MTU’s Mettlach is Coach of the Year; NMU’s Dobert is Offensive Back of the Year
GLIAC — The 2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) football postseason awards have been announced, following a vote by the league’s coaches.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mason McKenzie, Saginaw Valley State
Mason McKenzie claims his second major GLIAC award with his Player of the Year selection this season. The 2024 GLIAC Freshman of the Year had a stellar sophomore campaign. He led the Cardinals in both passing yards (2,086) and rushing yards (942) this season, topping the GLIAC in total offense with 275.3 yards per game—a mark that ranks 22nd in Division II. The Caledonia, Michigan, native hit the 200-passing-yard mark four times this season and rushed for 100 yards five times, combining the passing and rushing totals twice this season (Northeastern State 243 passing/101 rushing and Northern Michigan 243 passing/110 rushing). He scored 27 total touchdowns (17 passing/10 rushing), scoring at least one of each in 10 of the 11 games this year. His best performance came in week 10, where he accounted for five of the six Cardinal touchdowns in the game (2 passing/3 rushing).
OFFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR
Noah Dobert, Northern Michigan
Noah Dobert’s remarkable freshman season for Northern Michigan now includes more major conference recognition, as he was named the GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year and earned a spot on the All-GLIAC First Team. The honors come on the heels of one of the most statistically dominant seasons in Northern Michigan history, highlighted by his record-breaking 406-yard, four-touchdown performance against Wayne State to close the season, a showing that not only secured his third GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week award of the year but also earned him the D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week. His 1,656 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns set new NMU single-season records, and his 150.5 yards per game ranked third in all of Division II. Dobert also finished among the national leaders in total rushing yards and yards per carry (6.3). He powered a backfield that set a new program record with 3,123 team rushing yards.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Tim Anderson, Ferris State
Ferris State University senior offensive tackle Tim Anderson has been a leader up front for one of the nation’s top offensive lines this fall. The four-year letterwinner has played a key role in helping the Bulldogs rank first nationally in both scoring offense (52.7 ppg.) and total offense (515.4 ypg.) to date this campaign. FSU has also ran for nearly 300 yards per game on average and scored 34 points or more in all 11 games to date this fall. One of three returning starers on the offensive front entering the year, Anderson has helped the Bulldogs run their school-record winning streak to 25 consecutive games entering the D2 Playoffs, which will be FSU’s nation-leading 11th consecutive trip to the postseason. The Bulldogs finished with an 11-0 regular-season record and captured a second-straight GLIAC Championship this fall.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Kailib Davis, Ferris State
Ferris State University senior defensive tackle Kailib Davis has been a big force on the defensive line for nation’s top-ranked Bulldogs, who own an 11-0 overall record entering the NCAA Division II Playoffs this week. In his first year as a full-time starter on the interior of the FSU defensive front, Davis has totaled 22 tackles with seven tackles for loss and five sacks to date this campaign. He earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors earlier this fall and has commanded attention in the middle for one of the nation’s top defensive units. His play has helped the Bulldogs hold the opposition to only 18.3 points and 283.4 yards per game this season. FSU ranks among the nation’s top 12 overall defensive units and pitched three consecutive shutouts in regular-season play. The Bulldogs won the GLIAC Championship for the second-straight year and reached the D2 Playoffs for a nation-leading 11th consecutive year.
DEFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR
Justin Payoute, Ferris State
Ferris State University senior defensive back Justin Payoute has had a big senior season for the nation’s top-ranked Bulldogs, who capped off an unbeaten regular-season with an 11-0 record. The four-year starter has been a leader on the back end of the FSU defense, which ranks among the top 12 nationally, allowing only 283.4 yards and 18.3 points per game. Additionally, his play has helped the Bulldog defense lead the nation with 20 interceptions this year. Payoute ranks among the team leaders with 46 total tackles, including 24 solo stops, and has tallied five interceptions in addition to a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He’s scored on both a pick six and a fumble recovery return this fall. Payoute’s play has helped the Bulldogs run their school-record winning streak to 25-straight games going back to last fall and FSU claimed a second-straight GLIAC Championship this year. Additionally, the Bulldogs will make their nation-leading 11th consecutive NCAA Division II Playoff appearance.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Bower, Ferris State
Ferris State University redshirt freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower led the Bulldogs to the GLIAC Championship and an unblemished regular-season record with an 11-0 mark. In his first collegiate season of action, Bower stepped in as an impact player at the quarterback position for the top-ranked Bulldogs and engineered the nation’s highest scoring offense. The Bulldogs have tallied a D2-best 52.7 points and 515.5 yards of total offense per game while reaching the D2 Playoffs for nation-leading 11th consecutive year. Bower has completed 114 of 185 throws to date (61.6%) for 1,709 yards and 18 scores with only four interceptions in 11 games. Additionally, he’s ran for a team-high 735 yards on 120 carries with 12 touchdowns on the ground. His play has helped FSU run its winning streak to 25 consecutive games going back to last year entering the D2 Playoffs.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dan Mettlach, Michigan Tech
In his third season at the helm of his alma mater, Michigan Tech football head coach Dan Mettlach has been named the GLIAC Coach of the Year. This marks the first time the Huskies have the GLIAC Coach of the Year, since Tom Kearly earned the award in 2010. The 2025 Michigan Tech football squad finished 7-4 overall for the second-straight season finishing with seven or more wins in back-to-back seasons in a decade. The Huskies earned their first ranked win over an opponent since Sep. 7, 2019, with a season and home-opening win against No. 16 Bemidji State on Aug. 29. The Black & Gold also cracked the top-25 in week two of the season, checking in at No. 24, marking the first time Michigan Tech made the polls since Nov. 3, 2015. Michigan Tech also bested Davenport on the road to snap a three-game losing streak against the Panthers marking just the second win at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex and while handing Davenport its first Homecoming loss in program history. Mettlach also guided his squad to their 15th-straight Miner’s Cup victory over Northern Michigan at the Superior Dome this fall.
A complete list of the 2025 All-GLIAC football teams is below:
2025 First Team All-GLIAC
Offense
| QB | Mason McKenzie | Saginaw Valley State |
| RB | Noah Dobert | Northern Michigan |
| RB | Cephus Harris | Davenport |
| RB | Michael Jamerson III | Saginaw Valley State |
| H-B | Carson Gulker | Ferris State |
| WR | Terrence Brown Jr. | Saginaw Valley State |
| WR | Nic Nora | Michigan Tech |
| WR | Kellen Reed | Grand Valley State |
| WR | Lynn Wyche-El | Grand Valley State |
| OL | Bob Anderson | Ferris State |
