Football | 12/17/2025 1:04:00 PM
December 17, 2025-You can now add All-American to the resume for Emporia State linebacker
Landon Boss. He was named a First-Team All-American linebacker by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA), and the Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday.
Boss was a unanimously selection as a First-Team All-MIAA linebacker, while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in the Association. The Osage City, Kan. native tallied 101 tackles on the season, which included ten sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown. He led the MIAA in sacks and tackles for loss while ranking second in the league in solo tackles and fourth in total tackles. His 69 solo tackles are the fifth most in the nation, his 17.5 tackles for loss rank sixth in the nation while his ten sacks are 12th in the nation.
The junior 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. He was named the NCAA Division II National Defensive Player of the Week from D2Football.com, Wayne Cavadi at ncaa.com, and Walter Camp Gridiron1880 after recording 11 tackles, four sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in the Hornets 31-24 victory over Missouri Southern.
Boss finished the season with ten sacks to rank fourth all-time on the Emporia State single season list. His 18 tackles for loss on the season move him into a tie with Greg Harvey (1993), Leon Brigham (1997) and Gerard Clemons (1998) for fourth on the Emporia State single season TFL list. He tied Patrick Cook (1995) and Gerard Clemons (1997) for the school record with four sacks in a game.
He becomes the seventh Hornet to earn AFCA All-American honors with five of them coming under Coach
Garin Higgins. Six MIAA players were named AFCA All-American. Boss is joined on the first-team by Pittsburg State defensive back Jordan Rogers and Northwest Missouri defensive lineman Clayton Power on defense along with Central Missouri receiver Hogan Wasson and Central Oklahoma lineman Montriel Lee on offense. Northwest Missouri offensive lineman Kaleb McCullough was named to the second-team.
The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams – University Division and College Division – were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. The AFCA added a second All-America team in 2016. From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. A third wide receiver was added in 2024.
Boss is one of three players from the MIAA to earn D2CCA All-American honors. He is joined on the First-Team by Pittsburg State's Rogers while Powers of Northwest Missouri earned second team honors.
Emporia State has had a total of 18 D2CCA (formerly Daktronics) All-American honors as selected by the College Sports Communicators with seven of them coming under coach Higgins.
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
Boss is one of five MIAA players honored by the AP and is joined by UCO's Lee and PSU's Rogers on the first team while NWMSU's Powers and Pitt State offensive lineman Carter Stanchfield earned second-team honors.
This is the 22nd time Emporia State has had an AP All-American and the sixth time a player has been named All-America by the AP under Coach
Garin Higgins.
The All-America teams are selected for the AP by a panel of sports information directors representing the four Division II super regions. Prior to 2017 season it was known as the AP Little All-America team and comprised of players from NCAA Division II, Division III and the NAIA.
