Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
2023 AFCA Coaches' All-America Teams
Dec. 11, 2023 - The North Central College football team has been honored with a program-record four selections to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 2023 NCAA Division III Coaches' All-America Teams in recognition of their superior performance for the Cardinals this season.
North Central quarterback Luke Lehnen is selected to this year's All-America First Team, while defensive end Martin Egbo, wide receiver DeAngelo Hardy and offensive lineman Jeske Maples are selected to the Second Team. Each is a first-time AFCA All-American. Hardy was named a First Team All-American by the Associated Press and D3football.com in 2022, while Maples has been an AP and D3football.com All-American the last two seasons.
Recently named one of five finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in Division III football, Lehnen ranks first among all quarterbacks in college football in passing efficiency. Lehnen's current rating of 270.2 is on pace to break the all-time, all-divisions record of 230.4, set in 2019 by the University of Mount Union's (Ohio) DeAngelo Fulford. Lehnen has completed 162 of 215 passes (75.4 percent) for 3,228 yards and 46 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also running for 735 yards and 11 scores.
Also this year's recipient of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year award, Lehnen is the Division III national leader in completion percentage, yards per pass completion (19.93) and yards per pass attempt (15.01) while ranking second in touchdowns and ninth in yards. Lehnen has been responsible for 24.4 of North Central's points per game, the eighth-highest rate among Division III players. Lehnen's career passer efficiency rating of 212.4 ranks first among all current players across all divisions of the sport.
Egbo earned the CCIW's Don Larson Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year award in his first season with the Cardinals, totaling 19.5 tackles for loss and seven quarterback sacks to lead North Central in both categories. Egbo ranks second in the CCIW in tackles for loss and third in sacks.
Hardy has caught 70 passes for 1,207 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 115 yards and two scores and returning an onside kick for a touchdown in the Cardinals' 55-42 national quarterfinal victory at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Hardy has also thrown three passes this season, completing each for a touchdown. Now tied for the Cardinals' career record for touchdown receptions (57), Hardy ranks third nationally in touchdown receptions, sixth in total touchdowns (22) and 11th in receiving yards.
Maples has been a starter since arriving on campus in 2021 and has started every game the last two seasons at left tackle. Maples was the CCIW's unanimous selection as its Offensive Lineman of the Year this season, marking the second straight year he has received the award. A North Central lineman has claimed the distinction each year since its institution in 2018. Maples was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American and NCAA Elite 90 Award winner in 2022.
A total of 19 AFCA All-America honors have been earned by 16 North Central student-athletes. The Cardinals have had a total of 64 All-America awards achieved by 37 players in the football program's history.
The No. 1-ranked Cardinals (14-0) face the No. 11/13-ranked State University of New York at Cortland (13-1) in the Division III national championship game, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, Friday at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia. Stagg Bowl 50 will kick off at 7 p.m. Eastern time (6 p.m. Central) Friday and will be broadcast live on ESPNU and ESPN+.
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