WACO, Texas – Four Northwestern football players were named All-America selections by the NAIA and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), highlighted by a First Team selection for Parker Fryar.
Fryar, a senior from Waukee, Iowa, made an immediate impact after transferring back to Northwestern following a year at the University of South Dakota. A two-time GPAC Defensive Player of the Year, Fryar picked up 109 tackles this season, his fourth time going over 100 tackles at Northwestern. He also had 10 tackles for loss, one interception, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles on the year. The senior ends his four years at Northwestern second in program history in total tackles (451) and Northwestern’s only defensive player to be named GPAC Player of the Year multiple times. It is Fryar’s second career First Team All-American selection.
“Parker wrapped up his career as one of the best defensive players to ever wear a Raider uniform,” head coach Matt McCarty said. “He had a dominant presence on the field and was a great leader.”
Finishing fourth in the GPAC in total sacks (7), Trystin Voss receives his first career All-American honor. He set the interior on one of the top defensive lines in the NAIA, picking up 52 tackles and a career-best 13 tackles for loss. Voss also had a career-high 2.5 sacks in September 28’s win at Doane.
“Trystin was a tone setter for us up front and played a huge role in helping our defense be one of the top units in the nation,” McCarty commented.
The owner of Northwestern’s record for longest field goal made, Eli Stader was selected this season as a Second Team All-American by the AFCA and NAIA. Stader ended the year going 36-for-36 on PATs and making 15 field goals, holding a firm lead on the career record for field goals (62) and PATs made (300). In the regular season finale, Stader broke his own program record with a 60-yard field goal. In what was one of the highlights of a storied career, he made the game-winning field goal from 51 yards to defeat Montana Tech in the 2024 NAIA FCS Second Round.
“Eli was an outstanding weapon for us throughout his five years,” noted McCarty. “He made some clutch kicks for us this year in some big-time moments.”
After making the switch from corner to safety last season, Moser became one of the top defensive backs in the conference, picking off 16 passes over his career. This season, he made 24 tackles and had four interceptions to go along with seven pass deflections. He ends his career with 16 interceptions, which is tied for ninth on Northwestern’s all-time list. Moser secured the win for Northwestern in the NAIA FCS Second Round, picking off a pass and returning it into scoring territory.
“Cody provided steady leadership for our defense and his presence in the secondary forced teams to adjust to how they played us,” McCarty added. “He made some of his biggest plays in our biggest games.”
Graceland (Iowa) wide receiver Gerald Monroe and Bluefield (Va.) defensive lineman Quincy Robinson headlined the All-America teams as Players of the Year.
