UNI football: Penning, Brinkman, Cook earn spots on AFCA FCS Coaches AA Team and Athlon FCS AA Team

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Three Panthers earned spots on the AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team, and two cracked the list for the Athlon FCS All-America Team.

Trevor Penning and Jared Brinkman were among those who made the Athlon FCS All-America Team, and the duo joined Matthew Cook on the AFCA FCS Coaches’ All-America Team. This is the second consecutive season for Brinkman earning the Athlon FCS All-America honor.

This is Penning’s fifth and sixth all-American teams. Penning has been named to HERO Sports’ FCS All-American First Team Offense, the 2021 Associated Press All-America Football Team, the FCS ADA Announces 2021 All-America Team and the Stats Perform FCS All-America Team.

Penning was the only offensive lineman to be named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision. He was the first player to be invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He was part of an offensive line that allowed 36 sacks and a loss of 231 yards on the season and went 25-for-30 on red zone attempts-scores. He helped the team gain 1,686 rushing yards and 2,679 passing yards. Penning is from Clear Lake, Iowa, and majored in movement and exercise science. He is the son of Jeff and Teresa Penning. His brother, Jared, also plays on the UNI football team.

Brinkman is a two-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Year, having received his second consecutive honor this year. He was also named to the 2021 Associated Press All-America Team, the first team list for HERO Sports’ FCS All-American Team and the Stats Perform FCS Team. Brinkman notched 22 solo sacks and assisted on 51 this season. He has 15 tackles for a loss of 50 yards. He had 14 against South Dakota on Oct. 16. Brinkman forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Brinkman is a senior majoring in physical education. He is a graduate of Regina High School in Iowa City, Iowa. He is the son of Mike and Carla Brinkman.

Cook is a placekicker out of Cedar Falls, Iowa. He also was named to the second team HERO Sports’ FCS All-American Team and the Stats Perform FCS Team. He was the only FCS player to notch two field goals beyond 50 yards in a single game the week he earned MVFC honors. He ranked first in MVFC and fourth in nation for field goal percentage with 90.5{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf}. He was second in the MFVC and fourth in nation for field goals per game with 1.73. He was perfect on PATS on the season, going 22-22 and averages 58.3 yards on kickoff. Cook is the son of James and Cindy Cook. He is majoring in movement and exercise science.

 

Athlon Sports 2021 FCS Postseason All-America Team

OFFENSE
QB – Eric Barriere (6-1, 210, Sr.) Eastern Washington
QB – Cole Kelley (6-7, 245, Sr.) Southeastern Louisiana
RB – Quay Holmes (6-1, 220, Jr.) ETSU
RB – Pierre Strong Jr. (5-11, 205, Sr.) South Dakota State
WR – Xavier Gipson (5-9, 170, Jr.) Stephen F. Austin
WR – Tyler Hudson (6-2, 195, So.) Central Arkansas
TE – Tucker Kraft (6-5, 255, So.) South Dakota State
OL – P.J. Burkhalter (6-3, 330, Sr.) Nicholls
OL – Trevor Penning (6-7, 321, R-Jr.) Northern Iowa
OL – Cole Strange (6-6, 301, R-Sr.) Chattanooga
OL – Cordell Volson (6-7, 313, Sr.) North Dakota State
OL – Nick Zakelj (6-5, 325, Sr.) Fordham

DEFENSE

DL – Jared Brinkman (6-2, 290, R-Sr.) Northern Iowa

DL – Isaiah Chambers (6-5, 251, Grad) McNeese

DL – James Houston (6-1, 225, Sr.) Jackson State

DL – Isaiah Land (6-4, 215, R-Jr.) Florida A&M

LB – Troy Andersen (6-4, 235, Sr.) Montana State

LB – Patrick O’Connell (6-2, 225, R-Jr.) Montana

LB – Forrest Rhyne (6-1, 235, grad) Villanova

LB – Stone Snyder (6-3, 240, Jr.) VMI

DB – Markquese Bell (6-3, 205, R-Sr.) Florida A&M

DB – Christian Benford (6-1, 205, Sr.) Villanova

DB – Justin Ford (6-2, 190, R-Jr.) Montana

DB – Darius Joiner (6-2, 200, Sr.) Western Illinois

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK – Ethan Ratke (5-10, 186, R-Sr.) James Madison

P – Brian Buschini (6-0, 219, R-Fr.) Montana

LS – Kyle Davis (6-0, 219, R-Jr.) James Madison

KR – Rashid Shaheed (6-0, 180, Sr.) Weber State

PR – Warren Newman (5-8, 175, Sr.) Jackson State

AP – Montrell Washington (5-10, 170, Sr.) Samford