BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Associated Press has named Bemidji State University Football center Jake Gannon to its AP All-American First Team with Marcus Hansen taking Second Team honors. This is Gannon's second All-American award and Hansen's second honor from the Associated Press. 
 
Prior to this honor, Gannon was named to the D2CCA All-Super Region 4 First Team Offense and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Team. During preseason, Gannon was selected to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Preseason Watch List as part of its Second Team Offense. 
 
Gannon's blocking in the center of the Beavers' offensive line led BSU to the national rankings and to the third round of the NCAA Division II Football playoffs. As a unit, the Beaver offense finished 47^th in the NCAA for 3^rd down conversion percentage, 22^nd in second down conversion, 48^th in completion percentage, 14^th in first downs offense, 27^th in rushing offense, 29^th in sacks allowed, 17^th in tackles for loss allowed, 25^th in time of possession and 35^th in winning percentage. 
 
Along with the Beaver offense dominating as a unit, the Beaver offensive line helped quarterbacks Sam McGath and Connor Carver, along with the BSU running back unit, to the national rankings as individuals. McGath finished 55^th and 42^nd in completion percentage and completions per game. He also finished 17^th in passing touchdowns, 29^th in passing yards, 14^th in points responsible for and 39^th in points responsible for per game. Running Jayden Washington finished 58^th in rushing yards and 103^rd in rushing yards per game.
 
Giving McGath time in the backfield allowed for Beaver wide receivers time to break into the rankings as well. Wide receiver Brice Peters, now an AFCA All-American, finished sixth in receiving touchdowns, 7^th in receiving yards, 32^nd in total touchdowns, 23^rd in receiving yards per game and 54^th in total points scored. 

Defensively, Hansen helped the Beavers to marking one of the best defensive teams in program history, along with making national rankings in the NCAA. He finished the season with 34 solo tackles, 27 assisted and 61 total. Hansen proved to be a nightmare in opponents' backfields, marking 14.5 tackles for a loss of 68 yards and 7.5 sacks for 46 yards. Additionally, he forced one fumble and marked 18 quarterback hurries, plus three pass breakups. Hansen finished 78^th in the NCAA for sacks and 87^th in tackles for loss. 
 
The Beaver defense finished the season as the No. 10 defensive unit in the NCAA. They cracked the top fifty in 3^rd down conversion defense (45^th), 4^th down conversion defense (37^th), blocked punts (18^th), fumbles recovered (36^th), passing yards allowed (17^th), red zone defense (47^th), rushing defense (24^th), scoring defense (22^nd), team passing efficiency defense (19^th), team sacks (19^th), team tackles for loss (44^th) and winning percentage (35^th).
 
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).