Standout Ferris State All-America defensive back Shon Stephens and Bulldog two-sport alum Mason Pline are hoping to take their game to the highest level after connecting the National Football League teams following this week’s NFL Draft.
Stephens accepted a rookie minicamp invite from the Philadelphia Eagles and Pline agreed to a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
In his lone season as a Bulldog, Stephens was named to the 2023 American Football Coaches Association All-America squad as announced by the national coaches organization.
The Bakersfield, Calif. native was chosen as an AFCA All-America Second Team choice, representing the ninth consecutive year the Bulldogs had at least one AFCA All-America selection - the longest active streak in the country.
Stephens also was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award presented to the nation's top small college defensive player.
Stephens was chosen this year to the Division II Conference Commission
Ferris State University senior defensive back Shon Stephens (Bakersfield, Calif.) was recently named to the 2023 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America squad as announced by the national coaches organization.
Stephens was chosen as an AFCA All-America Second Team choice and it represents the ninth consecutive year the Bulldogs have had at least one AFCA All-America selection, which is the longest active streak in the country.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves. Beginning in 2018, the AFCA has started selecting a first and second team and voting is done by member head coaches.
The AFCA's Division II?All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of wh