In the 84-year history of University of Minnesota Duluth football, 18 Bulldogs have attained Associated Press Little All-America honors. Count Peter Bateman among them.

Bateman, a senior offensive tackle, became the latest member of that distinguished group this month when he was accorded first team distinction.  The A.P. Little All-America teams are comprised of players from the NCAA Division II and III ranks as well as all NAIA schools.

It marked the second 2016 All-American citation for Bateman, who three weeks ago was named to to the American Football Coaches Association All-American second team.

Bateman, a La Crescent, Minn. native, had started all 50 games over the past four seasons before being sidelined with a lower body injury for UMD's 2016 finale at Emporia State University in the opening round of the NCAA II playoffs.  Rated as the No. 1 offensive tackle in NCAA Division II prior to the season by HERO Sports, Bateman is the first UMD offensive lineman to earn All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors four times (first team in 2014-16 and second team in 2013). He allowed just one quarterback sack during his career and in 2016 anchored a line that paved the way for on offense that ranked second nationally in regular season yards per game and first downs and fifth in scoring.

Bateman, who was a nominee for the 2016 Gene Upshaw NCAA II Lineman of the Year Award, is one of eight Bulldogs to make the A.P. Little All-American first team and the latest to do so since 2014 (fellow offensive lineman Andrew Muer).

2016 A.P. Little All-America Team