McLean County Times

As the 2025 college football season nears, six Illinois State University athletes have been recognized as preseason FCS All-Americans by Stats Perform. The announcement came on Tuesday, with the annual list highlighting standout players.

Junior linebacker Tye Niekamp and senior longsnapper Dylan Calabrese were selected for the First-Team. Senior wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz and senior running back Wenkers Wright received Second-Team honors, while senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and junior defensive lineman Jake Anderson were named to the Third-Team.

These six Redbirds are part of a group of 102 All-Americans distributed across three teams. Illinois State shares the highest number of selections with UIW, each having six players honored. Defending national champion North Dakota State and South Dakota follow closely with five selections each. Notably, six players from last year's postseason first team, including Niekamp, return this year.

Niekamp was recognized for his performance in 2024 when he earned FCS All-America honors from multiple organizations following a strong sophomore year. He led the Redbirds in tackles and interceptions that season.

Calabrese joined Illinois State in 2024 from Western Michigan and played a crucial role in special teams without committing any bad snaps throughout the season.

Sobkowicz stood out as an All-MVFC Second-Team selection at wide receiver last year, becoming Illinois State's first receiver to surpass 1,000 yards since 2016.

Wright was named to the All-MVFC Honorable Mention team in 2024 after achieving significant rushing milestones for the Redbirds.

Rittenhouse emerged as a key player at quarterback for Illinois State, earning honorable mention honors while delivering impressive passing statistics throughout the season.

Anderson also made notable contributions on defense, earning an All-MVFC Second Team selection due to his performance on the field.

For more information about Illinois State sports events and updates, visit GoRedbirds.com or download the Illinois State Redbirds App.