul, 25
6. Wayne State, 16
7. Southwest Minnesota State, 12
7. Upper Iowa, 12
  
Preseason North Division Poll
1. Minnesota Duluth (7), 49
2. Bemidji State (1), 42
3. MSU Moorhead, 35
4. St. Cloud State, 34
5. Northern State, 24
6. U-Mary, 17
7. Minot State, 16
8. Minnesota Crookston, 7