Northern State’s Hank Kraft and Jake Adams were selected as Preseason Players of the Year in the North Division of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in the football coaches’ poll.

Kraft, a running back, was picked as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Adams, a linebacker, was chosen as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Wolves were picked sixth overall in the 14-team conference and second in the North Division behind Minnesota Duluth.

Minnesota State was chosen as the top team in the South Division and the entire NSIC. The South had four of the top five teams in the conference poll.

Kraft, a senior from Timber Lake, rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown, and had 116 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns, appearing in just four games a year ago.

Adams is a two-time All-American who is already Northern’s Division II all-time leader in tackles. The senior from Pulaski, Wis., led the Wolves with 93 tackles, including 49 solo stops in just seven games last season. He had a career-high 21 tackles against Sioux Falls last season. He has 303 career tackles, and led the nation with 147 tackles in 2024.

Northern State opens its season by hosting Chadron State on Thursday, Aug. 27 at Dacotah Bank Stadium. The Wolves have six home dates on the schedule, capped by regular-season ending contest against Jamestown on Nov. 14.

To see the entire NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, click on the following link:

https://northernsun.org/news/2026/7/28/2026-nsic-football-preseason-coaches-poll.aspx