2025 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America - First Team
Defense
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| DL |
Clayton Power |
6-2 |
283 |
Sr. |
Northwest Missouri St. |
John McMenamin |
Stilwell, Kan. (Blue Valley) |
| DL |
Kenyon Garner |
6-4 |
230 |
So. |
Livingstone |
Sean Gilbert |
Okeechobee, Fla. (James S. Rickards) |
| DL |
Michael Shimek |
6-1 |
246 |
Sr. |
Ashland |
Doug Geiser |
North Canton, Ohio (Hoover) |
| DL |
Ean Rhea |
6-2 |
235 |
Jr. |
Emory & Henry |
Quintin Hunter |
Glade Spring, Va. (Patrick Henry) |
| LB |
Landon Boss |
6-1 |
230 |
Jr. |
Emporia St. |
Garin Higgins |
Osage City, Kan. (Osage City) |
| LB |
Ja'Kobe Clinton |
6-2 |
230 |
R-Sr. |
West Florida |
Kaleb Nobles |
Sanford, Fla. (Seminole) |
| LB |
Clark Griffin |
5-9 |
185 |
Sr. |
Harding |
Paul Simmons |
Mountain Brook, Ala. (Mountain Brook) |
| DB |
Jordan Rogers |
5-10 |
188 |
R-Sr. |
Pittsburg St. |
Tom Anthony |
Bellmead, Tex. (La Vega) |
| DB |
Xavier Walton |
5-10 |
200 |
Jr. |
Angelo St. |
Jeff Girsch |
San Antonio, Tex. (Harlan) |
| DB |
Darnell Stephens |
6-1 |
186 |
Gr. |
Fort Valley St. |
Marlon Watson |
Conyers, Ga. (Rockdale County) |
| DB |
Justin Payoute |
5-7 |
170 |
Sr. |
Ferris St. |
Tony Annese |
Miami Gardens, Fla. (Champagnat Catholic) |
Offense
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| QB |
Gavin Sukup |
6-1 |
188 |
Sr. |
UIndy |
Chris Keevers |
Seward, Neb. (Seward) |
| RB |
Curtis Allen |
6-2 |
215 |
Sr. |
Virginia Union |
Alvin Parker |
Petersburg, Va. (Prince George) |
| RB |
Jeffery Jones |
5-9 |
175 |
Fr. |
New Mexico Highlands |
Kurt Taufa'asau |
St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) |
| WR |
Hogan Wasson |
5-10 |
180 |
R-So. |
Central Missouri |
Josh Lamberson |
Colleyville, Tex. (Colleyville) |
| WR |
Jaylen Himes |
5-9 |
177 |
Fr. |
Wingate |
Rashaan Jordan |
Statesville, N.C. (Providence Day) |
| WR |
TJ Chukwurah |
5-11 |
190 |
R-Jr. |
Black Hills St. |
Josh Breske |
Arlington, Tex. (Juan Seguin) |
| TE |
Luke Dehnicke |
6-3 |
205 |
R-Fr. |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Curt Wiese |
Andover, Minn. (Andover) |
| OL |
Slade Edwards |
6-2 |
290 |
R-Sr. |
Central Washington |
Chris Fisk |
Yelm, Wash. (Yelm) |
| OL |
Montriel Lee |
6-2 |
285 |
Sr. |
Central Oklahoma |
Adam Dorrel |
Del City, Okla. (Del City) |
| OL |
Joe Cooper |
6-7 |
320 |
R-Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
Shawn Lutz |
East Berlin, Pa. (Bermudian Springs) |
| OL |
Ryne Buttz |
6-4 |
302 |
Sr. |
UIndy |
Chris Keevers |
Decatur, Ill. (Mount Zion) |
| OL |
Tim Anderson |
6-6 |
305 |
Sr. |
Ferris St. |
Tony Annese |
Rochester, Mich. (Adams) |
Specialists
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| PK |
Manaki Watanabe |
6-0 |
182 |
R-Fr. |
Ashland |
Doug Geiser |
Novi, Mich. (South Lyon East) |
| P |
Brodie Eisenbraun |
6-2 |
195 |
R-Sr. |
Chadron St. |
Jay Long |
Sturgis, S.D. (Brown) |
| AP |
Tye Roberson |
5-8 |
185 |
Sr. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
Doug Socha |
Laurens, S.C. (Laurens) |
| LS |
Graham Carter |
5-11 |
195 |
Sr. |
Missouri S&T |
Andy Ball |
Liberty, Mo. (North) |
