cContact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

2023 Associated Press NCAA Division III All-America Team

Dec. 21, 2023 - Adding to an already-lengthy list of new program standards, the North Central College football team has been accorded a nation-leading eight selections to the 2023 Associated Press NCAA Division III All-America Teams.

The Associated Press All-America Teams are nominated and voted upon by sports information personnel representing each Division III conference. North Central is represented on the First Team by running back Joe Sacco, offensive linemen Jeske Maples and Jarod Thornton, wide receiver DeAngelo Hardy and all-purpose player Joey Lombardi, while Second Team selections include quarterback Luke Lehnen, defensive lineman Martin Egbo and defensive back Julian Bell. Hardy and Maples also earned First Team All-America honors from the AP in 2022.

Sacco rushed for 1,818 yards and 20 scores in his first season as a starter, setting a new Division III record for yards per rushing attempt (9.77).  Maples and Thornton started all 15 games for the Cardinals at left tackle and center, respectively, providing protection for an offensive unit which ranked first nationally in scoring offense (58.6 points per game) and total offense (567.5 yards per game) and established a new collegiate record for points scored (879). Maples was the unanimous recipient of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Offensive Lineman of the Year Award, claiming the distinction for the second straight year, while Thornton finishes a four-year tenure as the Cardinals' center with a career won-lost record of 56-3.

Hardy caught 75 passes for 1,353 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, while also contributing three passing touchdowns, a rushing score, and a kickoff return touchdown. He established a new North Central record for career touchdown receptions (58), which ranks him seventh all-time in Division III, while ranking second all-time in receptions (252) and receiving yards (4,253). Lombardi tied for the Division III national lead with three touchdowns on kickoff returns and set a North Central record by averaging 35.69 yards pre return while also catching 36 passes for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Lehnen was awarded the Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in Division III, as well as CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year and D3football.com Region 5 Offensive Player of the Year. Lehnen established a new all-divisions record for passing efficency (263.2), as well as new Division III records for yards per pass (14.7) and yards per completion (20.0), completing 170 of 232 passes (73.3 percent) for 3,407 yards and 48 touchdowns. Lehnen also rushed for 850 yards and 13 TDs.

Egbo was named the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year and led the Cardinals in tackles for loss (20.5) and quarterback sacks (7) in 2023, while Bell finished second on the team with 73 stops and shared the team lead with nine passes defended.

A total of 120 All-America awards have been presented to 49 North Central football student-athletes. The Cardinals finished the season with a 14-1 overall record and finished as the national runner-up after qualifying for the Division III national championship game, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, for the fourth straight time. 

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