Opposing defensive linemen aren't the only ones who have taken notice of Garth Heikkinen.

Today, the University of Minnesota Duluth junior offensive guard was chosen to the  D2Football.com Preseason All-America first team -- his third such honor in 2011. Heikkinen, a native of Duluth who will begin his third year of starting duty this fall, earlier attained first team preseason All-American status from both the The Sporting News  and CDS (College Draft Services).

Heikkinen and his Bulldog mates were also slotted first in the D2Football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll, which was released today. UMD was followed in those ratings by No. 2 Delta State Univesity, the club it defeated in the NCAA II championship game last December, No. 3 Abilene Christian University, No. 4 Grand Valley State University and No. 5 Northwest Missouri State University. Two other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference members -- Augustana College (No. 9) and St. Cloud State University (No. 13) -- cracked the top 25.

The Bulldogs will launch their 79th season of intercollegiate football a week from this Saturday (Sept. 3) with a non-conference clash at Augustana College.