4 Beavers named to D2Football.com Elite 100 Team

BEMIDJI — D2Football.com announced the addition of four Bemidji State football players to this season’s D2Football Elite 100 Team, including fifth-year senior center Jake Gannon, senior Bubba Peters, fifth-year senior Stephen Hoffman and redshirt junior Marcus Hansen.

The players were selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from numerous sitting head coaches as well as professional football scouting veteran Josh Buchanan. The team includes first and second team selections for offense, defense and special teams, as well as 25 squad players for offense and defense. Squad players are equivalent to honorable mention selections in similar national recognition lists.

Gannon, a graduate student from Franklin, Wis., was the starting center in all 14 games for the Beavers this season and earned an Elite 100 First Team Offense nod. A team captain, Gannon was named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Preseason Watch List’s Second Team Offense prior to the start of the season.

Following the season, Gannon was named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Team Offense and Academic Team of Excellence, D2CCA All-Super Region 4 First Team, D2CCA All-American Second Team, AP All-American First Team and was a finalist for the 2024 Gene Upshaw Award, an accolade given to the top lineman in NCAA Division II football.

Gannon helped BSU's running backs to 2,515 total rushing yards this year, with 23 touchdowns and an average of 179.6 rushing yards per game. Bemidji State’s offense ranked in the top 50 of all NCAA Division II programs in third down conversions (47th), fourth down conversions (22nd), completion percentage (48th), first downs (14th), rushing offense (27th), sacks allowed (29th), tackles for loss allowed (17th) and time of possession (25th).

Gannon’s blocking also helped sophomore running back Jayden Washington rush for over 1,000 career yards in just his second season (1,034). The Beaver offensive line also propelled senior quarterback Sam McGath to 18th in the nation for passing touchdowns and 14th for points responsible for. BSU allowed just 1.21 sacks per game and 4.29 tackles for a loss per game.

Peters marked a career-high season in his final year with the Beavers to earn a D2Football Elite 100 Squad Offense honor. After the season, he earned his first All-Super Region Four Second Team selection, an All-NSIC First Team nod and was named to the Academic Team of Excellence. Peters was also named to the AFCA’s All-American Second Team Offense, the first All-American nod in his career.

Peters finished the season with 1,144 receiving yards, over 68 receptions and 13 receiving touchdowns. The senior from White Bear Lake averaged 4.86 receptions per game with 81.71 receiving yards per game and 16.82 per catch. He holds the top spot on the team with 78 points scored in 14 games this season.

Peters also cracked the national rankings in numerous statistical categories. He finished sixth nationally in receiving touchdowns, seventh in receiving yards, 23rd in receiving yards per game, 47th in receptions per game, 126th in scoring, 55th in total points scored and 33rd in total touchdowns. He led all BSU receivers in yards, average yards per catch, touchdowns, average yards per game and marked the longest reception of the season at 69 yards.

Two Beaver defensive linemen, Hoffman and Hansen, found their names on the Elite 100 list on the Squad Defense. Hoffman finished tied for third on the team in total tackles, marking 63 total, with 24 solo and 39 assisted. He grabbed 13.5 tackles for a total loss of 60 yards and 8.5 sacks with 49 sack yards.

Additionally, Hoffman proved to be a menace to opposing quarterbacks, breaking up two passes, earning 16 quarterback hurries and collecting three forced fumbles. Hoffman finished his final season ranked 46th in the NCAA for total sacks and at 104th in tackles for loss. Prior to the season, he was named to the Elite 100 Preseason Watch List on the Squad Defense. Following his standout season, Hoffman was named to the All-NSIC First Team, his third-straight first-team nod.

Hansen finished his career with the Beavers in fourth place in total tackles, earning 61. He led the program with 14.5 tackles for a loss for 68 yards and was second with 7.5 sacks for 46 yards. He also tallied three pass breakups, one forced fumble and 18 quarterback hurries. Hansen also ranked in the top 100 for sacks at 78th and tackles for loss at 87th. He was the only BSU defenseman to be named to the D2CCA All-Super Region Four Team and was also a Harlon Hill nominee, the preseason NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-NSIC First Team.

The Bemidji State defensive line proved to be one of the best in the country this season, ranking in the top 50 in numerous categories. BSU held 46th in third down conversion defense, 37th in fourth down conversion defense, 18th in blocked punts, 36th in fumbles recovered, 17th in passing yards allowed, 24th in red zone defense, 24th in rushing defense, 22nd in scoring defense, 18th in defensive passing efficiency, 19th in sacks, 44th in tackles for a loss and ninth in total defense.

BSU made program history with its first Super Region 4 Tournament championship game berth. The team took on fellow NSIC foe Minnesota State in Mankato and lost 27-23.