North Dakota State QB Trey Lance leads the way on the Athlon 2020 Preseason FCS All-America Team — one of seven returnees from last year's postseason squad.  Lance became the first freshman to receive the Walter Payton Award as the FCS offensive player of the year and helped the Bison capture their third straight national title.  The Missouri Valley Football Conference matched the Big Sky Conference with the most total selections as each league had seven student-athletes on the first-team units.

Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Coverage (PDF)

Other returning All-Americans are wide receiver Samori Toure (Montana); offensive linemen P.J. Burkhalter (Nicholls), Liam Fornadel (James Madison) and Dillon Radunz (North Dakota State); and defensive backs Anthony Adams (Portland State) and Kordell Jackson (Austin Peay).

The talent remains widespread across the subdivision with the 26 All-Americans representing 19 schools and 11 conferences. Schools with multiple selections are Illinois State and Weber State with three each and Montana, North Dakota State and Sam Houston State with two each.

Leaders by Conference
Missouri Valley - 7
Big Sky - 7
Southland - 3

 
Athlon Sports' 2020 Preseason FCS All-America Team
 
Offense
QB    Trey Lance (6-3, 221, So.) North Dakota State
RB    Josh Davis (5-9, 195, Jr.) Weber State
RB    Jah-Maine Martin (5-10, 215, Sr.) North Carolina A&T
WR   Cade Johnson (5-10, 180, Sr.) South Dakota State
WR   Samori Toure (6-3, 190, Sr.) Montana
TE    Dalton Kincaid (6-5, 230, Jr.) San Diego
OL    P.J. Burkhalter (6-3, 330, Sr.) Nicholls
OL    Liam Fornadel (6-4, 308, Sr.) James Madison
OL    Drew Himmelman (6-10, 315, Sr.) Illinois State
OL    Dillon Radunz (6-6, 300, Sr.) North Dakota State
OL    Ty Whitworth (6-4, 300, Sr.) Weber State

Defense
DL    Malik Hamm (6-3, 260, Jr.) Lafayette
DL    Trace Mascorro (6-1, 275, Sr.) Sam Houston State
DL    Romeo McKnight (6-5, 260, Sr.) Illinois State
DL    Elerson Smith (6-7, 245, Sr.) Northern Iowa
LB    Troy Andersen (6-4, 233, Sr.) Montana State
LB    Bryson Armstrong (5-11, 212, Sr.) Kennesaw State
LB    Willie Eubanks III (6-2, 215, Sr.) The Citadel
DB    Anthony Adams (6-0, 180, Jr.) Portland State
DB    Brandon Easterling (6-0, 203, Sr.) Dayton
DB    Kordell Jackson (5-11, 163, Sr.) Austin Peay
DB    Devon Taylor (6-1, 200, Sr.) Illinois State

Special Teams
PK    Trey Tuttle (5-9, 190, Sr.) Weber State
P      Matt McRobert (6-2, 195, Sr.) Sam Houston State
KR    Malik Flowers (6-2, 195, Sr.) Montana
PR    Montrell Washington (5-10, 170, Sr.) Samford

Compiled by Craig Haley, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Haley has covered the FCS level since 1999 and is the national writer for www.fcs.football. He appears frequently on radio shows and podcasts to discuss everything FCS. Follow him on Twitter @CraigHaley.