PITTSBURG, KAN. - South Dakota senior offensive lineman Brian Alderson was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year and defensive tackle A.J. Schable was selected to the first-team defense to headline a list of five Coyotes chosen to the 2005 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-American Team, which was released on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Alderson, a senior from Hartford, S.D., was named by the Football Gazette as the top offensive lineman in NCAA Division II. Schable, a senior from Ida Grove, Iowa, now has been selected to five first-team All-American teams. In addition, USD senior quarterback Wesley Beschorner of Lohrville, Iowa, and junior running back Stefan Logan of Miami, Fla., were chosen to the second-team offense on the Football Gazette squad. Wide receiver Derek Gearman of Lennox, S.D., was an honorable mention All-American selection at wide receiver on the team.

In total, the squad included 155 players, including student-athletes from 68 schools. The announcement of this year's team marks the 18th season that the Football Gazette has selected an NCAA Division II All-American squad. In the selection process, all-region squads were selected, including first-team and second-team all-region teams from four geographic regions (Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest). The All-American team was selected by vote of a 25-member national panel.

Alderson, who was named to AP's Little All-American team for the second-straight season(second team, 2005; third team, 2004), earned selection to his fifth All-American team this year and now has seven All-American honors in the last two seasons. A starter for the final 33 straight games of his career, Alderson was named the Co-NCC Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2005 as he helped USD finish first in the nation and the NCC in both points per game (49.7) and total offense (583.3 ypg). Alderson, who was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award (Division II Lineman of the Year) accumulated 52 knockdown blocks and allowed one quarterback sack in 11 games this season. In the past two seasons, he recorded 110 knockdown blocks. He also participated in the Cactus Bowl, the Division II All Star game on Jan. 6.

Schable, who led the nation in quarterback sacks with a school record 19, was also selected to the Associated Press Little All-American first-team. Schable was the first USD player selected to the AP Little All-American first-team since 1988 (Doug Vander Esch). Schable, who also has been named first-team All-American by D2football.com, College Sports Report and Daktronics, Inc., led the nation with 1.7 sacks per game. Schable was a first-team selection on the All-NCC squad and several all-region teams. He finished the season with 60 tackles, including 43 solo stops and 22.5 tackles for loss, which ranked fourth nationally (2.0 per game). He also participated in the Cactus Bowl where he had a quarterback sack, two tackles for loss and six tackles.

Beschorner, the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II Player of the Year, was named to his fourth All-American squad (D2football.com, College Sports Report, Daktronics, Inc., and the Football Gazette). Beschorner concluded his collegiate career by being named the Offensive MVP of the Cactus Bowl, the Division II All Star game on Jan. 6. In that game, he accounted for four TDs, including three by pass and threw for 300 yards (12-of-17). In little more than a half of play, Beschorner set or tied three records while also rushing for 87. Named USD's Henry Heider Team MVP, Beschorner set more than 29 school records, and was selected as the North Central Conference Back of the Year for 2005. Beschorner led the nation in pass efficiency at 215.2, becoming just the second quarterback ever in Division II to record at least a 215 rating or better (Curt Anes, 221.3, 2001, Grand Valley State). He had a 9.75 TD to interception ratio (39 TDs to four interceptions). At the end of the regular season, Beschorner had a nation-best 39 passing TDs and 47 combined TDs. Beschorner ranked fifth in the nation in total offense (318.2 yards per game) and his per play average of 10.22 yards set a Division II record (Curt Anes, Grand Valley State, 10.1 yards per play, 2001). Beschorner completed 172 of 255 passes for 3,049 yards in 2005. He finished with a completion rate of 67.5 percent and scored at least two TDs (rush or pass) in all 11 games this season. Beschorner, who rushed for 451 yards, also recorded two 100-yard rush games this season. Beschorner leaves USD as its career total offense leader with 7,476 yards on 967 plays for a 7.3 average, all school records. This season, he had a school-record 3,500 yards on 343 plays in total offense. He also became USD's all-time passing leader with 6,240 yards. A three-year starter, he accumulated a school-record 87 overall TDs, including a school-record 64 by pass.

Logan, who ran for a NCC-best 1,750 yards, was selected to his fourth All-American squad (D2football.com, College Sports Report, Daktronics, Inc., and Football Gazette) while also earning the Dave Triplett Offensive team MVP. Logan led the NCC and was fourth nationally in rushing with 1,751 yards on 217 carries for a league-best 8.1 yard average and 11 TDs. Logan, who had a 98-yard TD run and a 90-yard TD reception - both school records - also caught 26 passes for 428 yards and two TDs. Named All-NCC for the third-straight season, Logan led the league in all-purpose yards with 213.9 yards per game, a total which was third nationally. Logan set USD's career rushing mark with 4,251 yards in three seasons. He also established the school mark for career all-purpose yards with 5,189 yards. Logan averaged 159.2 yards per game, which was fourth in the nation and first in the NCC. Logan, who is the only running back in school history with three straight 1,000-yard rushing season, has averaged over 132 yards per game during his career (32 games). In addition, he has 24, 100-yard rushing games, another school-record. Logan had 10 100-yard rushing games in 11 games this season. Dating back to last season, Logan surpassed the century mark in rushing yardage in 16 of his last 17 games. Earlier this season, Logan set two single-game records with the best rushing performance (295 yards, 13 att., 3 TDs) in school history in a 63-24 win over Truman State at the DakotaDome on Sept. 3.

Gearman finished with a league-best 110.5 receiving yards per game. He had 44 receptions for a school-record 1,215 yards and a school-record 14 TDs. Gearman, a four-time track & field All-American, finished with a 27.6 yards per catch receiving average, which also set a USD record (players with at least 25 receptions in a season). He also set a career TD record (18) this season.

The 2005 football teams ranks as one of the most electrifying and successful squads in school history. Ranked in the nation's top-25 during the entire season, USD put together its' second-consecutive 9-2 season and was ranked eighth in the D2football.com poll and 11th in the American College Football Coaches Association final regular season polls. But more importantly, the Coyotes won a share of the North Central Conference for the first time since the 1978 team claimed the outright league crown. The Coyotes opened with a 7-0 start, which was the best since the 1902 team had a 9-0 mark. The 2005 squad, which set more than 65 school records, was the nation's most prolific offense by producing a Division II-best 583.3 yards in total offense and 49.7 points per game or a total of 547 points. USD scored 77 TDs, which also led NCAA Division II. South Dakota has put together a school-record 13-game home winning streak at the DakotaDome, including 12-0 during the past two seasons. The 13 straight wins at the Dome is the best ongoing home mark among all NCC members.