LEXINGTON, Va. – After another terrific season, VMI junior linebacker Stone Snyder was a repeat selection for the Athlon Sports Postseason All-America Team announced by the organization Wednesday morning.
The Richmond, Virginia, native was one of seven players to earn the honor for a second consecutive season.
Already named a postseason All-American by Hero Sports and Stats Perform, Snyder earned First Team All-Southern Conference honors in 2021 for a second straight year and was recognized by the media as the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league in tackles for the second straight season averaging 10.9 per game and as he totaled 120 for the year (49 solo, 71 assisted). Snyder led the team in tackles for loss (11 for 36 yards), sacks (4), quarterback hurries (5) and fumble recoveries with three. He was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 27 after a season-best 19 tackles against Wofford and was also selected to the 2021 Buck Buchanan Top 25 Watch list for the second straight year.
The 2021 Athlon Sports FCS Postseason All-America team consists of 30 players representing 22 schools and nine conferences.
Nicholls offensive guard P.J. Burkhalter earned the postseason honor for the third straight season, while Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley, North Dakota State offensive tackle Cordell Volson, Northern Iowa defensive tackle Jared Brinkman, VMI linebacker Stone Snyder and two James Madison players, place-kicker Ethan Ratke – the FCS scoring leader – and long snapper Kyle Davis, followed up their selections from the pandemic-delayed 2020 season, which was played last spring.
Schools with multiple selections were Montana with three and Florida A&M, Jackson State, James Madison, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Villanova with two each.
ATHLON SPORTS FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Eric Barriere (6-1, 210, Sr.) Eastern Washington
QB – Cole Kelley (6-7, 245, Sr.) Southeastern Louisiana
RB – Quay Holmes (6-1, 220, Jr.) ETSU
RB – Pierre Strong Jr. (5-11, 205, Sr.) South Dakota State
WR – Xavier Gipson (5-9, 170, Jr.) Stephen F. Austin
WR – Tyler Hudson (6-2, 195, So.) Central Arkansas
TE – Tucker Kraft (6-5, 255, So.) South Dakota State
OL – P.J. Burkhalter (6-3, 330, Sr.) Nicholls
OL – Trevor Penning (6-7, 321, R-Jr.) Northern Iowa
OL – Cole Strange (6-6, 301, R-Sr.) Chattanooga
OL – Cordell Volson (6-7, 313, Sr.) North Dakota State
OL – Nick Zakelj (6-5, 325, Sr.) Fordham
DEFENSE
DL – Jared Brinkman (6-2, 290, R-Sr.) Northern Iowa
DL – Isaiah Chambers (6-5, 251, Grad) McNeese
DL – James Houston (6-1, 225, Sr.) Jackson State
DL – Isaiah Land (6-4, 215, R-Jr.) Florida A&M
LB – Troy Andersen (6-4, 235, Sr.) Montana State
LB – Patrick O’Connell (6-2, 225, R-Jr.) Montana
LB – Forrest Rhyne (6-1, 235, grad) Villanova
LB – Stone Snyder (6-3, 240, Jr.) VMI
DB – Markquese Bell (6-3, 205, R-Sr.) Florida A&M
DB – Christian Benford (6-1, 205, Sr.) Villanova
DB – Justin Ford (6-2, 190, R-Jr.) Montana
DB – Darius Joiner (6-2, 200, Sr.) Western Illinois
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Ethan Ratke (5-10, 186, R-Sr.) James Madison
P – Brian Buschini (6-0, 219, R-Fr.) Montana
LS – Kyle Davis (6-0, 219, R-Jr.) James Madison
KR – Rashid Shaheed (6-0, 180, Sr.) Weber State
PR – Warren Newman (5-8, 175, Sr.) Jackson State
AP – Montrell Washington (5-10, 170, Sr.) Samford
