Four players from North Carolina college football programs were named to the 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team, released Monday. Elon, North Carolina Central, Western Carolina and Davidson each had a representative on the list — including two first-team selections.
- Punter Jeff Yurk (Elon): 1st Team
- Defensive Back Malcolm Reed (NCCU): 1st Team
- Quarterback Taron Dickens (WCU): 2nd Team
- Runningback Mari Adams (Davidson): 3rd Team
The annual preseason team recognizes the top returning players in the Football Championship Subdivision and is considered one of the most respected honors in small-college football.
Here’s a closer look at the NC players who made the list:
🔥 Jeff Yurk | P | Elon | 1st Team
A redshirt senior from Southern Pines, Yurk returns after leading the FCS in punting average last season at 47.9 yards per kick. He earned First-Team All-American honors from multiple outlets in 2024, including Stats Perform, the Associated Press and the AFCA. His 60 punts last fall included 26 of at least 50 yards and just four touchbacks.
Yurk started his career at Elon before transferring to Pitt in 2023, then returned to the Phoenix for a record-setting 2024 campaign. He’s also been named to the 2025 All-FCS Team by Lindy’s Sports.
🦅 Malcolm Reed | DB | North Carolina Central | 1st Team
Reed, a junior from Raleigh’s Cardinal Gibbons High School, broke out in 2024 with 60 tackles, 2 interceptions and 11 pass breakups over 11 games. He recorded 9 tackles each in games against UNC and South Carolina State, and enters 2025 as one of the top returning defenders in the MEAC.
The 6-foot-3 Reed has 94 career tackles and three interceptions to his name heading into his junior year.
🐾 Taron Dickens | QB | Western Carolina | 2nd Team
Dickens made the most of his chances to play after the injury to Cole Gonzales, completing 73.8% of his passes for 1,500+ yards and 12 touchdowns in just seven games (four starts). The Miami native threw for 431 yards and 5 TDs in a win over Chattanooga and was twice named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
A former standout at Miami Northwestern, Dickens earned SoCon All-Freshman honors in 2024 and went 7-for-12 for 151 yards and a score in WCU’s 2025 spring game, building hope for a WCU conference championship drive this fall.
🐱 Mari Adams | RB | Davidson | 3rd Team
One of the most productive backs in the FCS, Adams has rushed for 2,368 yards and 31 touchdowns over the past two seasons. In 2024, he averaged 111.9 rushing yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry — finishing with 1,231 yards and 15 TDs on 187 carries.
A Shelby native and Crest High alum, Adams already has been named to multiple All-America teams this offseason. He was a Walter Payton Award finalist in 2024 and earned praise from FCS Football Central as “no doubt the most underrated running back at the FCS level.”
🧵 Full 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team available HERE.
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