Northern State University picked to finish seventh in NSIC football poll
Northern State University is picked to finish third in the North Division of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, according to a poll of the league's football coaches.
The Wolves are picked to finish seventh overall of 14 NSIC teams.
Augustana University is picked to win the South Division and the overall conference title.
More: Northern State University plans expanded beer sales at football games this season
University of Sioux Falls running back Thuro Reisdorfer, who went to high school at Sioux Falls Washington, was named the South Division preseason offensive player of the year. A 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior, he rushed for 1,114 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Augustana safety Eli Weber of Dawson, Minn., was selected as the division's preseason defensive player of the year. The 6-1, 205-pound senior is a two-time All-NSIC first team pick entering his final season with 171 career tackles. Last year he had 63 stops and two interceptions.
University of Mary wide receiver Danny Kittner earned the North Division's preseason offensive player of the year honor. Kittner led all levels of college football last year with 128 receptions for 1,723 yards.
Brad Dati, a senior linebacker for the University of Minnesota-Duluth, is the North’s preseason defensive player of the year. He had 92 tackles and five sacks last year for the Bulldogs.
More: 1953 Northern State football team was dominant. Here's how they crushed the competition.
Augustana won its first outright conference title in 62 years by going 9-2 last year.
The Wolves open their season at 6 p.m. Sept 1 against Upper Iowa at Dacotah Bank Sta.
NSIC football preseason poll
Augustana (5) – 153
Bemidji State (4) – 145
Minnesota-Duluth – 142
Minnesota State, Mankato (3) – 136
Sioux Falls (2) – 136
Winona State – 109
Northern State – 94
Wayne State – 88
Minnesota State, Moorhead – 72
Mary – 71
Concordia-St. Paul – 41
Minot State – 36
Southwest Minnesota State – 26
Upper Iowa - 25
North Star Athletic Association preseason football poll
Presentation College is picked to finish sixth in the North Star Athletic Association preseason poll. Coaches picked Dickinson Sate to win the league.
1. Dickinson State (6) – 36
T2. Valley City State (1) - 28
T2. Waldorf– 28
4. Dakota State – 22
5. Mayville State – 15
6. Presentation – 12
7. Iowa Wesleyan – 6
The Saints open their season Aug 25 at home against Mount Marty University.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Northern State picked to finish seventh in Northern Sun football poll
