BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Football defensive end Marcus Hansen has been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's 2024 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, the Beavers were slated fifth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
Hansen, a junior defensive end from Waseca, Minn., earns the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year nod after earning multiple All-American and All-NSIC titles last fall. Last season Hansen was tabbed with the NSIC's Defensive Player of the Year honor after totaling 51 tackles (31 solo, 20 assisted), 19 tackles-for-loss (88 yards), 10 sacks and three forced fumbles. Nationally, he earned a spot on the Associated Press All-America Second Team, D2Football.com Elite 100 squad, and Don Hansen All-America Honorable Mention list. Hansen is a Cliff Harris Award Finalist and D2CCA All-Super Region 4 First Team member. He is the first to receive the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year nod since Gabe Ames was selected in 2021.
 
"Marcus is the returning NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, and I expect him to pick up where he left off last fall," said head coach Brent Bolte. "His motor and his demeanor on the field is something truly special, he puts it all out there on every rep and plays the game with physicality and violence."
 
Across the line of scrimmage, center Jake Gannon also made the NSIC's Players to Watch list as he enters his junior season. "His football IQ and athletic ability for a big man has allowed him to be one of the best at the position, not only in the NSIC but in Division II Football," said Bolte. 
 
As a team, the Beavers were tabbed with the fifth spot in the NSIC's Preseason Coaches' Poll. Last season, the team earned the top position in the same poll and finished the 2023 campaign 9-3 (8-2 NSIC) placing third in the conference and making its third-straight run to the NCAA Division II playoffs. They spent the entire season ranked through D2Football.com and the AFCA. Breaking the top 10 ranks multiple times, the Beavers earned their highest ranking in program history at No. 9 in the AFCA poll and No. 7 for D2Football.com.
 
"I think what excites me most about this team is the amount of experience we return throughout the 2-deep on both sides of the ball," said Bolte. "Although we did lose 20 seniors that helped lead us to our third-straight NCAA tournament run, we have been fortunate to develop and retain our guys within the program." He continued, "Overall, I think our strengths will reside in the trenches on both sides of the ball with the amount of talent returning in those groups."
 
NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll (first place votes)

1. Minnesota Duluth (8)
2. Augustana (3)                             
3. Minnesota State (1)
4. Wayne State
5. Bemidji State (1)
6. MSU Moorhead
7. Winona State
8. Sioux Falls
9. Northern State
10. Concordia- St. Paul
11. Southwest Minnesota State
12. Minot State
13. University of Mary

 
The Beavers have begun fall training camp and prepare for their week one matchup against the Michigan Tech Huskies on Aug. 29 at Chet Anderson Stadium. Season tickets for all six of the Beavers' home games are on sale now through Hometown Ticketing and single-game tickets will be made available in the coming weeks. 
 
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).
 
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