FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 28, 2020) – Three members of Northern Arizona's football program were named to Hero Sports 2020 Preseason All-American team Thursday morning.
Senior kicker
Luis Aguilar (First Team), senior punter
DJ Arnson (Second Team) and junior wide receiver
Brandon Porter (Third Team) all earned places on the outlet's three teams. The trio also earned recognition from Hero Sports at the end of the 2019 season, with Aguilar earning one of his many All-American First Team honors, Arnson landing on the All-American Third Team and Porter a First Team Sophomore All-American.
Aguilar's breakout season, in which he set the school's record for kicking points in a season at 118, included seven All-American honors and the Fred Mitchell Award honoring him as the top kicker in the FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA.
Currently on a streak of 56 consecutive extra points made, Aguilar also hit a 57-yard field goal against Northern Colorado, the team's longest field goal since 2000.
Northern Arizona's kicker also led the nation with 61 touchbacks, as 76% of Aguilar's kickoffs came without returns.
Arnson ended the 2019 season on three All-American teams as he finished third in the FCS with a career-high 45.8 yards per punt. Arnson dropped 19 of his 57 punts inside the 20-yard line with 16 going for 50 or more yards.
The senior's season-long of 65 yards came on the road at Illinois State as Arnson flipped the field by putting the Redbirds at their own 21-yard line from the Lumberjacks' 14.
Lastly, Porter earned a spot on the Third Team after producing one of NAU's best seasons by a wide receiver. Finishing with 85 receptions, 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns, Porter's first full season at receiver landed him multiple spots in the Lumberjacks' record book.
The 85 receptions, which ranked 8th nationally on a per game average, broke NAU's single-season mark of 82 set by Alex Watson in 2006. The 1,198 receiving yards finished second to only
Emmanuel Butler's 1,208 from 2015 while also ranking 8th in the FCS.
The complete Hero Sports 2020 Preseason All-American teams.
