VERMILLION, S.D. — More preseason All-America honors dropped on Wednesday afternoon with Charles Pierre Jr. and Chris Dixon named Second Team Preseason All-Americans by FCS Football Central.  
 
Second Team - Charles Pierre Jr., running back
After missing most of 2025 with an injury, the 2024 All-American running back is primed to make his return to the gridiron in 2026 while being named a Second Team Preseason All-American by FCS Football Central.
 
The First Team All-MVFC back was the first Coyote in the Division I FCS era to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, hitting the mark with his season-high 173 yards in the win at North Dakota (Nov. 16, 2024). He ran for 1,244 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season in South Dakota's two-back system that saw both him and Theis each rush for 1,000 yards.
 
Entering the 2026 campaign, Pierre Jr. sits fourth in the FCS era in career 100-yard rushing games with six. Four of those 100-yard rushing games for him have come in front of the home crowd at the DakotaDome.
 
Additionally, he sits sixth all-time in the FCS era in career rushing yards (1,716) and looks to become the sixth Division I FCS era Coyote to rush for 2,000+ career yards. He sits fifth in rushing touchdowns at 21, closing in on second-best in 2026 (26, Noah Shepard).
 
Second Team – Chris Dixon, defensive line
After waiting his turn for two seasons in a loaded Coyote defensive line room, senior Chris Dixon exploded onto the scene last season, moving into a starting role for the Coyotes in the interior of the defensive line to be named a Second Team Preseason All-American this season.
 
Starting all 15 games in his first season as a starter, Dixon sat seventh on the team with his 69 tackles along with four tackles for loss. He also led the defensive line unit with four pass break-ups to go along with three quarterback hurries to his name.
 
The native Canadian hit a season-best eight tackles three times last season (Iowa State, Lamar, and Northern Iowa).