FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

National Football Foundation Press Release

Apr. 29, 2014 - The North Central College football program has placed a school-record nine individuals in the 2014 induction class for the National Football Foundations' (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. The foundation released this year's honorees Tuesday.

The Hampshire Honor Society, part of the NFF's effort to recognize academic and athletic success, is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who have maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or better during their collegiate football careers. A record total of 838 players from 267 schools qualified for membership in the society's eighth year.

Of this year's honorees, 352 came from 87 different NCAA Division III institutions. North Central's nine selections include offensive linemen John Cannova, Alex Mann and Greg Whalen, defensive back Shane Dierking, wide receiver Chad O'Kane, linebackers Nathan Schweitzer, Nick Slezak and Michael Weidner and quarterback Spencer Stanek. The Cardinals rank sixth in all of college football in terms of the number of players selected.

Whalen started all 14 games at right tackle for North Central in 2013, earning First Team All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) and Second Team All-North Region honors while blocking for an offense which set single-season school records for points (639), touchdowns (82) and yards (6,958). Cannova and Mann were both starters who had their seasons shortened by injuries, though Mann was still voted to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Team.

Dierking made the D3football.com All-America First Team and was selected as the D3football.com North Region Defensive Player of the Year and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Defensive Player of the Year this season. He intercepted eight passes, tying North Central's single-season record, and broke the Cardinals' career record with 16 total interceptions. His 77 tackles this season ranked second on the team and gave him 206 for his career, which ranks 10th all-time in North Central history. He saw action in all 51 of the Cardinals' games the past four seasons.

O'Kane was a two-time Second Team All-CCIW selection who finished his career ranked sixth in school history in receptions (101) and receiving yards (1,488) and seventh in touchdown receptions (15). He caught 57 passes for 857 yards as a senior, ranking second in the CCIW in both categories, and ranked eighth nationally with 13 touchdown receptions, the third-highest single-season total in school history.

Schweitzer served as North Central's primary long snapper the past three seasons, earning Academic All-CCIW honors four times. Slezak, also a four-time Academic All-CCIW selection, started all 14 games at middle linebacker in his first year at the position in 2013, earning First Team All-CCIW and Second Team All-North Region honors after leading the team with 127 tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss. Slezak set a single-game school record with 21 tackles in a 41-40 national semifinal loss at the University of Mount Union. A three-time Academic All-CCIW pick, Weidner played in all 14 games this season, making one start.

Stanek was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches' All-America Team and the D3football.com All-America Second Team. He finished the 2013 campaign as the Cardinals' all-time single-season leader in completions (264), completion percentage (.710), passing yards (3,495) and passing touchdowns (43) while throwing only two interceptions in 372 attempts. He ranked second nationally in touchdown passes and passing efficiency (187.0) while ranking fourth in completion percentage. Stanek  finishes his career as North Central's all-time leader in passing efficiency (166.1) and completion percentage (.655) while ranking second in completions (546), attempts (833), yards (7,549) and touchdowns (75). He also rushed for 864 yards and 13 TDs. Stanek was a First Team CCIW selection and the CCIW's Art Keller Offensive Player of the Year this season and was named to the D3football.com All-North Region Second Team. 

The Cardinals (13-1, 7-0 CCIW) won their record-tying eighth consecutive CCIW title and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Football Championship for the first time in 2013. They finished the campaign ranked fourth nationally by the AFCA and fifth by D3football.com. North Central opens the 2014 season Saturday, Sept. 13 at St. Norbert College.