An Augustana star heads the list of top football players in the Northern Sun Conference this season and league champ Sioux Falls was guided by the top coach.

NSIC Offensive Player of the Year
#2 Trey Heid
QB, 6-2, 197, Sr., Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North HS
Augustana University
– The sixth player in NSIC history to earn NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors twice in a career
– First player to earn NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons since Minnesota Duluth’s Isaac Odim in 2009 and 2010
– Led the NSIC and set an Augustana single season record with 3,582 passing yards in 2016
– Led Augustana with 721 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns

NSIC Defensive Player of the Year
#43 Beau Bates
LB, 6-0, 235, Sr., Excelsior, Minn. / Minnetonka HS
University of Minnesota Duluth
– Third-year starter and team captain
-Spearheaded a defense that was the NSIC’s toughest against the rush (92.6 yards per game)

NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year
#28 Max Simmons
RB, 5-10, 175, Fr., Bloomington, Minn. / Kennedy HS
Southwest Minnesota State University
– Rushed for 913 yards and 18 touchdowns on 178 carries
– Recorded six 100-yard rushing games
Defensive Newcomer of the Year
#18 Delvin Batiste
DB, 5-11, 192, Sr., Upland, Calif. / Upland HS
University of Sioux Falls
– Recorded 33 tackles, including 21 solo stops, three sacks, 5.5 TFLs and two interceptions
– Led team with eight pass breakups and also had a blocked kick

NSIC Coach of the Year
Jed Stugart
University of Sioux Falls
– Led USF to first NSIC Regular Season Title in any sport with 11-0 record
– Directed USF to consecutive DII playoffs appearances and three straight postseason appearances in just five years at DII