Football | 11/18/2025 11:20:00 AM
November 15, 2025 – The MIAA released the All-MIAA football selections and Emporia State had 13 players earn recognition, including three on First Team with
Landon Boss being named MIAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Landon Boss was unanimously selected as a First Team Linebacker, while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award. Boss tallied 101 tackles on the season, which included ten sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown. He recorded three games with multiple sacks, including four against Missouri Southern, which matched the Emporia State record in the Division II era. Boss earned MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week honors on three occasions, including after the season finale against Fort Hays State where he had two sacks, seven quarterback hurries and a season-best 14 total tackles.
Malik O'Atis was named First Team Wide Receiver after tallying 72 catches for 721 yards and seven touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore from Shawnee, Kan. scored a touchdown in seven different games, including in five of the first six. He posted back-to-back 100-yard games against Nebraska-Kearney and Pittsburg State, with his 113 yards against Nebraska-Kearney setting a new career-high. O'Atis had eight or more receptions in six games this season, with four straight to begin the season.
Dylan Davidson earned First Team honors at punter after posting a 43.6-yard average on 61 attempts this season. Davidson posted a career-long 66-yard punt against Missouri Southern and had four games with a punt of at least 60 yards. He had 18 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, and 14 punts went 50-plus yards.
Talon Wheeler earned Second Team honors along the offensive line. Wheeler had four games with double-digit knockdowns, which included a career-high 12.5 in the season opener against Minot State.
Tyler Schultze joined Wheeler on Second Team at defensive back, following Third Team honors last season. Schultze had 65 total tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, while also making a significant impact through the air, similar to 2024. The junior had one interception and 14 pass breakups, giving him 15 passes defended on the season which led the MIAA and is tied for nation in the nation.
Kingsley Bennett earned Third Team honors at wide receiver following a strong senior season. Bennett totaled 50 receptions for 633 yards and seven touchdowns. His career-highs in receptions and yards came against Angelo State, where he had eight catches for 143 yards and a touchdown, which included a career-long 90-yard reception. He scored two touchdowns in a 50-14 win over Missouri Western and also recovered a block punt for a touchdown against Washburn.
Trevion Mitchell was named Third Team along the offensive line following another consistent season for the junior from Mesquite, Texas. Mitchell earned the Squarehead Award four times this season, including against Washburn where he graded at 90% and had seven knockdowns. He also had 7.5 knockdowns in the season opener against Minot State.
Caden Dodson earned Third Team recognition after making the fourth-most field goals in the MIAA with nine and had the third best field goal percentage. Against Missouri Southern, Dodson was 4-4 on PAT's, and added a career-long 41-yard field goal. He hit two field goals of 26 and 35 yards against Minot State, while converting all three PAT attempts.
CJ Adams earned Third Team honors along the defensive line, with two sacks, one forced fumble, 25 tackles and six tackles for loss. He had four tackles in three games, including in the season opener against Minot State. Adams recorded a sack against Missouri Southern and Northwest Missouri.
Diego Cearns earned Honorable Mention recognition at running back after posting 788 rushing yards on 150 carries with seven touchdowns. His 788 yards ranks second in the MIAA and his seven touchdowns is tied for third-most. Cearns had his first career game with multiple touchdowns, scoring twice against Missouri Southern. He went over 100 yards in consecutive games, tallying 122 yards against Northwest Missouri followed by 136 against Washburn.
Gabe Booker was named Honorable Mention at linebacker. Booker had a career-best nine solo tackles against Angelo State, the first of five games with five or more total tackles on the season.
Peyton Taylor earned Honorable Mention honors at defensive back. Taylor had 25 solo tackls and 29 total with one tackle for loss. Through the air, Taylor tallied 12 pass breakups, which included a career-high five against Missouri Southern. He also had three against both Central Missouri and Washburn.
Nehemiah Figueroa joined Taylor as an honorable mention defensive back. Figueroa was third on the Hornets with 56 tackles, while also recording two interceptions and four pass breakups. His first interception came in a 50-14 win over Missouri Western, and the second came against Northwest Missouri.
2025 MIAA POSTSEASON AWARDS & ALL-MIAA TEAMS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jackson Berry, Pittsburg State, QB, Sr.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Montriel Lee, Central Oklahoma, Sr.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Landon Boss, Emporia State, LB, Jr.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Clayton Power, Northwest Missouri, Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Austin Schmitt, Pittsburg State, K, Jr.
