COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University football team was ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division III by a pair of preseason college football magazines, Lindy's and Street & Smith's, on sale at newsstands now.

In addition, senior quarterback Jackson Erdmann (Rosemount, Minn.) and senior offensive lineman Dan Greenheck (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) were named to both publications' preseason All-America first teams. 

This is what Lindy's said about Saint John's:

"Saint John's is (ranked) third with seven starters back on each side of the ball. Gagliardi Award-winning quarterback Jackson Erdmann and offensive guard Dan Greenheck will power the Johnnies."

Lindy's also highlighted the annual Johnnie-Tommie showdown as one of the five national games to watch: "Saint John's looks to take control of MIAC title race at Allianz Field."

Street & Smith's noted the following:

"No team came closer to beating the national champions last season than Saint John's, which was a late end-zone interception away from beating Mary Hardin-Baylor in the quarterfinals. Gagliardi Trophy-winning quarterback Jackson Erdmann is back to lead the Johnnies through one of the most top-heavy leagues in the country, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference."

St. Thomas was ranked as high as No. 6 by Street & Smith's (No. 10 by Lindy's), while Bethel was listed at No. 10 (No. 12 by Lindy's). UST senior running back Josh Parks (Street & Smith's) and senior center Matt Beck (Lindy's) were both honored as preseason All-Americans.

Erdmann and Greenheck were consensus All-Americans (AFCA, AP, D3football.com) last fall.

Erdmann won the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy as the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III and was named the D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year. He played only five of the 13 games to completion and led NCAA Division III in three statistical categories: passing efficiency (189.8), passing touchdowns (47) and points responsible for (290). He also finished third in yards per pass attempt (10.03), fourth in passing yardage (3,450) and ninth in yards per completion (15.40). 

The 2018 MIAC Most Valuable Player, Erdmann set single-game program records last fall for passing yards (470 on Oct. 13 vs. St. Thomas) and passing touchdowns (7 on Nov. 10 vs. Thomas More). Erdmann also set a single-season school record for passing touchdowns and fell 39 passing yards short of Tom Linnemann's '00 school record of 3,489 set in 2000 (15 games).

A two-time All-American, Greenheck has started each of the Johnnies' last 24 games at right guard. SJU averaged 47.5 points per game and SJU's offense averaged 491.8 yards per contest (192.2 rushing and 299.5 passing) last fall. The 491.8 yards per game were the second-most in an SJU season (495.2 average in 1993) and the 299.5 passing yards per game were the most since the school record set in 1994 (314.5 avg.). 

SJU (12-1, 8-0 MIAC) won its MIAC-record 33rd conference title and made its 29th postseason appearance (25th in Division III), advancing to the national quarterfinals, last fall. The Johnnies ended the 2018 season ranked in the NCAA Division III's top 10 in nine statistical categories: first in team passing efficiency (186.59), third in both fumble recoveries (17) and takeaways (35), fourth in least tackles for loss allowed per game (3.69), fifth in scoring offense (47.5 ppg.), sixth in turnover margin (+1.38 tpg), seventh in first downs (295), ninth in scoring defense (11.1 ppg.) and 10th in total offense (491.8 ypg.). 

The Johnnies open the 2019 season with a 1 p.m. kickoff Sept. 7 at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wis. SJU's first of five regular-season home games is also Family Weekend, Sept. 21 vs. Gustavus Adolphus.