Three Earn Don Hansen All-America Honors

A trio of Fairmont State defensive standouts were named to the 2017 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team. Senior linebacker Marcus Porter, sophomore cornerback Michael Porter and junior safety Stephen Turner each earned honorable mention All-American honors follow their performances during the 2017 season.
 
Marcus Porter, a senior middle linebacker from Accokeek, Md., ranked sixth in the league and led the team in tackles with 95 on the year - including 55 solo and 12.5 for losses. Porter also tallied three sacks, three pass break-ups and recovered a fumble this season to lead the FSU linebackers. Porter wrapped up his career in sixth place in school history with 336 total stops as a four-year starter for the Falcons at middle linebacker. Porter led the Falcons in tackles in each of the last four seasons.
 
Porter wrapped up his career as a four-time All-MEC standout, including a first team selection in each of the last two seasons. The middle linebacker also earned Don Hansen All-Super Region 1 honors in 2016 and 2017.
 
Michael Porter, a sophomore cornerback from Accokeek, Md., joined his brother as a first team All-MEC and Don Hansen All-Region and All-American selection in his first year as a starter in 2017. Porter wrapped up the year with 34 total tackles, three interceptions and eight pass break-ups as a leader in the FSU secondary this season. Porter ranked fifth in the league in passes defensed this season.
 
Turner, a junior safety from Clinton, Md., became a two-time first team All-MEC performer and earned Don Hansen All-Super Region 1 and All-American honors following his junior season. Turner finished second on the team in tackles with 58, including 40 solos and two for losses. Turner also tied for the team lead with four interceptions and forced a fumble on the year. The starting safety returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown and earned MEC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 25 following a Fairmont State win at the University of Charleston.
 
The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988. Don Hansen's Football Gazette began selecting Division II All-Region squads in 2003.