2025 D2CCA All-America First-Team
DEFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
Conference |
| DL |
Michael Shimek |
Ashland |
Sr. |
North Canton, Ohio |
G-MAC |
| DL |
Khailib Davis |
Ferris State |
Sr. |
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
GLIAC |
| DL |
Israel Nwokocha |
Benedict |
Gr. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
SIAC |
| LB |
Clark Griffin |
Harding |
Sr. |
Mountain Brook, Ala. |
GAC |
| LB |
Domonique Davis |
Central State |
Sr. |
Atlanta, Ga. |
SIAC |
| LB |
Tristan Exline |
UT Permian Basin |
Jr. |
China Spring, Texas |
Lone Star |
| LB |
Landon Boss |
Emporia State |
Jr. |
Osage City, Kan. |
MIAA |
| CB |
Ahlston Ware |
Ferris State |
So. |
Ocoee, Fla. |
GLIAC |
| CB |
Marvelous Owens |
Northeastern State |
Sr. |
Chico, Calif. |
Independent |
| S |
Justin Payoute |
Ferris State |
Sr. |
Miami Gardens, Fla. |
GLIAC |
| S |
Jordan Rogers |
Pittsburg State |
R-Sr. |
Bellmead, Texas |
MIAA |
| P |
Brodie Eisenbraun |
Chadron State |
R-Sr. |
Sturgis, S.D. |
RMAC |
OFFENSE
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
Conference |
| QB |
Jack Strand |
MSU Moorhead |
Sr. |
Bloomer, Wis. |
NSIC |
| RB |
Curtis Allen |
Virginia Union |
Sr. |
Petersburg, Va. |
CIAA |
| RB |
Andrew Miller |
Harding |
Jr. |
Searcy, Ark. |
GAC |
| WR |
TJ Chukwurah |
Black Hills State |
R-Jr. |
Arlington, Texas |
RMAC |
| WR |
Gage Florence |
MSU Moorhead |
Sr. |
Sawyer, N.D. |
NSIC |
| TE |
Luke Dehnicke |
Minnesota Duluth |
R-Fr. |
Andover, Minn. |
NSIC |
| OL |
Tim Anderson |
Ferris State |
Sr. |
Rochester, Mich. |
GLIAC |
| OL |
Jake Mitchell |
Harding |
Sr. |
Greenhill, Ala. |
GAC |
| OL |
Jarvis Windom |
Ferris State |
Sr. |
Detroit, Mich. |
GLIAC |
| OL |
Cobe Williams |
Harding |
So. |
The Woodlands, Texas |
GAC |
| OL |
Mike Ericson |
Harding |
Sr. |
Pea Ridge, Ark. |
GAC |
| RS |
Shea Ruddy |
Hillsdale |
Jr. |
Temperance, Mich. |
G-MAC |
| PK |
Manaki Watanabe |
Ashland |
R-Fr. |
Novi, Mich. |
G-MAC |
First-team offense
Quarterback — Jack Strand, MSU Moorhead, senior, 6-5, 240, Bloomer, Wisconsin.
Running back — Curtis Allen, Virginia Union, senior, 6-2, 215, Petersburg, Virginia.
Running back — Andrew Miller, Harding, junior, 6-1, 225, Searcy, Arkansas.
Lineman — Tim Anderson, Ferris State, senior, 6-6, 305, Rochester, Michigan.
Lineman — Joe Cooper, Slippery Rock, redshirt senior, 6-7, 320, East Berlin, Pennsylvania.
Lineman — Montriel Lee, Central Oklahoma, senior, 6-2, 285, Del City, Oklahoma.
Lineman — Jake Mitchell, Harding, senior, 6-2, 270, Greenhill, Alabama.
Lineman — Avery Swinton, Catawba, senior, 6-2, 285, Jacksonville, Florida.
Tight end — Luke Dehnicke, Minnesota Duluth, redshirt freshman, 6-3, 205, Andover, Minnesota.
Wide receiver — TJ Chukwurah, Black Hills State, redshirt junior, 5-11, 190, Arlington, Texas.
Wide receiver — Gage Florence, MSU Moorhead, senior, 5-10, 185, Sawyer, North Dakota.
Wide receiver — Reggie Retzlaff, CSU Pueblo, redshirt senior, 6-3, 215, Corona, California.
All-purpose — JayJay Jordan, Slippery Rock, junior, 5-11, 180, Reading, Pennsylvania
Kicker — Manaki Watanabe, Ashland, redshirt freshman, 6-0, 182, Novi, Michigan.
