D2Football.com has named Northwest Missouri State running back Xavier Omon its Offensive Player of the Year as announced Friday.
Omon is one of three Bearcats named to the Web site’s All-America team. Senior tight end Mike Peterson joined Omon on the first team offense. Junior tackle Reid Kirby was a second-team selection on offense.
Senior linebacker Jared Erspamer earned honorable mention honors.
It’s the fourth All-America selection this season for Omon, Division II’s leading rusher in 2007 with 2,337 yards. Omon became the first back in NCAA history to rush for 1,500 yards in four seasons. He also became the second player in Division II to rush for 7,000 career yards.
Omon scored in every game this season and 18 consecutive games dating back to 2006. He was the second-leading scorer in Division II with 38 touchdowns. Omon scored 98 touchdowns in his four-year career, ending as the third-leading scorer in Division II history.
This year’s MIAA Offensive Player of the Year, Omon holds 32 of Northwest’s 34 records for rushing and scoring, including nearly all season, career and postseason records.
Peterson caught 44 passes for 706 yards and five touchdowns in his final season as a Bearcat. His four-year career included 141 catches for 1,987 yards and 17 scores, all of which rank in the top 10 in career lists at Northwest.
Kirby was a unanimous first-team All-MIAA selection and paved the way for the nation’s 22 nd -ranked scoring offense and the league’s second-best rushing attack.
Kirby and his teammates allowed 12 sacks in 14 games for the sixth-best sack against average in the nation. The Bearcats averaged 440.9 yards of offense per game this season, which ranked second in the MIAA and 23 rd nationally.
Peterson and Kirby have now been named to three All-America teams this season. Peterson is earning D2Football.com honors for the first time in his career. Kirby was a second-team selection last season.
