ALL-AMERICANS • DANNY BATTEN, defensive end, 2009 Batten was nearly a consensus All-American, earning first-team honors from The Sports Network and Walter Camp Football Foundation and second-team recognition from the Associated Press. During his senior season, Batten led the team with nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss, while ranking second on the squad with 85 total tackles. The co-Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, the Gilbert, Ariz., native added a forced fumble and pass breakup. Batten also finished third in the balloting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. • KYLE MINETT, running back, 2009 and 2010 Minett became the first Jackrabbit running back to earn All-America honors at the Division I level, receiving third-team recognition from the Associated Press following the 2009 season and third-team honors from both the AP and Sports Network during his senior season in 2010. A native of Ruthton, Minn., Minett became the first SDSU rusher to turn in three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. In 2009, Minett posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, tallying 1,304 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Minett ranked fifth in the Football Championshp Subdivision with an average of 108.7 yards per game, topping the 100-yard mark in seven of the team’s 12 games.
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Minett added 19 receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown. His 17 total touchdowns for 102 points ranked 13th in the FCS ranks at an average of 8.5 points per game. During his senior season in 2010, Minett recorded eight consecutive 100-yard games as he again crossed the 1,000-yard mark with 1,208 yards and 12 touchdowns. He remained on the ballot throughout the season for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, finishing 18th. For his career, Minett finished second on the all-time Jackrabbit rushing charts with 4,277 yards and scored 47 rushing touchdowns. He added 107 career receptions for 912 yards and seven scores. • RYAN MCKNIGHT, offensive line, 2010 McKnight was nearly a consensus All-America selection during his senior season, receiving honors on five different honor squads. A Sioux Falls native, McKnight anchored a relatively inexperienced Jackrabbit offensive line that allowed only six sacks all season while averaging 344 yards of total offense per game. He started nine games at center and two at left guard. McKnight received first-team recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, along with second-team honors from the Associated Press, Phil Steele Publications and Sports Network. He rounded out his postseason accolades by being named to the College Sporting News Sweet 63 FCS All-America Team, which is comprised of the players regardless of position.
2012 JACKRABBIT FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE