Bucknell University Athletics
Sam Milligan Named to 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team
7/13/2026 10:18:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell football wide receiver Sam Milligan has been named to the 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team, Craig Haley announced on Monday morning.
The three Stats Perform All-America squads consist of players from all 13 conferences and see 101 total student-athletes from 53 different schools. Milligan is the lone Bison representative and one of six Patriot League student-athletes to make the cut.
This preseason honor comes after Milligan earned Patriot League First Team Special Teams Non-Specialist for the second consecutive season and Patriot League Second Team Wide Receiver for his 2025 performance. Milligan had a standout season that kicked off with him breaking Bucknell's single-game receiving touchdown record with four td's against VMI on Saturday, Sept. 13. He also found a spot at sixth in the record book in receiving yards in a single game with 192 against the Keydets. Milligan ended the season with 975 receiving yards, which ranks third in the Bucknell football record book for single-season receiving yards as well as top-10 in the FCS. The then junior also led the Patriot League in receiving touchdowns with 10 which ranked top-10 in FCS. Milligan saw time on all aspects of the field including as a wide receiver, special teams non-specialist, quarterback, running back and defensive back. The receiver rushed the ball 18 times for 63 yards and one rushing touchdown. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, went 2-for-2 in passing and recorded seven solo tackles throughout the season.
Below is the complete list of the 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team:
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB – Beau Brungard, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-0, 215
RB – Eli Gillman, Montana, R-Sr., 6-0, 213
RB – Adam Jones, Montana State, Jr., 6-1, 200
RB – Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr., 5-11, 205
WR – Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, R-Sr., 6-4, 190
WR – Samuel Gbatu Jr., UC Davis, Sr., 5-10, 185
TE – Ryder Kurtz, Cornell, Sr., 6-5, 233
OL – Quinten Christensen, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-5, 300
OL – Titan Fleischmann, Montana State, Sr., 6-4, 300
OL – Erik Gray, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 6-1, 256
OL – Stryker Rashid, Idaho State, R-Sr., 6-5, 295
OL – Joshua Sales Jr., Austin Peay, R-Sr., 6-5, 312
Defense
DL – Andrew Huff, Lamar, Sr., 6-2, 230
DL – Lance Rucker, North Dakota, Sr., 6-3, 230
DL – Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-Jr., 6-3, 258
DL – Mike Wells, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-3, 250
LB – Jake Dalmado, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-0, 215
LB – Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-0, 230
LB – Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 240
LB – Peyton Wing, Montana, Sr., 6-0, 229
DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 220
DB – Caden Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 205
DB – Abu Kamara, Yale, Sr., 6-1, 208
DB – Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State, R-Jr., 5-10, 180
Special Teams
PK – Myles Sansted, Montana State, Sr., 6-3, 188
P – Ben Shrewsbury, VMI, Sr., 6-2, 190
LS – Hayden King, UT Martin, R-Jr., 5-10, 205
KR – Ja'briel Mace, Villanova, Jr., 5-9, 175
PR – Bugs Mortimer, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 5-10, 177
AP – Taco Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 5-9, 190
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB – Keali'I Ah Yat, Montana, R-Jr., 6-1, 200
QB – Justin Lamson, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 210
RB – Victor Dawson, Illinois State, Sr., 5-11, 220
