Ford, Buschini, Andersen on FCS ADA team

Two players from Montana, including cornerback Justin Ford, and one from Montana State were named to the exclusive FCS Athletic Directors Association All-America football team Thursday.

Linebacker Troy Andersen of MSU made the team, which numbers just 11 players, as did freshman punter Brian Buschini of Montana. Buschini recently transferred to FBS Nebraska.

The ninth annual FCS ADA team recognizes the top student-athletes across 11 different positions. The 2021 class includes student-athletes from 10 different institutions, representing seven different conferences. The Big Sky Conference had a fourth player on the squad, in Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere.

Voting was conducted by a national panel consisting of media and sports information directors.

Ford, a junior, led all of college football in interceptions in 2021 with nine, and had a streak of eight straight games with a pick.

In Montana annals only Karl Stein (11, 1969) and former coach Mick Dennehy (10) had more interceptions in a season; Stein also made nine in 1970.

On Wednesday Ford and Buschini, who led the Big Sky in punting, were named to the Associated Press FCS All-America team, as well as the HERO Sports FCS All-America team on Tuesday.

From the 11 All-America Team honorees, an offensive and defensive player of the year will be announced on Jan. 6 in advance of the FCS National Championship in Frisco, Texas.