BURNSVILLE, MINN. - The NSIC announced their 2024 All-Conference list today with 13 Cougar Football standouts making the cut while redshirt-freshman, Andy Henson, was also named the NSIC Defensive Newcomer Player of the Year. 

FIRST TEAM 

USF landed five student-athletes on the all-conference first team lists behind Aidan DeVolder, Andy Henson, Nick Hernandez, Mark Leonard and Carter Slykhuis. 

DeVolder, a redshirt-junior offensive lineman, played a huge role in the offensive success USF had this season. As the left tackle, DeVolder was responsible for protecting the blindside of Dean and Mullen in each of his 11 starts this season while helping the Cougars to 333 total points scored this season averaging 30.27 points per game. 

Henson, a r-freshman linebacker, led the Cougars all season long in tackles and finished the season with 62 tackles in 10 games played. The West Branch, Iowa native recorded a season-high 13 tackles against Minot State while also tacking on 6.5 tackles for a loss of 18-yards.  

Henandez, a senior kicker out of San Antonio, Texas, finished the season with nine made field goals along with a career long of 47-yards. He split the uprights 35 times this season in point after attempts while recording 3,181-yards on 55 kickoffs. Hernandez finishes his career 4th all-time in kick scoring for the Cougars and sits tied for 16th in overall scoring with 256 career points. 

Leonard, a senior tight end, had his season cut short with an injury during the final quarter against Augustana. The two-time all-conference selection finished the season with 376 receiving yards on 21 receptions with three scores while averaging 17.9 yards per catch. The Rochester, Minnesota native finishes his career with 1,002 receiving yards on 73 receptions with nine touchdowns in 37 games played for The Coo. 

Slykhuis, a graduate wide receiver for The Coo, recorded a career-high 829 receiving yards on 61 receptions and nine touchdowns. The two-time NSIC All-conference selection closes out his career with 199 receptions for 2,330-yards and 17 scores along with two rushing touchdowns. Slykhuis finishes 7th in school history in receiving yards while tying for fourth in receptions. 

SECOND TEAM 

The Cougars tacked on eight more NSIC All-Conference honors with Camden Dean, Matt Goehring, Garret Hoffman, Ben Pederson, Dylan Rudningen, Joseph Sapp III, Preston Yohnke and Travis Yohnke. 

Dean, a quarterback from Lakeville, Minnesota, capped off his junior season with 2,865-yards of total offense along with 31 touchdowns on the year. He recorded eight scores and 671-yards on the ground while adding 2,194-yards through the air with a career-high 23 touchdowns. Dean averaged 199.5 passing yards per game and 61.0 rushing yards per game. Following this season, the junior quarterback sits 11th in passing yards for the Cougars with 4,253 career yards and 9th in passing touchdowns with 41.  

Goehring, a redshirt-sophomore linebacker, finished the season with a career-high 59 tackles along with five tackles for a loss of 10-yards. The Sioux Falls native added four game closing interceptions, three QB hurries and a pass break up. The two-time all-conference selection currently sits with 114 career tackles and 10 tackles for a loss of 10-yards. 

Hoffman, a defensive back from Sioux Falls, closed out his redshirt-sophomore season with 58 tackles of which 36 were solo. He recorded a season-high 10 tackles against Minot State along with a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Currently, Hoffman has 115 career tackles in 22 games played for the Cougars. 

Pederson, a redshirt-junior offensive lineman, contributed to the major success of the Cougar offense this season. The Mason City, Iowa native helped the Cougars to 333 total points scored this season averaging 30.27 points per game. Pedersons season was cut short due to an injury following the Wayne State game but made eight starts in his 2024 campaign. 

Rudningen, a senior running back, finished the season with 525-yards rushing and seven touchdowns while adding one touchdown and 97 receiving yards. The Sunburg, Minnesota native rushed for two multi touchdown games with a season-high of 110-yards against Minnesota State. The two-time all-conference selection finishes 18th on the USF all-time rushing chart with 1,773 yards on 365 carries. 

Sapp III, a graduate cornerback, wrapped up the season with 20 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss of 2-yards while returning one interception for 20-yards. The Sacramento, California native closes his career with 83 tackles in 32 games played along with four interceptions and five tackles for a loss of 8-yards. 

Preston Yohnke, a redshirt-junior defensive lineman, got the defense started up front with 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss of 7-yards and a sack this season. The Carlos, Minnesota native currently sits with 31 career tackles for The Coo in 21 games played while helping lead the defense to 22 points per game. 

Travis Yohnke, a tight end out of Carlos, Minnesota, closed out his grad year with a career-high 171 receiving yards and three scores on 18 receptions. Yohnke averaged 9.5 yards per catch and finishes his career with 333 receiving yards and five touchdowns. 

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