University of St. Thomas Athletics
Nine Tommies named to Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL list
8/2/2024 10:00:00 AM | Football
ST. PAUL, MINN. – The preseason honors continue to roll in for the University of St. Thomas football team. Entering their third season as a Division I program, the Tommies saw nine student-athletes named to one of the Phil Steele Preseason All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) Team, the organization announced Friday morning. Six members of the St. Thomas offense were recognized by the organization, while three defensive student-athletes found themselves amongst the preseason all-conference lists.
Seniors Hope Adebayo (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley), Alec Rasmussen (Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata) and Luke Herzog (Mendota Heights, Minn. / St. Thomas Academy) represented the Tommies as First Team honorees, while St. Thomas saw two offensive linemen named Second Team in Langston Robinson (Milwaukee, Wis. / Marquette) and Brock Stanek (Fort Dodge, iowa / Fort Dodge St. Edmond). Landon Reed (Naples, Fla. / Community), Matt Rink (Lincoln, Neb. / Southwest), Nick Hand (Rogers, Minn. / Totino-Grace) and C.J. Warren (Circle Pines, Minn. / Centennial) were Third Team Preseason All-PFL honorees.
Meet St. Thomas' Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL honorees:
Hope Adebayo (Sr.; RB; Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) – First Team
Adebayo earned his second Preseason All-Conference honor of the summer, having been named to the PFL's First Team on Thursday. It adds yet another honor to Adebayo's already impressive resume, as he was named second team All-Conference by both the PFL and Phil Steele and was named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll. In 11 games, Adebayo tallied 766 rushing yards and scored a team-leading and Division I record 10 touchdowns during the season. He was named the PFL's Offensive Player of the Week on October 22 after a monster performance against Stetson in which he rushed for 197 yards with two touchdowns. That marked the first of three multi-touchdown performances for the then junior, who tallied six of his 10 rushing touchdowns in the final four games of 2023.
Alec Rasmussen (Sr.; OL; Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata) – First Team
Like Adebayo, Rasmussen earned his second Preseason All-Conference honor of the week and does so after an impressive 2023 campaign. A First Team All-Conference selection, the senior was named the Phil Steele PFL Offensive Lineman of the Year and earned both Academic All-Conference and College Sport Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Rasmussen anchored the Tommies offensive line, starting all 11 games and playing over 90% of offensive snaps during the season, the most of any offensive lineman on the team. His efforts helped St. Thomas rush for 1917 yards as a team, and Tommie quarterbacks were sacked just 22 times this season thanks to his efforts.
Luke Herzog (Sr.; LB; Mendota Heights, Minn. / St. Thomas Academy) – First Team
Herzog is the lone defensive player to earn Preseason First Team All-Conference honors from either the PFL or Phil Steele. A three-time PFL All-Conference honoree, Herzog was named the conference's Defensive Freshman of the Year back in 2021 and looks to leave his mark on the program in 2024. As a junior, Herzog played in all 11 games and made 44 tackles, including 23 solo and 4.5 tackles for loss. He additionally tallied 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries and ranked top-10 on the team in several statistical categories. Herzog was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Week on October 1 after helping the Tommies clinch a thrilling 17-10 victory over Dayton.
Langston Robinson (Sr.; OL; Milwaukee, Wis. / Marquette) – Second Team
Robinson was one of three Tommie offensive lineman to receive preseason recognition and does so after starting all 11 games at center for St. Thomas in 2023. As a junior, Robinson earned Third Team All-Conference honors from both the PFL and Phil Steele, playing nearly every snap and every down for both the offensive and special teams unit. Robinson helped the Tommies rush for 1917 yards as a team and anchored five 200+ rush yard performances by St. Thomas rushers. Thanks to Robinson's efforts, the Tommies were able to set the Division I record for rush yards in a game at Stetson in October.
Brock Stanek (Sr.; OL; Fort Dodge, Iowa / Fort Dodge St. Edmond) – Second Team
Like Robinson, Stanek represents the offensive line, earning Second Team Preseason All-Conference honors from Phil Steele Friday afternoon. As a junior in 2023, Stanek earned Third Team All-Conference and All-Conference Honorable Mention accolades from both Phil Steele and the PFL after a stellar season for St. Thomas. He started all 11 games on the offensive line, helping two different Tommie running backs rush for over 700 yards during the season. Stanek also helped St. Thomas set the program record for single-game rush yards and blocked for multiple 200+ yard rushing performances.
Landon Reed (Sr.; FB; Naples, Fla. / Community) – Third Team
Reed put together a breakout season in 2023, earning All-Conference Honorable Mention and Third Team All-Conference honors from the PFL and Phil Steele respectively. Though he only rushed for 61 yards on nine carries during the year, Reed provided a boost both on the offensive line and special teams, serving as a blocking full back and crucial member of the Tommie offense. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the final game of the season against Valparaiso, helping St. Thomas finish the season with a 7-1 record in conference play.
Matthew Rink (Jr.; TE; Lincoln, Neb. / Southwest) – Third Team
Rink was voted Third Team Preseason All-Conference by Phil Steele, matching the honor he earned at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Rink was named Second Team All-Conference by the PFL and Third Team All-Conference by Phil Steele after an outstanding season for St. Thomas in 2023. Rink appeared and started all 11 games at tight end, playing a key role for both the offensive and special teams unit. As a receiver, he tallied 42 yards on three catches and helped the Tommies rush for almost 2000 yards as a blocking tight end. Rink was named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week in late September after blocking a punt in St. Thomas' dramatic comeback win over Morehead State.
Nick Hand (Sr.; DB; Rogers, Minn. / Totino-Grace) – Third Team
Hand earned Preseason All-Conference honors for the first time in his career after being a two-time PFL Academic Honor Roll honoree. As a junior in 2023, Hand appeared in all 11 games for the Tommies, racking up 52 tackles, 26 solo and 26 assists. He ranked third on the team in pass break ups with five total and recorded a season-high eight tackles against Dayton in late September.
C.J. Warren (5th; DL; Circle Pines, Minn. / Centennial) - Third Team
Warren was the lone defensive lineman to earn Preseason All-Conference honors after earning Second Team All-Conference honors from the PFL in 2023. As a lineman, he helped St. Thomas conclude the 2023 season as the No. 2 scoring and rush defense in the PFL. He recorded 22.0 total tackles, including 4.5 for loss and 3.0 sacks.
