GOLDEN, Colo. - College Football America Yearbook has named offensive lineman Grant Stewart preseason all-America while ranking Colorado School of Mines #9 in its 2019 NCAA Division II preview edition.

The Orediggers (10-2 in 2018) appeared in a poll headlined by defending national champion Valdosta State at #1. Some familiar names dot the top 30 with 2019 opponents CSU-Pueblo at #17 and Azusa Pacific at #23, along with regional foes Minnesota State at #5, Minnesota-Duluth at #10, Tarleton State at #13, Midwestern State at #20, and Texas A&M-Commerce at #22.

Stewart, a captain in 2018, returns as a redshirt senior after starting for three seasons on the offensive line. A two-time All-RMAC pick, Stewart made the move from center and right tackle and excelled in leading the line to some of the biggest offensive numbers in the nation in 2018. Mines had NCAA Division II's #1 total offense (556.8 yards per game) as Stewart helped protect all-Americans in running back Cameron Mayberry (1,615 yards, 23 TD) and quarterback Isaac Harker (3,858 yards, 39 TD), while also holding opponents to only 1.5 sacks and 4.46 tackles for loss per game, both of which ranked among the elite in D-II. 

After the 2018 season, Stewart was named Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-America, First-Team All-RMAC, and NFFCC Honorable Mention Academic All-Colorado. He started all 12 games (11 at tackle and one at center) to run his string of consecutive starts to 34 dating back to his redshirt-freshman season in 2016. Over his career, Stewart has helped produce the nation's #1 total offense twice (2016, 2018) with 1,000+ yard rushers in each of his three seasons. 

The Orediggers begin their season Sept. 7 at Adams State.
 

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2019 College Football America Yearbook Top-30 Poll
1. Valdosta State
2. Ferris State
3. Lenoir-Rhyne
4. Notre Dame (OH)
5. Minnesota State
6. Ouachita Baptist
7. Northwest Missouri State
8. Slippery Rock
9. Colorado School of Mines
10. Minnesota Duluth
11. Grand Valley State
12. Indianapolis
13. Tarleton State
14. Fort Hays State
15. Wingate
16. Hillsdale
17. CSU-Pueblo
18. Harding
19. West Georgia
20. Midwestern State
21. New Haven
22. Texas A&M-Commerce
23. Azusa Pacific
24. West Alabama
25. Bowie State
26. Indiana (PA)
27. Fairmont State
28. Florida Tech
29. Kutztown
30. Virginia Union
 

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2019 College Football America Yearbook Preseason All-America Team

OFFENSE
QB - JAYRU CAMPBELL, Ferris State
RB - GABRIEL WATSON, Sioux Falls
RB - JALEEL McLAUGHLIN, Notre Dame (OH)
WR - CRAIG RUCKER, Mars Hill
WR - SHANE ZYLSTRA, Minnesota State
TE - ERIK HENNEMAN, Lindenwood
OL - JASON POE, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL - CRAIG McCORKLE, California (PA)
OL - ADONIS SEALEY, Valdosta State
OL - DONALD BOONE, Chowan
OL - GRANT STEWART, Colorado School of Mines

DEFENSE
DL - CHRIS GARRETT, Concordia-St. Paul
DL - SHA'HAUN WILLIAMS, Notre Dame (OH)
DL - JACKSON WIBBELS, CSU-Pueblo
DL - HEATH WILLIAMS, Saginaw Valley State
LB - SAM HEYBOER, Ferris State
LB - AUSTIN STEPHENS, Miles
LB - DOMINIC CIZAUSKAS, Glenville State
DB - LAMONT McPHATTER II, California (PA)
DB - TRAVIONTAE BROWN, Benedict
DB - O'SHAY HARRIS, Central Oklahoma
DB - JAREY ELDER, West Chester

SPECIALISTS
P - JOSH CARLSON, Dixie State
PK - DANTE BROWN, Fort Hays State
KR - TORIANO CLINTON, Indianapolis
PR - KYLE DUGGER, Lenoir-Rhyne
AP - TABYUS TAYLOR, Virginia Union