Cavender's receiving corps on this year's team features McKay Dunn of Southern Virginia, Preston Nicholson of Culver-Stockton and Jared Stace of Ohio Dominican. Dunn led the NAIA in receptions per game (9.6) and receiving yards per game (143.6), and set school records for receptions (111), yards (1,681) and touchdowns (14) in a season. Nicholson recorded 84 receptions for 1,259 yards in 2007. The 84 receptions were the third most in school history while his 1,259 yards was the second highest mark ever at Culver-Stockton. Stace caught 86 passes for 1,085 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Virginia-Wise's Ra'Shad Morgan and Bethel's (Tenn.) Adrain Smith are the runningbacks on this year's team. Morgan led the nation with 17.4 points per game, while finishing second in rushing yards per contest at 148.5 and fourth in all-purpose yards per game (178.1). Smith rushed the ball 218 times for 1,635 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. He led the nation with 7.5 yards per carry for those who rushed for at least 100 times during the season.

The offensive line features Mike Siverly of McKendree, Truman Ashby of Benedictine (Kan.), Joey Gilsdorf of Sterling, Jeremy Saunders of Quincy and Mike Galassi of Walsh.

Siverly was a key component on an offensive line that led the way for a McKendree rushing attack that was No. 1 in the nation at 305.2 yards per game. Ashby is one of two returning AFCA All-Americans on the offensive line. He helped the Ravens average 342.2 yards of total offense and score 31 touchdowns in 2007. Gilsdorf earned First Team All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference honors after helping the Warriors become the 12th ranked scoring attack in the nation. Saunders helped anchor an offense that averaged 21.4 points per game and 374.6 yards per game. The final member of the offensive line is returning AFCA All-America, Mike Galassi. Galassi was a key member of an offensive line that led Walsh to a balanced offensive attack. The Cavs ran for 1,950 yards and passed for 1,814 yards during the 2007 season.

The linebackers on this year's team include Reggie Singletary of Missouri Valley, Owen Koeppen of Carroll (Mont.) and Jeremy Robinson of Olivet Nazarene.

Singletary was named Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after finishing 2007 with 54 total tackles, 33 of those solo, 17 tackles for a loss and five sacks. Koeppen led the Saints' defense with 111 total tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss, eight sacks and an interception. He earned the Frontier Conference's defensive MVP. Robinson finished fourth in the nation by averaging 12.8 tackles per game. He racked up 115 total tackles, with 51 unassisted.

This year's defensive linemen include Shawn Lewis of Urbana, Cody Van Sloten of Northwestern (Iowa) and J.J. Perino of Montana Tech. Lewis finished second in the Mid-States Football Association with 11 sacks and 23 tackles for a loss while leading the league with five forced fumbles. Van Sloten finished fourth in the NAIA with 10 sacks, and he ranked sixth on the team with 47.5 total tackles, 23 solo, and also recovered a fumble. Perino, a 2006 AFCA All-American, led the nation with 15 sacks, and totaled 80 tackles, 24 for a loss.

The secondary features Brandon Kaufman of Bethel (Kan.), Marc Samson of Montana State-Northern, Clay Hamblen of Georgetown (Ky.), Gary Thomas of Jamestown and Chad Hustedt of Morningside. Kaufman ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in interceptions per game (1.1) and set the school single-season record with nine interceptions this season. Samson led the nation with 18 pass breakups and finished sixth in the NAIA with eight interceptions. Hamblen was named Mid-South Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Year after he recorded eight interceptions and 52 total tackles. Thomas led the Jimmies with 80 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for a loss. Hustedt guided the Morningside defense with 105 tackles and set school records for most interception return yards in a season (300) and longest interception return (99 yards for a touchdown).

Allen Ervin of Lambuth is the all-purpose player on the AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team. Ervin led the NAIA in all-purpose yards per game with 215.5. He rushed for 1,295 yards, received for 107 yards and totaled 968 yards in returns.

The placekicker is Derek Doerfler of Baker. Doerfler set a school record for most field goals made in a season with 23. He also set school marks for most field goals made in a game (five vs. William Jewell) and longest field goal in school history at 62 yards, also set in the same game versus William Jewell. St. Xavier punter Shane Longest was the nation's third leading punter at a 43.2 yard average. He also led the NAIA with 27 field goals this season.