VERMILLION, S.D. — More Coyotes have been honored with preseason accolades on Friday as four University of South Dakota football student-athletes have been named to Phil Steele's preseason FCS All-America Teams, led by Will Leyland as a First Team honoree at kicker.
 
The second preseason All-America pick for Leyland (R-Jr., Souderton, Pa.) rolls in this week after a Second Team selection by FCS STATS Perform earlier in the week. Phil Steele picked the sure-footed place kicker as a First Team performer after his 13-for-13 season on field goals in 2023. The Second Team All-MVFC performer in 2023 has also been tabbed as a preseason First Teamer by the conference.
 
Picking up Second Team honors is senior tight end JJ Galbreath (Arvada, Colo.) who was also one of two Yotes named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000-player watch list. He sat second on the team in receptions (36) and yards (579) a season ago, landing him 2023 Honorable Mention All-MVFC honors. He sat tied with Bell for the team lead with his five touchdown receptions, averaging 16.1 yards per catch. Earlier this week, FCS STATS Perform named also named him to their All-America teams, landing on the Third Team.
 
Both Carter Bell (Sr., Bettendorf, Iowa) and Joey Lombard (Sr., Anoka, Minn.) have been chosen as Fourth Team All-Americans by Phil Steele heading into the 2024 season.
 
Bell, who brings his talents to both the offense and on special teams as a returner, is a threat every time he touches the football. Last season, Bell led the team with his 908 receiving yards and was tied for the team lead with five touchdown receptions. Bringing down 52 receptions, he averaged 17.5 yards per catch and had a long for 63 yards.
 
Lombard was one of 11 Coyotes who started all 13 games a season ago. He helped anchor a Coyote offensive line that ranked second nationally in fewest tackles-for-loss and 11^th nationally in fewest sacks allowed. The offensive line unit he anchored put up a season-high 559 yards at Western Illinois, while surpassing 400 yards of offense four times last season, earning him Second Team All-MVFC honors.
 
Additionally, 13 Coyotes have been named to the magazine's three-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference teams. Seven Coyotes were named to the First Team. The full list of Yotes named to Phil Steele's All-MVFC teams can be found below:
 
FIRST TEAM
Carter Bell, WR
JJ Galbreath, TE
Nick Gaes, DL
Blake Holden, DL
Dennis Shorter, DB
Will Leyland, K
Cater Bell, PR
 
SECOND TEAM
Joey Lombard, OL
Joe Cotton, OL
Carter Bell, AP
 
THIRD TEAM
Aidan Bouman, QB
Travis Theis, RB
Bryce Henderson, OL