There are over 2,000 quarterbacks who played at the NCAA II Division II, Division III or NAIA levels this past fall but only one -- University of Minnesota Duluth's Ted Schlafke -- can lay claim to being a 2008 Associated Press Little American first team pick. In addition, senior offensive guard Nate Baier received second team acclaim while senior free safety Tyler Yelk was a third team honoree.

The selection, which was announced today, is the latest in plethora of post-season honors to be  bestowed on the Schlafke, who last Saturday helped lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA II championship  and a perfect 15-0 record. He is just the fifth Bulldog ever -- and first since 1982 -- to attain a spot on the Associated Press Little All-American first team, which is comprised of all non-Division I players.

Schlafke, a native of Steven Point, Wis., exited the Bulldog program as the owner of every single-game, single-season and career passing and total offense record. A starter in a school-record 47 consecutive games, he was named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America Team (a UMD first) this fall in addition to attaining NSIC and Daktronics Super Regional 3 Offensive Player of the Year honors.  Schlafke, who will take part in the Cactus Bowl (NCAA II all-star game) next month in Kingsville, Texas, finished fifth on the career NCAA II total offense charts with 13,031 and is sixth all-time in passing yardage (11,587).

Baier, who like Schlafke and Yelk served as a team captain in 2008, was an All-NSIC pick this fall and also was a member of Daktronic All-Amnerican second team   The three-year starter and Bloomer, Wis. product landed All-NCC second team status one year ago.

Yelk, a two-time all-conference first team selection (North Central Conference in 2007 and NSIC this year), had a hand in more total tackles (323) than anyone in the 76-year history of Bulldog football. The Arlington, Wis., native was third among Bulldogs in tackles this season with 70 stops after topping the club in each of the previous three years. Yelk, who will join Schlafke at the 2009 Cactus Bowl, earned Daktronics All-American second team recognition as well as senior.

2008 ASSOCIATED PRESS LITTLE ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Ted Schlafke, senior, 6-0, 185, UMD.

Running backs — Bernard Scott, senior, 5-11, 200, Abilene Christian; Nate Kmic, senior, 5-9, 193, Mount Union.

Wide receivers — Charly Martin, senior, 6-2, 210, West Texas A&M; Johnny Spevak, junior, 6-3, 200, Central Washington.

Linemen — Bill Eisenhardt, senior, 6-3, 275, Grand Valley State; Roger Allen, senior, 6-4, 315, Missouri Western; Jeremy Davis, senior, 6-3, 300, Northwest Missouri State; Thomas Battle, senior, 6-3, 315, Carson-Newman; Sean James, senior, 6-3, 305, Cortland State.

Tight end — Jared Bronson, senior, 6-4, 255, Central Washington.

All-purpose player — Dyshaun Edwards, senior, 5-11, 188, Tiffin.

Kicker — Tom Schneider, senior, 6-0, 195, North Alabama.

Defense

Linemen — Jake Visser, senior, 6-2, 275, Ferris State; Dan Skutta, senior, 6-3, 265, Grand Valley State; Troy Pribnow, 6-4, 225, senior, Wayne State; Jacob Calderon, senior, 6-0, 235, California Lutheran.

Linebacker — Jared Brock, senior, 6-1, 232, West Texas A&M; Jeffrey Cargile, senior, 5-9, 200, Morehouse; Jace Rindahl, senior, 6-3, 230, Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Backs — Sherard Reynolds, senior, 5-10, 182, Valdosta State; Darren Banks, 5-10, 188, West Liberty State; Peter Ittersagen, senior, 5-10, 190, Wheaton; Myles Burnsides, junior, 5-11, 195, Northwest Missouri State.

Punter — Nick Krut, senior, 5-11, 185, East Stroudsburg.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Jason Boltus, senior, Hartwick.

Running backs — Tunde Ogun, junior, Christopher-Newport; Jerry Seymour, senior, Glenville State.

Wide receivers — Mike Washington, senior, West Chester; Jack Phelan, senior, Hartwick

Linemen — Sam Hathorn, junior, North Alabama; Terence Crosby, junior, Catawba; Sam Collins, senior, Abilene Christian; Yancy Edwards, senior, Kenyon; Nate Baier, senior, UMD.

Tight end — Jarrell NeSmith, junior, Tusculum.

All-purpose player — Larry Beavers, senior, Wesley.

Kicker — Jeff Schebler, junior, Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Defense

Linemen — Louis Ellis, senior, Shaw; Jarrell Chandler, senior, Salisbury; D.J. DeWitt, senior, Waynesburg; Ricky Hope, senior, Texas A&M-Commerce.

Linebackers — Terrence Jackson, Indiana, Pa.; Owen Koeppen, senior, Carroll College; Lardester Hicks-Green, junior, Delta State,

Backs _Terrence Johnson, junior, California, Pa.; Matt Meyer, senior, Aurora; Darnell Brown, senior, Langston; David Raymond, senior, North Alabama.

Punter — T.J. Grzesikowski, sophomore, Ferrum.

THIRD TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Mike Reilly, senior, Central Washington.

Running backs — LaRon Council, junior, Northwest Missouri State; Brian McNeil, senior, Nebraska-Omaha.

Wide receivers — Travis Poole, senior, American International; Michael Jennings, junior, Illinois College.

Linemen — Beau Weiss, senior, Bethel, Tenn.; Tony Washington, junior, Abilene Christian; Nick Urban, senior, Winona; Blaine Westemeyer, junior, Augustana, Ill.; Kendall Molz, senior, Pittsburg State.

Tight end — Brian Weverbergh, senior, Ithaca.

All-purpose player — Samuel Tranks, junior, Seton Hill.

Kicker — Jared Keating, senior, Mesa State.

Defense

Linemen — Brock Arndt, senior, Redlands; Tighe Burk, senior, Knox; Marcus Kennedy, senior, St. Augustine; John Jacobs, junior, Saginaw Valley.

Linebackers — Eric Henri, senior, Mary Hardin-Baylor; Mark Meng, senior, Fort Lewis; Matt Freed, sophomore, East Stroudsburg.

Backs — Bobby Bott, junior, Case Western; Drew Ziller, senior, Carleton; Tyler Yelk, senior, UMD; Jabir Perkins, senior, Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Punter — Will Batson, junior, North Alabama.