The postseason honors continue to roll in for the University of Minnesota Duluth's Garth Heikkinen.
The junior offensive guard most recently carved out a spot on the 2011 Associated Press Little All-America second team and was one of only two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competitors to make any one of the three teams, joining Wayne State College punter Randy Weich (first team). This marks the fourth straight year at least one Bulldog has received A.P. Little All-America recogition. Linebacker Kiel Fechtelkotter (2010), running back Isaac Odim (2009) and quarterback Ted Schlafke (2008) were all first-team selections while Odim (2010), offensive lineman Nate Baier (2008) and defensive back Tyler Yelk (2008) made the second team.
Heikkinen, who earlier this month was named to both the American Football Coaches Association Division II and Daktronics All-America first teams, has started all 42 games over the last three seasons. This past fall, the Duluth Central High School alumnus anchored an offensive line which helped UMD roll up the highest rushing yardage total in the NSIC during the regular season en route to attaining All-NSIC status for the third straight season (first team in both 2011 and 2010 and honorable mention in 2009).
The A.P. Little All-America is comprised of the players from the NCAA Divisions II and III ranks as well as the NAIA.
2011 A.P. LITTLE ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback - Dane Simoneau, senior, 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, Washburn.
Running backs - Jonas Randolph, senior, 5-10, 185, Mars Hill; Joe Glendening, junior, 5-10, 188, Hillsdale; Levell Coppage, senior, 5-9, 190, Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Linemen - Joe Long, 6-6, senior, 308, Wayne State University; Amini Silatolu, senior, 6-3, 320, Midwestern State; Darrell Leopold, senior, 6-2, 305, Delta State; Alex Smith, senior, 6-8, 320, Salisbury; Kyle Thornton, senior, 6-4, 345, North Alabama.
Receivers - Trey McVay, senior, 5-9, 188, Northeastern State; Trevor Kennedy, senior, 6-0, 200, Mercyhurst.
All-purpose player - Jonathan Woodson, junior, 5-10, 185, Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Kicker - Greg Zuerlein, senior, 6-0, 190, Missouri Western State.
Defense
Linemen - Todd Storm, senior, 6-0, 250, Michigan Tech; Aston Whiteside, senior, 6-0, 285, Abilene Christian; Chris Mayes, senior, 6-3, 253, Wesley; Tim Green, junior, 6-1, 215, Lincoln, Pa.
Linebackers - Nate Dreiling, sophomore, 6-4, 228, Pittsburg State; Chad Kilgore, senior, 6-1, 230, Northwest Missouri State; Jamarkus Gaskins, senior, 6-2, 220, Albany State.
Backs - Rontez Miles, junior, 6-1, 210, California, Pa.; Jeremy Jones, 5-10, 189, senior, Wayne State University; Alton Keaton, senior, 5-10, 190, Winston Salem State; Nick Driskell, junior, 5-10, 190, Mount Union.
Punter - Randy Weich, junior, 6-2, 250, Wayne State College.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback - Adam Neugebauer, senior, West Virginia Wesleyan.
Running backs - Nicholas Cooper, senior, Winston Salem State; Rashad Slowley, senior, Southern Connecticut State; Shawn Morris, junior, Birmingham Southern.
Linemen - Garth Heikkinen, junior, UMD; Nate Menkin, senior, Mary Hardin-Baylor; Ryan Schraeder, senior, Valdosta State; Rob Stoner, senior, Edinboro; Corey Cronk, senior, Saint Francis (Ind.)
Receivers - Michael Sweifel, senior, Dubuque; Thomas Mayo, senior, California U. (Pa.)
All-purpose player - John Brown, sophomore, Pittsburg State.
Kicker - Allen Cain, junior, Texas Lutheran.
Defense
Linemen - David Bass, junior, Missouri Western; Randy Colling, senior, Gannon; Brandon Williams, junior, Missouri Southern State; Ryan Jenkins, senior, Illinois Wesleyan.
Linebackers - Marcus Dowtin, senior, North Alabama; Deon Lacey, junior, West Alabama; Patrick McDonough, senior, Muhlenberg.
Backs - Janoris Jenkins, senior, North Alabama; Arthur Hobbs, senior, Nebraska-Kearney; Clarence Laster, senior, Southwestern Oklahoma; Derek Dreher, senior, Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Punter - Taylor Accardi, junior, Colorado Mines
THIRD TEAM
Offense
Quarterback - Alex Tanney, senior, Monmouth
Running backs - Travis Daniels, senior, North Carolina-Pembroke; David Carter, junior, Morehouse; Colin Tobin, senior, St. Thomas (Minn.)
Linemen - David Stedman, senior, New Haven; Chandler Rearden, senior, Lenoir-Rhyne; Rod Williams, junior, Northwest Missouri; Ben Hume, senior, Centre; Curtis James, junior, St. Thomas (Minn.)
Receivers - Troy Burrell, senior, Wayne State University; Michael Blodgett, senior, Monmouth
All-purpose player - Kyle Kovach, junior, Rose-Hulman.
Kicker - Kyle Major, senior, Colorado State-Pueblo.
Defense
Linemen - Jonas Celian, junior, West Virginia Wesleyan; Anthony Marascio, senior, Lycoming; Dexter Davis, junior, Friends; Connor Wright, senior, Colorado Mesa.
Linebackers - Matt Harris, sophomore, Gallaudet; Lee Meisner, senior, Colorado State-Pueblo; Shawn Louiseau, junior, Merrimack.
Backs - Dominique Davenport, senior, Delta State; Bryce Peila, junior, Western Oregon; Wayne Johnson, senior, St. Francis (Ill.); Shawn Brown, senior, The College of New Jersey.
Punter - Cote Schacherl, senior, Howard Payne.
