Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
D3football.com All-American Press Release
Dec. 15, 2023 - Adding to their laundry list of accolades, D3football.com has named 11 North Central College football players to the All-American list, shattering the program record of six which was set a season ago.
Quarterback Luke Lehnen, wide receiver DeAngelo Hardy, and offensive linemen Jeske Maples and Jarod Thornton earned First Team honors. Hardy and Maples are two-time First Team selections. Maples and Thornton set the tone up front to block for the Cardinals which leads the nation in scoring offense (60.1 points per game) and is second in Division III in rushing offense (324.9 yards per game). Hardy is third in the country with 19 receiving touchdowns and 11th in receiving yards (1,207). Lehnen leads all divisions in passing efficiency (212.41), leads DIII in points responsible for (342 points) and is second in passing TD's (46).
Running back Joe Sacco, offensive lineman Sam Pryor, and defensive backs Antwain Walker and Julian Bell picked up Second Team All-American selections. Sacco ranks second in DIII in total rushing yards (1,661) and rushing yards per carry (9.66). Walker, a 2022 First Team selection, has tallied six pass break-ups, 38 total tackles, and a forced fumble that he recovered. Bell led the Cardinals with seven pass break-ups and is second on the team with 67 total tackles.
Defensive lineman Martin Egbo and linebacker BJ Adamchik secured Third Team accolades. Egbo, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Year, led the team with seven sacks and had 19.5 tackles for loss in his 14 games played. Adamchik led North Central with 74 total tackles.
Joey Lombardi is awarded with Fourth Team honors as a kick returner. He scored three touchdowns which leads the nation, including a program record 98-yard kick return touchdown against Carroll University. He averages 43.5 yards per return.
North Central looks to capture their third national championship tonight as the top-seeded Cardinals (14-0) take on No. 11/13-ranked State University of New York at Cortland (13-1) in the 50th Stagg Bowl, played at Salem Stadium in Salem, Va. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcasted on ESPNU and ESPN+.
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