GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Three North Dakota football players earned STATS Perform FCS Preseason All-America honors, the organization announced Monday. Senior edge rusher Lance Rucker was named to the first team, while offensive lineman Liam Becher and junior edge rusher Kaden Vig earned second-team recognition.
The preseason honors mirror the postseason recognition the trio received from the Missouri Valley Football Conference following North Dakota's 8-6 season under first-year head coach Eric Schmidt in 2025.
Rucker is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he led the MVFC with 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He also recorded a career-high 3.0 sacks in North Dakota's 31-6 victory over Tennessee Tech in the opening round of the FCS playoffs.
Becher enters his senior season with 26 consecutive starts at left tackle. He started all 12 games as a sophomore in 2024 before anchoring the left side of the offensive line in all 14 contests last season.
Vig finished his sophomore season with 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks. In North Dakota's 35-7 victory over Northern Iowa, he recorded 2.0 sacks and returned a strip-sack fumble 63 yards for a touchdown.
The Fighting Hawks open the 2026 season at home against Long Island on Thursday, Aug. 27.
For more information on North Dakota football, follow on social media @UNDFootball or visit FightingHawks.com.
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