CO-FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Donovyn Omolo, Central Missouri, QB
CO-FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Zechariah Owens, Northwest Missouri, QB
COACH OF THE YEAR: John McMenamin, Northwest Missouri
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Jackson Berry – Pittsburg State
Running Back – Zahmari Palode-Gary – Pittsburg State
Wide Receiver – Malik O'Atis – Emporia State
Wide Receiver – Kuron Parchmon – Pittsburg State
Wide Receiver – Hogan Wasson – Central Missouri
Tight End/Fullback – Dominique Dunn – Central Oklahoma
All-Purpose Back – Jaylen Cottrell – Central Oklahoma
Offensive Line – Drew Daniels – Pittsburg State
Offensive Line – Montriel Lee – Central Oklahoma*
Offensive Line – Kaleb McCullough – Northwest Missouri
Offensive Line – Wes Merriman – Northwest Missouri
Offensive Line – Josh Shaw – Fort Hays State
Offensive Line – Carter Stanchfield – Pittsburg State
Kicker – Austin Schmitt – Pittsburg State
Kick/Punt Returner – Dominic Myers – Northwest Missouri
*Indicates unanimous selection
(team reflects ties in voting)
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Gaven Haselhorst – Fort Hays State*
Defensive Line – Xavier Morrow – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Line – Clayton Power – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – Jeremy Sharp – Pittsburg State
Linebacker – Landon Boss – Emporia State*
Linebacker – Carter Edwards – Northwest Missouri*
Linebacker – John Johnson – Fort Hays State*
Linebacker – Jack Puckett – Central Oklahoma
Defensive Back – Ife Current – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Back – Shane Fredrickson – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Back – Kamble Haverkamp – Washburn
Defensive Back – Reggie King, Jr. – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Jordan Rogers – Pittsburg State*
Punter –
Dylan Davidson – Emporia State
*Indicates unanimous selection
(team reflects ties in voting)
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Jett Huff – Central Oklahoma
Running Back – William Mason – Central Oklahoma
Wide Receiver – Jaden Jude – Nebraska Kearney
Wide Receiver – Luke Mathews – Northwest Missouri
Wide Receiver – Draper Parker – Missouri Southern
Tight End/Fullback – Cale Cormaney – Fort Hays State
All-Purpose Back – Dominic Myers – Northwest Missouri
Offensive Line – Mac Garner – Central Oklahoma
Offensive Line – Carter Klein – Nebraska Kearney
Offensive Line – Shawn Martinez – Central Missouri
Offensive Line – Harrison Merriman – Northwest Missouri
Offensive Line – Talon Wheeler – Emporia State
Kicker – Will Peacock – Central Missouri
Kick/Punt Returner – Jaylen Fuksa – Pittsburg State
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Grant Finley – Missouri Western
Defensive Line – Nile Schuett – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – James Smith – Pittsburg State
Defensive Line – Johnny Wilson – Central Oklahoma
Linebacker – Ben Einess – Northwest Missouri
Linebacker – JC Heim – Washburn
Linebacker – Connor Johnson – Central Oklahoma
Linebacker – Steven Ward – Pittsburg State
Linebacker – Parker Wise – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Back – Jaylen Fuksa – Pittsburg State
Defensive Back – Trey Holmes – Missouri Western
Defensive Back – Willie Rice – Central Oklahoma
Defensive Back – Tyler Schultze – Emporia State
Punter – Jake Zeller – Washburn
(team reflects ties in voting)
ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Donovyn Omolo – Central Missouri
Running Back – Brandon Hall – Missouri Western
Wide Receiver – Chase Allen-Jackman - Washburn
Wide Receiver – Kingsley Bennett – Emporia State
Wide Receiver – Greyson Holbert – Pittsburg State
Tight End/Fullback – Luke Niggemann – Pittsburg State
All-Purpose Back – Nathan Glades – Missouri Southern
Offensive Line – Porter Dannevik – Fort Hays State
Offensive Line – Connor Holt – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Coby James – Pittsburg State
Offensive Line – Luke Karns – Central Missouri
Offensive Line – Trevion Mitchell – Emporia State
Kicker – Caden Dodson – Emporia State
Kick/Punt Returner – Crew Myers – Missouri Western
*Indicates unanimous selection
ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – CJ Adams – Emporia State
Defensive Line – Mike Harris – Central Missouri
Defensive Line – Jordan Pigram – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Line – Parrish Terry – Fort Hays State
Defensive Line – Deantee Young – Missouri Western
Linebacker – Zach Bergmann – Missouri Southern
Linebacker – Parker Bowen – Northwest Missouri
Linebacker – Garrett Hormann – Central Missouri
Linebacker – Brecken Manus – Missouri Western
Defensive Back – Ja'Mareion Gipson – Nebraska Kearney
Defensive Back – Mike Harrison – Northwest Missouri
Defensive Back – Malachi Howard – Central Missouri
Defensive Back – Antwon Jenkins, Jr. – Northwest Missouri
Punter – Marty Mormino – Nebraska Kearney
(team reflects ties in voting)
HONORABLE MENTION (ESU only)
EMPORIA STATE –
Diego Cearns, RB;
Gabe Booker, LB;
Peyton Taylor, DB;
Nehemiah Figueroa, DB
