VERMILLION, S.D. — The Associated Press (AP) announced their 2024 NCAA FCS football All-America teams on Tuesday. The University of South Dakota football team (11-2, 7-1 MVFC) saw five honorees this season including First Team All-Americans in JJ Galbreath (TE) and Mi'Quise Grace (DL).
 
In total, 20 MVFC football student-athletes were named to the All-America teams in some capacity. Five from the league earned First Team honors with North Dakota State and South Dakota both leading the way with a pair each.
 
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
JJ Galbreath, tight end
Despite missing three games due to injury late in the year, senior tight end JJ Galbreath (Arvada, Colo.) was still a weapon for Bouman in the passing game and earning First Team All-Conference honors.
 
The regular season saw Galbreath start seven of the eight games he played in. He was a constant headache for opposing defenses, sitting second in the Valley – and on the team – with his 17.8 yards per catch mark. He sat tied for second on the team with his 20 receptions with 356 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
 
In his return to the gridiron last week against UC Davis in the FCS Quarterfinals, Galbreath brought down a pair of touchdown grabs of his six catches for 45 yards. He heads west this season with four touchdown grabs to his name.
 
Mi'Quise Grace, defensive line
The 2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Defensive Player of the Year picks up First Team All-American accolades after leading the Missouri Valley in tackles for loss (17.0) and sacks (9.5). He had a career day against Indiana State (Nov. 9) where he recorded 4.0 TFLs and 2.5 sacks in the 49-0 shutout win.
 
In the regular season, Grace (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) notched a pair of 2+ sacks games and had one sack in at least six games. He also boasted 1.5+ tackles for loss in seven games, including recording 11.5 in the final fives games of the regular season slate.
 
He heads to Bozeman, Montana with 18.0 tackles for loss with his 9.5 sacks, along with 59 tackles. He's started all 13 games for the Coyotes this season.
 
 
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Joey Lombard, offensive line
The four-year starter and captain on the Coyote offensive line picks up his first-career All-America honor, bringing home Second Team honors.
 
Lombard (Sr., Anoka, Minn.) has started all 13 games at center for South Dakota this season and has been instrumental on the line that saw the Coyotes that sat second in total yards (441.6) and rushing yards (224.3) at the end of the regular season. The solid play of the offensive line helped USD land the second-best scoring offense in the Valley this season (37.0ppg) and take home (a share) of the program's first-ever Valley title.
 
In his Coyote career, Lombard has made 47 starts on the Coyote offensive line. That mark leads all current Coyotes on the roster this season.
 
Dennis Shorter, defensive back
Shorter (Sr., Daytona Beach, Fla.) proved to be one of the best safeties in the conference this season, sitting tied for the league lead with his 12 pass break-ups. He led the MVFC with his 1.20 PBU's in the regular season and helped him to land Second Team AP All-American honors.
 
He finished the regular season third on the team with 58 tackles and forced a pair of fumbles (second in the MVFC) and was one of 10 Valley athletes to have multiple interceptions with his two. His play this season earned him First Team All-MVFC honors.
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Charles Pierre Jr., running back
The first 1,000-yard rusher in the South Dakota Division I FCS era, and first since 2007, Pierre Jr. (So., Orlando, Fla.) garnered Honorable Mention recognition.
 
The First Team All-MVFC performer led the Valley in rushing yards in the regular season (1,073). He also paced the conference with his 97.5 rushing yards per game and sat second in rushing scores (15), which lead all running backs. He was third in the MVFC at 7.6 yards per carry and recorded six 100-yard rushing games with three being 150+ yards. He garnered one MVFC Offensive Player of the Week on November 17, following the North Dakota game.
 
Entering the semifinal round at Montana State, Pierre Jr. continues to lead the team with his 1,187 rushing yards this season for 7.3 yards a carry. He sits second on the team in both carries (163) and rushing scores (15).