RB – Charles Pierre Jr., South Dakota, R-Sr., 5-10, 210
WR – Sam Milligan, Bucknell, Sr., 6-3, 220
WR – Lofton O'Groske, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-0, 210
WR – Eric Weatherly, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 5-8, 183
TE – Winston Williams, UC Davis, Sr., 6-4, 245
OL – Liam Becher, North Dakota, Sr., 6-7, 306
OL – Desmeal Leigh, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-7, 325
OL – Aidan Moe, Tarleton State, Sr., 6-8, 310
OL – Aidan Palmer, Lehigh, 5th Year, 6-4, 300
OL – Luke Roaten, Abilene Christian, R-Sr., 6-6, 300
Defense
DL – Chris Benton, The Citadel, Sr., 6-0, 250
DL – Camden Byrd, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-3, 245
DL – Dawson Ripperda, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 255
DL – Kaden Vig, North Dakota, Jr., 6-6, 253
LB – Brodie Carroll, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 240
LB – Rohan Davy, Rhode Island, Jr., 5-10, 205
LB – Eli Ennis, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 6-2, 220
LB – Carter Glassmyer, Richmond, Grad, 6-1, 224
LB – Cullen McShane, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-2, 230
DB – Damien Henderson, Harvard, Sr., 6-0, 180
DB – Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington, R-Jr., 6-1, 192
DB – Jaeden Jones, Monmouth, Jr., 6-0, 190
DB – Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina, R-Sr., 5-10, 160
DB – Dylan Rowsey, Murray State, Sr., 6-1, 195
Special Teams
PK – Luke Barnes, Elon, Jr., 6-6, 220
P – Max Pelham, South Dakota State, Grad, 6-1, 195
LS – Maddox Boughton, Northern Colorado, R-So., 6-0, 225
KR – DeAndre Buchannon, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-10, 175
PR – Elijah Kennedy, North Carolina A&T, R-Sr., 5-11, 180
AP – Brayden Smith, Mercer, Jr., 5-10, 185
THIRD TEAM
Offense
QB – Chris Parson, Austin Peay, R-Jr., 5-11, 224
QB – DJ Williams, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 218
RB – Dason Brooks, Idaho State, R-Sr., 5-11, 228
RB – MJ Flowers, Tennessee Tech, R-Sr., 6-1, 193
WR – Roy Alexander, UIW, Grad, 5-11, 200
WR – Chedon James, Idaho State, R-Sr., 5-9, 175
WR – Samuel Musungu, Cornell, Sr., 6-1, 192
TE – Greyton Gannon, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-4, 235
TE – Seamus Gilmartin, Harvard, Sr., 6-4, 235
OL – Tre Alexander, Rhode Island, R-Sr., 6-2, 321
OL – Quaveon Davis, Jackson State, Sr., 6-8, 330
OL – Anthony Iliano, Maine, R-Jr., 6-3, 305
OL – Cam Nolan, Holy Cross, 5th Year, 6-3, 305
OL – Thomas O'Brien, Harvard, Sr., 6-6, 310
OL – Landon Woodard, Illinois State, Sr., 6-5, 330
Defense
DL – McCoy Casey, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-2, 244
DL – Case Mankins, Rhode Island, Sr., 6-3, 245
DL – Ike Odimegwu, Brown, Sr., 6-3, 235
DL – Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington, R-Sr., 6-2, 290
LB – Porter Connors, UC Davis, R-Sr., 6-1, 220
LB – Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225
LB – Jordan Franklin, South Carolina State, R-Jr., 6-2, 205
LB – Gabe Hardman, South Dakota, R-Jr., 5-10, 230
LB – Sean Line, Harvard, Sr., 6-0, 220
LB – Kenny Olson, Cal Poly, R-Sr., 6-1, 225
LB – Cole Taylor, Montana State, Jr., 6-3, 230
LB – Malachi Williams, Stephen F. Austin, Sr., 6-1, 220
LB – Steve Zayachkowsky, Charleston Southern, Sr., 5-10, 215
DB – La'Shavion Brown, Illinois State, Sr., 6-2, 215
DB – Tayden Gray, Montana State, Jr., 6-0, 185
DB – Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, 5th Year, 6-0, 215
DB – Trey Watkins, LIU, R-Sr., 6-0, 184
Special Teams
PK – Andrew Lastovka, Youngstown State, Sr., 5-8, 170
P – Ryan Marks, Utah Tech, R-Sr., 5-11, 235
LS – Pierson Parent, McNeese, Jr., 5-8, 180
KR – Keylijah Williams, Bryant, Sr., 6-0, 183
PR – Dkhai Joseph, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 5-10, 160
AP – Gavin Lochow, Dayton, Sr., 6-0, 185
