2018 PHIL STEELE FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM (FULL LIST)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 13, 2018) – Three players from the Northern Arizona University football team have been named to the 2018 Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America Teams, which were released recently.
NAU junior quarterback
Case Cookus and senior wide receiver
Emmanuel Butler earned third-team recognition, while senior safety
Wes Sutton was honored with four-team status. The trio were part of 25 Big Sky players named to the publication's All-America squads.
Cookus returns after starting all 12 games last season and leading the Lumberjacks' offense to a total of 5,170 yards – which ranked as the 21st-highest total nationally. Cookus tossed for 3,413 yards (10th nationally/2nd Big Sky) and 22 touchdowns against only six interceptions in 2017.
The junior signal caller enters the 2018 season with 72 career passing touchdowns, over halfway to the FCS record of 140 currently held by Grambling State's Bruce Eugene (2001-05). His 72 passing TDs currently rank as the third-highest total in Lumberjack history and are 22 shy of tying the program's all-time leader Jason Murrietta's total of 94 (2003-06).
Butler enters the 2018 campaign just 49 receptions, 501 yards and two touchdowns away from tying Northern Arizona's career records in each of those categories. He already holds the single-season records for yards (1,208) and touchdowns (16), which he set in 2015.
Sutton leads arguably the most experienced and strongest part of the Lumberjacks' defense entering the 2018 season which ranked first in the Big Sky Conference during 2017 (19th nationally) in passing yards allowed and 14th nationally (2nd/Big Sky) with 14 interceptions. Sutton ranked third on the squad with 72 tackles (8.0 TFLs) and posted a pair of interceptions last season.
The Lumberjacks open the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at UTEP before hosting Eastern Washington in the home opener on Sept. 8 at the Skydome.
