AFCA puts Wortham, Dowler on All-America first team

Montana State safety Caden Dowler and Montana all-purpose star Michael Wortham were among 26 FCS players named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association Thursday.

Dowler, who has picked up six interceptions in MSU’s last five games – returning two for scores – was one of four defensive backs; Wortham, a senior with a school-record 2,295 yards receiving, rushing and returning, was the single all-purpose pick. 

The AFCA released a second team as well: Grizzlies running back Eli Gillman landed there. 

The quarterbacks chosen were Youngstown State junior Beau Brungard (first team) and Western Carolina’s Taron Dickens, a sophomore. The first-team running backs were Josh Dye of Southern Utah and LJ Phillips, Jr., of South Dakota.  

Both are sophomores; Phillips entered the transfer portal on Thursday. 

The Big Sky was well-represented on the second team, with tight end Ian Simpson, receiver Samuel Gbatu, Jr., and defensive end Jacob Psyk of UC Davis and offensive lineman Stryker Rashid of Idaho State. 

The full team can be found at afca.com. 

Wortham and Gillman are piling up the honors. Wortham was selected first-team All-America at special teams by Stats Perform and FCS Football Central and first-team all-purpose by the Associated Press. 

Gillman was first-team at running back by FCS Football Central and second team by the other three organizations.  

Dowler has now been named first-team All-America four times, and Montana State offensive lineman Titan Fleischmann, three.

MSU’s Justin Lamson was second-team QB by Stats Perform; Paul Brott was named second-team twice and fellow Bobcat D-lineman Kenneth Eiden IV, once. 

Here’s a look at the Grizzlies and Bobcats All-America honors:

Montana

AFCA

First Team Special Teams

AP – Michael Wortham

Second Team Offense

RB – Eli Gillman

Stats Perform

First Team Special Teams

AP – Michael Wortham

Second Team Offense

QB – Keali’i Ah Yat

RB – Eli Gillman

OL – Cannon Panfiloff

Associated Press

First Team Offense

AP – Michael Wortham

Second Team Offense

RB – Eli Gillman

Honorable Mention

QB – Keali’i Ah Yat

OL – Cannon Panfiloff

OL – Dillon Botner

TE – Evan Shafer

LB – Peyton Wing

FCS Football Central / Sports Illustrated

First Team Offense

RB - Eli Gillman

First Team Special Teams

AP - Michael Wortham

Second Team Offense

QB - Keali’i Ah Yat

Second Team Defense

LB - Peyton Wing

Third Team Offense

OL - Cannon Panfiloff

Third-Team Special Teams

PR - Drew Deck

Montana State 

AFCA 

First Team Defense

DB — Caden Dowler 

Stats Perform 

First Team Offense

OL — Titan Fleischmann 

First Team Defense

DB — Caden Dowler 

Second Team Offense

QB — Justin Lamson 

Second Team Defense

DL — Paul Brott 

Third Team Defense

DL — Kenneth Eiden IV 

Freshman Offense

OL — Braden Zimmer 

Associated Press 

First Team Offense

OL — Titan Fleischmann 

First Team Defense

DB — Caden Dowler 

Second Team Defense

DL — Paul Brott 

Honorable Mention

OL — Braden Zimmer 

OL — JT Reed 

AP — Justin Lamson 

DL — Kenneth Eiden IV 

FCS Football Central/SI 

First Team Offense

OL — Titan Fleischmann 

First Team Defense

DB — Caden Dowler 

Second Team Defense

DL — Kenneth Eiden IV 

Third Team Offense

RB — Julius Davis 

Third Team Defense 

DL — Paul Brott