COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce senior defensive back Max Epps has been named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team on Monday morning.
 
Epps (Spring – Dekaney), who earned third team All-America honors by the Associated Press following the completion of last season, has also been named to first team all-Southland Conference, and was named on the third team All-America by Stats Perform.
 
By being named an All-American last season, Epps was the first for the program and the athletic department in the Division I era. He is now also the department's first preseason All-American in the Division I era.
 
Epps finished the regular season as the FCS leader in return yards and recorded four interceptions, which was tied for 10th in the country.
 
He was named Stats FCS National Player of the Week and Conference Player of the Week after the game at Old Dominion, and totaled 48 tackles as well as three breakups on the season.
 
The Lions begin fall camp later this week in anticipation of the season opener at San Diego State on August 31 on truTV. The first home game is slated for September 14 at 6 p.m. against Grambling.
 
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.
 
The full list of the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team can be found HERE.  
 
2024 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 225
RB – Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 195
RB – Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr., 5-8, 164
RB – Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr., 6-0, 195
WR – Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11, 200
WR – Nick DeGennaro, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-1, 190
TE – Carter Runyon, Towson, R-Sr., 6-6, 235
OL – Zack Gieg, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-1, 290
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 280
OL – Jared Penning, Northern Iowa, R-Sr.., 6-6, 338
OL – Jackson Slater, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-4, 316
OL – Marcus Wehr, Montana State, Sr., 6-4, 292

DEFENSE
DL – Brody Grebe, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 248
DL – Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 287
DL – Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly, R-Sr., 6-3, 245
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, Sr., 6-2, 243
DL – David Walker, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-3, 260
LB – Amir Abdullah, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 215
LB – Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 225
LB – Micah Davey, McNeese, R-Jr., 6-2, 239
LB – Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr., 6-4, 210
LB – Noah Martin, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 232
DB – Caleb Curtain, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 191
DB – Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, Grad, 6-0, 214
DB – Tyler Morton, Nicholls, Sr., 5-10, 165
DB – TaMuarion Wilson, Central Arkansas, Sr., 6-2, 205
DB – Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 217

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Chris Campos, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 5-11, 255
P – Aaron Trusler, Richmond, Grad, 5-8, 168
LS – Hunter Brozio, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-1, 233
KR – Donovan Wadley, Merrimack, Jr., 5-9, 180
PR – Junior Bergen, Montana, Sr., 5-11, 180
AP – ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, Sr., 5-9, 180

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 209
QB – Cam Miller, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 213
RB – Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-0, 231
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary, Sr., 5-11, 210
WR – Bo Belquist, North Dakota, Fifth Year, 6-1, 185
WR – Jared Richardson, Penn, Jr., 6-2, 215
WR – Javin Whatley, Chattanooga, Jr., 5-10, 170
TE – Cole Grossman, Montana, Sr., 6-4, 225
OL – Brandon Casey, Montana, Sr., 6-5, 305
OL – Payton Collins, Eastern Kentucky, Grad, 6-7, 301
OL – Gus Miller, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 290
OL – Evan Roussel, Nicholls, Sr., 6-2, 290
OL – Grey Zabel, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-6, 301

DEFENSE
DL – Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Jr., 6-1, 232
DL – Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr., 6-2, 230
DL – Dylan Hendricks, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 247 
DL – Marlon Taylor, Chattanooga, R-Sr., 6-2, 322
DL – Zach Kennedy, UC Davis, Sr., 6-6, 251
LB – James Conway, Fordham, Sr., 6-2, 225
LB – Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, Jr., 6-1, 217
LB – Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-0, 220
LB – Ken Standley, Mercer, Sr., 5-11, 225
LB – Riley Wilson, Montana, Jr., 6-2, 224
DB – Oshae Baker, UT Martin, Sr., 5-10, 200
DB – Kendall Bohler, Florida A&M, R-Sr., 6-0, 193
DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis, Jr., 6-1, 203
DB – Isaiah Reed, Brown, Sr., 6-0, 180
DB – Isas Waxter, Villanova, Sr., 6-2, 215

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Will Leyland, South Dakota, Jr., 5-11, 205
PK – Patrick Nations, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-0, 202
P – Brendan Hall, Montana State, Sr., 6-9, 232
LS – Caden Bolz, Missouri State, Sr., 6-0, 210
KR – Abraham Williams, Idaho, Sr., 6-1, 180
PR – Tucker Large, South Dakota State, Jr., 5-10, 180
AP – Jaylon Spears, Nicholls, Jr., 5-10, 200

THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina, Jr., 6-0, 195
QB – CJ Montes, Fordham, Jr., 6-2, 205
RB – Eli Gillman, Montana, R-So., 6-0, 206
RB – Mason King, Illinois State, Sr., 6-2, 215
RB – Marcus Yarns, Delaware, Grad, 5-11, 183
WR – Carter Bell, South Dakota, Sr., 5-11, 180
WR – Darius Cooper, Tarleton State, Sr., 6-0, 190
TE – JJ Galbreath, South Dakota, Sr., 6-4, 240
OL – Chandler Kirton, Austin Peay, R-Jr., 6-0, 291
OL – Ryder Langsdale, Lafayette, Sr., 6-7, 287
OL – Justus Perkins, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 282
OL – Nick Taiste, South Carolina State, R-Sr., 6-2, 300
OL – Jaison Williams, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-4, 315

DEFENSE
DL – Malachi Bailey, Alcorn State, Sr., 6-2, 260
DL – Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr., 6-5, 260
DL – Caleb Williams, Lamar, Sr., 5-11, 290
DL – Elijah Williams, Morgan State, Sr., 6-3, 270
DL – Brayden Wilson, Weber State, Jr., 6-5, 260
LB – Luke Clark, Furman, Sr., 6-3, 250
LB – Isaac Dowling, Mercer, Sr., 5-9, 225
LB – Rico Dozier, Alabama State, Sr., 6-0, 221
LB – Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Jr., 6-0, 225
LB – William McRainey, ETSU, R-Sr., 6-0, 228
LB – Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern Illinois, Sr., 6-1, 240
DB – Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 195
DB – Tim Coutras, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-0, 198
DB – Max Epps, A&M-Commerce, R-Sr., 5-11, 182
DB – Trevin Gradney, Montana, R-Sr., 6-0, 188
DB – Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr., 6-0, 201
DB – Edwin White Schultz, North Alabama, R-Jr., 6-1, 205

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – Griffin Crosa, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 179
PK – Owen Zalc, Dartmouth, So., 5-10, 160
P – Grant Burkett, Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 180
LS – Bobby Cleary, Campbell, Sr., 6-1, 250
KR – Michael Wortham, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-9, 177
PR – Robert McMinn, Alabama State, Jr., 5-9, 176
AP – Tyvon Edmonds Jr., Robert Morris, Sr., 5-8, 180
AP – Amar Johnson, South Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 205