BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Michael Hiers concluded his Northwest career with his name scattered throughout the program's record books. Now, the Birmingham native and current Samford quarterback will enter his senior season as an All-American.

Athlon Sports announced Hiers to the publication's FCS Preseason All-America Team on May 31, marking his first preseason award since joining the Bulldogs. He also earned All-American status by the Associated Press and Stats Perform following the 2022 campaign, while also earning Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year recognition.

Hiers threw for a conference-high 3,544 yards and 36 touchdowns last season, helping Samford to the SoCon title and the FCS Playoffs. He ranked top 10 nationally in several statistical categories, including completion percentage (76.6; 1st), completions per game (27.15; 3rd), passing touchdowns (36; 4th) and passing yards (3,544; 6th).

Hiers arrived at Northwest prior to the 2020 season after transferring in from Murray State, spending two seasons with the Rangers. In his debut season, he guided NWCC to back-to-back MACCC championships, the 2020 National Community College Football Championship and the inaugural NJCAA Division I Football Playoff in 2021.

In 18 total games with the Rangers, Hiers completed 65 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,519 yards, 34 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He ranks fifth in career passing yards and remains one of only four Northwest quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, joining the likes of Russell Evans, NFL quarterback Gardner Minshew and current Southern Miss head coach Will Hall.

Hiers also accounted for 4,496 yards of total offense at Northwest, ranking fifth in that category. He is also tied for the longest pass completion in program history, a 95-yard strike to current Washington State receiver D.T. Sheffield in an October 7 road contest at Coahoma.

Hiers is one of 50 Northwest alums to join four-year programs since 2020 and one of 148 players to move on to the four-year level since Benjy Parker took over the head coaching reins in 2016. Click here for the full list.

Samford will begin its 2023 campaign on Thursday, August 31 against Shorter University. Northwest, meanwhile, is slated to open the season on Thursday, September 7 at Mississippi Gulf Coast.