First-team defense
Lineman — Kenyon Garner, Livingtone, sophomore, 6-4, 230, Okeechobee, Florida.
Lineman — Israel Nwokocha, Benedict, graduate, 6-2, 250, Detroit.
Lineman — Ean Rhea, Emory & Henry, junior, 6-2, 235, Glade Spring, Virginia.
Lineman — Michael Shimek, Ashland, senior, 6-1, 246, North Canton, Ohio.
Linebacker — Landon Boss, Emporia State, junior, 6-1, 230, Osage City, Kansas.
Linebacker — Ja'Kobe Clinton, West Florida, redshirt senior, 6-2, 230, Sanford, Florida.
Linebacker — Tristan Exline, UT Permian Basin, junior, 6-1, 215, China Spring, Texas.
Defensive back — Marvelous Owens, Northeastern State, senior, 5-11, 195, Chico, California.
Defensive back — Justin Payoute, Ferris State, senior, 5-7, 170, Miami Gardens, Florida.
Defensive back — Jordan Rogers, Pittsburg State, redshirt senior, 5-10, 188, Bellmead, Texas.
Defensive back — Darnell Stephens, Fort Valley State, graduate, 6-1, 186, Conyers, Georgia.
Punter — Brodie Eisenbraun, Chadron State, redshirt senior, 6-2, 185, Sturgis, South Dakota.
Return specialist — Tye Roberson, Lenoir-Rhyne, senior, 5-8, 185, Laurens, South Carolina.
Emporia State D2CCA All-Americans
2025 Landon Boss, LB, First-Team
2024 Tyler Kahmann, WR, First-Team
2024 Jaaron Joseph, DB, Second-Team
2023
Tyler Kahmann, WR, Second-Team
2017 Justin Marcha, P, First-Team
2015 Brent Wilson, QB, Second-Team
2012 Adam Schiltz, TE, Second-Team
2003 Tyler Paul, RB, Second-Team
2003 Justin Gray, K, Second-Team
2002 Dontaye McCoy, SS, First-Team
2001 Dontaye McCoy, SS, Second-Team
2000 Dontaye McCoy, SS, Second-Team
1999 Lester McCoy, WR, Second-Team
1998 Brian Shay, RB, First-Team
1998 John Hesse, OL, First-Team
1997 Brian Shay, RB, First-Team
1996 Brian Shay, RB, First-Team
1991 Quincy Tillmon, RB, First-Team
Emporia State AFCA All-Americans
2025
Landon Boss, LB, First-Team
2024
Tyler Kahmann, WR, First-Team
2022 Xavier Cason, OL, Second-Team
2017 Justin Marcha, P, Second-Team
2010 Danny Webb, DL, First-Team
2002 Dontaye McCoy, SS, First-Team
1998 Brian Shay, RB, First-Team
Emporia State AP All-Americans
| First Team |
|
|
| Landon Boss |
LB |
2025 |
| Tyler Kahmann |
WR |
2024 |
| Justin Marcha |
P |
2017 |
| Austin Morton |
K |
2015 |
| Dontaye McCoy |
SS |
2002 |
| Brian Shay |
RB |
1998 |
| John Hesse |
OL |
1998 |
| Brian Shay |
RB |
1997 |
| Brian Shay |
RB |
1996 |
| Quincy Tillmon |
RB |
1991 |
| Bruce Cerone |
SE |
1969 |
| Bruce Cerone |
SE |
1968 |
| Keith Caywood |
RB |
1941 |
| Shorty Long |
G |
1940 |
| James Fraley |
FB |
1935 |
| Second Team |
|
|
| Tyler Kahmann |
WR |
2023 |
| Daniel Webb |
DE |
2010 |
| Justin Gray |
PK |
2004 |
| Lester McCoy |
WR |
1999 |
| Wade LeDuc |
TE |
1991 |
| Chuck Sanger |
E |
1950 |
| Harry Kline |
E |
1937 |