| OL | Tim Anderson | Ferris State |
| OL | Dayne Arnett | Ferris State |
| OL | Brandon DeVries | Michigan Tech |
| OL | Brett Weaver | Grand Valley State |
| OL | Jarvis Windom | Ferris State |
| PK | Mitchell Middleton | Ferris State |
Defense
| DL | Kailib Davis | Ferris State |
| DL | Adom LeDuc | Saginaw Valley State |
| DL | Pierce Miller | Michigan Tech |
| DL | Khamani Potts | Grand Valley State |
| DL | Austin Stief | Davenport |
| LB | Isaiah Byars | Ferris State |
| LB | Anthony Cardamone | Grand Valley State |
| LB | Jimmy Downs | Grand Valley State |
| LB | Jax Hertel | Northern Michigan |
| LB | Chase Koch | Michigan Tech |
| DB | Dante Basanese | Michigan Tech |
| DB | Vincent Cooley | Davenport |
| DB | Jason Hardy | Grand Valley State |
| DB | Justin Payoute | Ferris State |
| DB | Ahlston Ware | Ferris State |
| SP | Taariik Brett | Ferris State |
| P | Trace Hrgich | Grand Valley State |
2025 Second Team All-GLIAC
Offense
| QB | Wyatt Bower | Ferris State |
| RB | Brady Rose | Ferris State |
| RB | Syone Usma-Harper | Grand Valley State |
| RB | Jahi Wood | Northern Michigan |
| H-B | Evan Furtney | Grand Valley State |
| WR | Ethan Champney | Michigan Tech |
| WR | Norion Espadron | Roosevelt |
| WR | Keonta Nixon | Davenport |
| WR | Cam Underwood | Ferris State |
| OL | Daniel Babcock | Northern Michigan |
| OL | Armony Baskin | Davenport |
| OL | Chris Bornhoeft | Northern Michigan |
| OL | Shaun Shahu | Saginaw Valley State |
| OL | Zach Slapnicker | Davenport |
| OL | Ryan Whitely | Saginaw Valley State |
| PK | Teagan Lenderink | Saginaw Valley State |
Defense
| DL | Jibriel Conde | Grand Valley State |
| DL | Connor Hindenach | Michigan Tech |
| DL | Stanley Lambert | Ferris State |
| DL | Kennedy Nelson | Davenport |
| DL | Alefosio Saipaia | Ferris State |
| LB | Jaden Bevier | Saginaw Valley State |
| LB | Christian Boivin | Saginaw Valley State |
| LB | Mitch Larkin | Northern Michigan |
| LB | Torian Wyatt | Grand Valley State |
| LB | Porter Zeeman | Michigan Tech |
| DB | Diamond Evans | Davenport |
| DB | Markell Gilford | Davenport |
| DB | Sean Hodges | Saginaw Valley State |
| DB | Gyasi Mattison | Ferris State |
| DB | DJ Voltz | Saginaw Valley State |
| SP | Paschal Jolman | Grand Valley State |
| P | Eoin O’Sullivan | Roosevelt |
2025 Honorable Mention All-GLIAC
| RB | Kayden Collins | Davenport |
| LB | Latrell Scott | Davenport |
| WR/SP | George Sims | Davenport |
| DL | Reed Snitker | Davenport |
| TE | Clint Walker | Davenport |
| DL | Tim Allen | Ferris State |
| WR | Tae Boyd | Ferris State |
| QB | Chase Carter | Ferris State |
| DL | Markee Jones | Ferris State |
| OL | Ben Przytula | Ferris State |
| DL | Ronald Jackson | Grand Valley State |
| DL | Ty Jackson | Grand Valley State |
| OL | Josh Martin | Grand Valley State |
| QB | Andrew Schuster | Grand Valley State |
| DB | Quinn Wills | Grand Valley State |
| OL | Rowland Ball | Michigan Tech |
| QB | Drew Collins | Michigan Tech |
| OL | Matt Daanen | Michigan Tech |
| K | Avery Kucharski | Michigan Tech |
| RB | Jake Rueff | Michigan Tech |
| DB | Xavier Martinez | Northern Michigan |
| DB | Murphy Montreal | Northern Michigan |
| DL | Jake Price | Northern Michigan |
| DB | Carlos Conley | Roosevelt |
| RB | Cam Davis | Roosevelt |
| WR | Norbert Espadron | Roosevelt |
| LB | Brandon Harvey | Roosevelt |
| OL | Max Lingenfelser | Roosevelt |
| DL | Tim Alonzo | Saginaw Valley State |
| OL | Joe Botello | Saginaw Valley State |
| WR | Eric Craft | Saginaw Valley State |
| LB | James McDonald | Saginaw Valley State |
| OL | Tyus Thompson | Saginaw Valley State |
| WR | Drew Hickmott | Wayne State |
| LB | Logan McGraw | Wayne State |
| WR | Justyz Tuggle | Wayne State |
| RB | XaVior Tyus | Wayne State |
| LB | Martell Williams | Wayne State |
