He's drawn plenty of attention from opposing quarterbacks with his pass rushing exploits and now others who closely follow NCAA Division II football are likewise taking close notice of Russ Rabe. Today, for example, the University of Minnesota Duluth senior defensive end was chosen to the 2004 D2Football.com Preseason All-American Team and was one of just two North Central Conference players among the 12-member group.



Last fall in his first year of starting duty, the 6-3, 235-pound native of Lake Holcombe, Wisc., established UMD single-season records for both quarterback sacks (15.0) and tackles for a loss (19.5) while also pacing the Bulldogs in solo stops (43) and finishing second in total tackles (67). A 2003 All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference first team pick , Rabe ranked third among NCAA II combatants in quarterback sacks (1.4 per game) and headlined the NSIC in that same department. For his efforts, Rabe, who is now just 1.5 sacks shy of UMD's career mark (22.5), was showered with a host of honors including selection to the Football Gazette All-American first team, as well as the Daktronics All-Midwest Region and the Football Gazette All-Midwest Region first teams.



Rabe and the Bulldogs will put their school-record 17-game home unbeaten streak on the line this Saturday (Aug. 28) when UMD launches its 72nd year of intercollegiate football by hosting Chadron State College. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m. at Griggs Field.