2019 MVFC All-Academic Team (.pdf)

ST. LOUIS—South Dakota football has a program-record four players on the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team announced Wednesday. Included in the tally is junior linebacker Jack Cochrane who is a first-team honoree for the second time.
 
Nominees for the team had to be starters or important reserves, participated in at least 50 percent of his team's games, and carry a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20. Additionally, nominees must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and completed at least one calendar year at their institution.
 
League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.
 
In addition to Cochrane, tight end Connor Herrmann, quarterback Austin Simmons and punter Brady Schutt were named to the team. Wide receiver Caleb Vander Esch, long snapper Dalton Godfrey and offensive linemen Mason Scheidegger and Alex Jensen earned honorable mention.
 
Information on each of South Dakota's honorees follows:
 
Cochrane of Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a two-year starter and 2019 team captain who earned all-Valley honors this week. He led the Valley with 106 tackles including three sacks and seven tackles-for-loss. He led USD with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
 
Herrmann, also of Mount Vernon, Iowa, started all 12 games at tight end for the Coyotes. He caught 23 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns. Highlighting those efforts was a 6-catch, 76-yard and 2-touchdown effort against Houston Baptist. Herrmann also aided a run game that averaged 185 yards.
 
Simmons, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is a two-year starter and team captain who earned all-Valley honors this week. He led the Valley in several categories including passing yards (2,953), pass touchdowns (27), points responsible for (200) and total offense (295.1).
 
Schutt, of Orange City, Iowa, was named the first-team all-Valley punter this week. He finished the regular season as the nation's fourth-leading punter with a Valley-best 45.1-yard average. Schutt and the Coyotes led the Valley and ranked seventh nationally in net punting with a 40.1-yard average.
 
Vander Esch of San Jose, California, was named an all-Valley receiver this week. He ranked fourth in the conference in receiving yards (651) and touchdown catches (6) and had the sixth-most receptions (45). Vander Esch led USD with 14.5 yards per catch, and four of his six touchdowns were more than 20 yards.
 
Godfrey of Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a two-year starter who was named Valley Player of the Week following the team's win against South Dakota State. In addition to his work for the nation's fourth-leading punter and top kicker in terms of scoring in Valley play, Godfrey had six tackles on punt coverage and forced and recovered a fumble vs. SDSU.
 
Scheidegger of Fonda, Iowa, was an honorable mention all-Valley pick this week. He has started all 36 games over the last three seasons and is a 2019 team captain.
 
Jensen, of Plymouth, Minnesota, started all 12 games at left tackle after making the conversion from tight end. He was named Valley Lineman of the Week following USD's win against Youngstown State. Jensen and Scheidegger led an offense that produced the third-most first downs in the nation, led the Valley in passing and had three 300-yard efforts on the ground.