Roste, Williams Headline MIAC Football Postseason Awards

By Austin Lagesse - Director of Athletic Communications

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Senior quarterback Jaran Roste was named the MIAC Football Offensive Player of the Year while becoming a four-time All-MIAC honoree. Freshman defensive back Devin Williams also headlines the awards being named the MIAC Football Rookie of the Year. 

The Royals totaled 15 All-Conference honorees and four were named to the honorable mention squad.

Beginning this year, the MIAC adjusted its awards for an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, changing from the single Player of the Year award. It is also is the first season with the Rookie of the Year award. In addition, there will be a single All-Conference squad this is accompanied by honorable mention honors as well.

Roste is the first Royal with a major honor since quarterback Erik Peterson in 2013. A dynamic quarterback, the Alexandria, Minn. native threw for 2,018 yards with a MIAC-leading 69.7 completion percentage (152-218-6) during the regular season. He threw for 16 touchdowns while averaging 224.2 yards a game in the air. The other side of the dual threat was his 356 rushing yards on 48 carries. His MIAC leading 7.4 yards per carry paced him to four rushing touchdowns. Roste also becomes just the 11th player in MIAC history to be a four-time All-MIAC honoree.

Roste is also good four a few punts here and there. He has booted it away four times this year in the regular season averaging 49.5 yards. While three made it inside the 20, two have trickled all the way down to the one-yard line.

Jaran Roste runs down field with a defender on his back
Devin Williams returns a pick on a PAT

Williams has played a key role in the Bethel secondary appearing in nine games and collecting 30 tackles, 23 of which were solo. He added six pass breakups and one forced fumble. His biggest play of the year came against Augsburg picking off the Auggies potential game-winning two-point conversion returning it 100 yards for the two-point score. The Fridley, Minn. native also earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors.

OFFENSIVE ALL-CONFERENCE

Joey Kidder catches a touchdown
Joey Kidder
Micah Niewald running into the endzone
Micah Niewald

Joey Kidder • So. • WR • New Richmond, Wis. 
• 45 catches for 742 yards, seven TDs.
• 16.5 yards a catch.
• Two-time All-MIAC honoree.

 Micah Niewald • So. • WR • Fridley, Minn.
• 66 catches for 896 yards which was third in the MIAC, seven TDs.
• Averaged 89.6 yards a game.
• First All-MIAC honoree after being named to honorable mention squad in 2021.

EVAN GINTER
Evan Ginter
JASON MILLER
Jason Miller
TRAVIS SINCLAIR
Travis Sincliar

Evan Ginter • Jr. • OL • Chisago Lakes, Minn. // Jason Miller • Sr. • OL • Lakeville, Minn. //Travis Sinclair • Sr. • OL • Rogers, Minn.

• Ginter and Sinclair are back on the All-MIAC squad for the second straight year. 
• Miller earns his first All-MIAC accolade.
• Trio part of an offensive front that only allowed seven sacks ranking as the 10th fewest nationally.
• Paved the way for BU to average 152.1 rushing yards and 265.3 yards passing.
• Five times they did not allow a single sack of the Royals’ QB.

DEFENSIVE ALL-CONFERENCE

Aidan Thomas
David Brandt
Colin Curtis

Aidan Thomas • Jr. • DL • Sioux Falls, S.D.

• Six tackles for loss totaling 33 yards.
• Four sacks, third most in the MIAC, for a total of 28 yards and two quarterback hurries.
• 19 tackles, nine of which were solo.
• Becomes a two-time All-MIAC honoree.

David Brandt • Sr. • LB • Littleton, Colo.
• 14 tackles, seven solo.
• Three sacks totaling 17 yards.
• Forced two fumbles this year and one fumble recovery.
• Six QB hurries.
• First career All-MIAC honor.

Collin Curtis • Sr.• LB • Woodville, Wis.
• 33 tackles, 12 of which were solo.
• Totaled on sack this year and 1.5 tackles for loss. 
• One pass breakup, two QB hurries and one fumble recovery in the regular season
• First career All-MIAC honor.

Jacob Holmen full body
Jacob Holmen
Nate Farm
Matthew Feldick

Jacob Holmen • So. • LB • Spicer, Minn.
• 47 tackles where five of those have been tackle for losses
• 8 QB hurries, one pass breakup and one forced fumble
• Two-time All-MIAC honoree

Nate Farm • So. • DB • Arden Hills, Minn.
• 68 tackles in the regular season, 55 of which were solo.
• Recorded four tackles four loss and had two pass breakups 
• Two-time All-MIAC honoree

Matthew Feldick • Sr. • DB • St. Micahel, Minn.
• 85 tackles in the regular season that ranked fifth in the MIAC. 56 of those tackles were solo.
• Recorded two interceptions returning them for a total of 52 yards.
• Had three pass breakups and a pair of QB hurries.
• Two-time All-MIAC honoree, was named to the honorable mention squad in 2019

SPECIAL TEAMS ALL-CONFERENCE

Hugo Cifuentes kicks a field goal
Hugo Cifuentes
Will Eliason punting
Will Eliason

Hugo Cifuentes • So. • K • Balaton, Minn.
• Has not missed an extra point this year going 45-for-45 in the regular season.
• 8-of-10 on field goal attempts including a career-high 39-yard make against St. Olaf
• He is 5-of-6 on FGs between 20-29 yard and is 3-of-4 on 30-to-39-yard field goals
• Two-time MIAC Special Teams Player of the Week this year.
• First All-MIAC accolade

Will Eliason • So. • P • Ann Arbor, Mich. 
• Averaged 37.9 yards a punt. Has punted it away 22 times for a total of 835 yards
• His longest punt of the year was 61 yards with three of his punts going over 50 yards in the regular season.
• Four of his punts found their way inside the 20-yard line.
• First All-MIAC accolade

Nic Jones returns a punt
Nic Jones

Nic Jones • Sr. • RET • Fort Worth, Texas
• Returned 15 punts for a total of 89 yards, averaging 5.9 yards a return
• Returned seven kickoffs for a total of 121 yards for a 17.3 average.
• First career All-MIAC accolade

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION

Bryce Kunkle
Reece Pantila
Thomas Wurdemann

Bryce Kunkle • Jr. • RB • Yuba, Calif.
• 125 carries for 525 yards rushing. Averaged 4.2 rushing yards a carry.
• Seven touchdowns while averaging 65.6 yards a game rushing
• Two-time All-MIAC Honorable Mention honoree

Reese Pantila • So. • DL • Woodbury, Minn.
• 20 tackles, seven of which were solo.
• Has recorded two sacks totaling 11 yards.
• One QB hurry and one blocked kick.

Thomas Wurdemann • Jr. • LB • North Branch, Minn.
• 34 tackles, 17 solo
• 1.5 sacks for a total of 12 yards which were a part of his 2.5 tackles for loss this year.
• One fumble recovery to go along with three QB hurries. 
• Second MIAC honor after being named to the MIAC Second Team in 2021.

Read More