Press Release

Dec. 14, 2010

Jones and Kilgore are first-time All-Americans

Daktronics release (.pdf)

MARYVILLE, Mo.-Northwest Missouri State senior cornerback Ryan Jones (first team) and junior linebacker Chad Kilgore (second team) have been named to the 2010 Daktronics All-America Team as selected by the nation's NCAA Division II sports information directors.

Ryan Jones	Chad Kilgore

Both Bearcats are first-time recipients of All-America honors. They are the 19^th and 20^th defensive players who have thrived under the tutelage of Northwest defensive coordinator Scott Bostwick. Head coach Mel Tjeerdsma has coached 43 All-Americans in his 17 seasons at Northwest.

Jones led the MIAA and ranked ninth in the nation with six interceptions this season, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Jones was credited with 13 pass break-ups giving him 19 passes defended - the fifth-highest tally in the nation.

Jones played in 56 of Northwest's 58 games the last four seasons. He had a career-high 56 tackles this season, 199 for his career and his 14 collegiate interceptions rank fifth in program history.

Kilgore's 131 tackles this season are the second-highest tally in the nation and the eighth-highest, single-season tally in program history. Kilgore is the first Northwest linebacker to earn All-America honors since Jared Erspamer in 2007 and the fifth Bearcat linebacker to be chosen by Daktronics in its 18-year history.

Kilgore was Northwest's leading tackler in eight of 14 games this season including all three postseason contests. He had a season-high 15 stops in Northwest's quarterfinal win against Central Missouri. He posted double-digit tackles six times. Kilgore also had 6.5 tackles-for-loss, three sacks and two interceptions this season, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Kilgore has 269 tackles in his three seasons at Northwest. He stands six shy of entering the Bearcats' top 10 list of leading tacklers.