University of Northern Iowa junior kicker Tyler Sievertsen and senior defensive back Varmah Sonie have each been named to the Beyond Sports College Network FCS Preseason All-America teams, the organization announced Monday. Sievertsen earned first-team recognition, while Sonie was named to the second team.

Sievertsen earned four All-America distinctions following the 2011 season - his first as the Panthers' starting kicker. In addition to a first-team selection by BSN last season, Sievertsen was a Phil Steele second-team nod, a second-team All-American by The Sports Network and a third-team pick by the Associated Press.

Sievertsen connected on 18-of-20 field goal attempts for the year, ranking No. 2 in the nation with 90 percent accuracy. He was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference pick and three-time MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Sonie was a first-team All-MVFC selection in 2011. He recorded 70 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions and seven pass breakups as one of the leaders of a UNI defensive unit that led the league in pass defense and ranked No. 12 nationally in scoring.