SEWARD, Neb. – Chosen as a second team NAIA All-American by the American Football Coaches Association in 2020, Lane Napier has been identified as one of the top players in the nation this preseason. College Football America Yearbook named Napier to its 2021 NAIA Starting Lineup. Napier is one of nine players from GPAC teams to appear on the list of preseason honorees (full team below).
A four-year starter at inside linebacker, Napier has collected four first team All-GPAC accolades while piling up more than 400 career tackles. Last season in five games, Napier notched a team high 54 tackles in addition to three tackles for loss and a sack. He posted a season high 17 tackles versus Morningside. In his career, Napier has totaled 401 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and an interception. After leading the entire NAIA with 142 tackles in 2018, the Associated Press named Napier a first team All-American.
Napier and the Bulldogs are slated to open up the 2021 season on Sept. 4 with a trip to Morningside. Concordia will make its home debut on Sept. 11 when Briar Cliff visits Bulldog Stadium.
2021 College Football America NAIA Starting Lineup
Offense
Pos., Name, School, Class
QB Tyson Kooima, Northwestern (IA), Sr.
RB Malik Nesbitt, Avila, Jr.
RB Ke’Von Johnson, Roosevelt, Jr.
WR Reid Jurgensmeier, Morningside, Sr.
WR Anthony Turner, Grand View, Sr.
TE Austin Harris, Midland, Jr.
OL Keegan Martin, Bethel (KS), Jr.
OL Andrew Rupcich, Culver-Stockton, Sr.
OL PJ Schubert, Eastern Oregon, Jr.
OL Alex Huisman, Dordt, Sr.
C Matt Dey, Dickinson State, Sr.
Defense
Pos., Name, School, Class
DL Jacob Garcia, Ottawa (KS), Sr.
DL Teon Burroughs, Reinhardt, Sr.
DL Bernard Buhake, St. Ambrose, Sr.
DL Marshaun Jones, Valley City State, Sr.
LB Josh Seabolt, Bethel (KS), Sr.
LB Lane Napier, Concordia (NE), Sr.
LB Nate Wieland, Grand View, Sr.
DB Brenden Flowers, Grand View, Sr.
DB Cory Rahman, Southeastern, Sr.
DB Noah Van’t Hof, Northwestern (IA), Sr.
DB Riley Tucker, Arizona Christian, So.
Special Teams
Pos., Name, School, Class
P Ben VonGunten, Indiana Wesleyan, Sr.
PK Slater Gifford, Waldorf, Sr.
KR Dalton Tremayne, Midland, Jr.
PR Caleb Schweigart, Morningside, Jr.
AP Michael Storey, Northwestern (IA), Jr.