GOLDEN, Colo. - Four Orediggers were named preseason all-Americans and Colorado School of Mines is ranked #6 in the preseason edition of Lindy's Sports magazine.

Receiver Max McLeod, offensive tackle Nic Van de Graaf, punter Blake Doud, and cornerback Jackson Zimmermann were each named preseason all-Americans by the publication as they return following outstanding 2023 seasons. Mines went 14-1 and advanced to its second consecutive NCAA Division II championship game last fall, winning its fifth consecutive RMAC title and the first under first-year head coach Pete Sterbick.

McLeod is the nation's leading returning receiver after earning consensus first-team all-America honors in 2023. McLeod had a prolific season with a D-II-best 1,656 yards, producing 16 touchdowns on a program-record 115 catches. He was an all-American according to the D2CCA, Associated Press, AFCA, D2football.com, and Don Hansen's, and appears on the Lindy's preseason list for a second straight year.

Van de Graaf has been a mainstay on Mines' offensive line as a three-year starter and all-RMAC honoree, helping produce NCAA Division II's #2 total offense and #3 scoring offense. Van de Graaf has started 39 games at tackle, including 34 times on the left side, in his career as Mines averaged 46.5 points and 508.7 yards of offense per game, including 204.7 yards per game on the ground, in 2023.

Doud had a breakout 2023 in his first year as Mines' starting punter, earning AP, D2CCA, and D2football.com First-Team All-America honors as well as the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year award. Doud hit 43 punts for an average 45.7 yards, which would have led NCAA Division II had Mines punted enough for him to hit the minimum to be ranked; the Orediggers led the nation in net punting at 41.1 yards. Doud put 19 punts inside the 20, 15 over 50 yards, and had a long of 77.

Zimmermann stepped into a starting cornerback role and earned AP First-Team and D2CCA Second-Team All-America status in 2023, starting all 15 games and leading the RMAC with six interceptions. Zimmermann totaled 41 tackles and broke up nine passes, and was named First-Team All-RMAC and D2CCA First-Team All-Region after the season. 

Mines opens the season at home on Sept. 5 against West Texas A&M.