Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

Story written by secondary contact Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu

MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 12, 2025) – Earlier this week, D3football.com announced its all-region selections. North Central College had 12 athletes who earned recognition in Region Five, led by Garret Wilson and John Sullivan, who were named Region Five Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.

Donovan McNeal, Thomas Skokna, Cortez Jones, Jerred Durian, Aidan Ellison and Rahmareon Roby were all first-team selections, while Danny Nuccio and Matt Janiak were second-team defensive honorees, and Maverick Ohle and Eli Renick were third-team defensive selections.

Wilson was named the Region Five Offensive Player of the Year, marking the fourth consecutive year a Cardinal has been honored with the recognition (Ethan Greenfield in 2022 and Luke Lehnen in 2023 and 2024). This season, Wilson has completed nearly 71% of his passes (seventh-best in the nation), racking up 2,479 yards and 39 touchdowns (fourth in the country) while only throwing four interceptions. His passing efficiency rating of 212 is the best mark in Division III, while the 252 points he's responsible for rank inside the top 10 of all Division III players.

Sullivan was tabbed the Region Five Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after another year of dominance in the trenches. The senior defensive tackle has accrued 61 tackles, 33 of which have been solo, 19.5 tackles for loss (21st in the nation), 6.5 sacks, six pass breakups and 13 hurries. In his decorated North Central career, the Lake Villa native has appeared in 36 games, racking up 142 tackles (37 for loss), 12.5 sacks, six pass deflections (all coming this season), a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Donovan McNeal joins Wilson as a first-team selection. Despite missing a game this year due to an injury, the sophomore running back has maintained his standing among the nation's best. McNeal has carried the ball 139 times for 1,158 yards (21st in the nation) and eight touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards per carry (third in the country). The Warren Township graduate has scored 10 touchdowns and run for 1,616 yards in his young career and has averaged 105.3 yards per game this season, which ranks among the top 30 backs in Division III.

Thomas Skokna, another offensive first-team honoree, has proven to be one of the best wideouts in the country this season, leading Division III in receiving touchdowns with 23 and ranking 11th in the country in receiving yards with 1,143. The Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist averages nearly 16 yards per catch and just over 95 yards per game. Skokna has also returned a punt for a touchdown this season — an impressive 79-yard return that saw Skokna collect the kick facing his own goal line, turn around and weave in and out of the Elmhurst University coverage unit for the score.

Cortez Jones and Jerred Durian were selected to the first-team offense as well. Jones started his career on the defensive line but made the transition to the offensive side of the ball this season, starting in 11 of 12 contests for the Cardinals at offensive guard. The man next to him on the line, Durian, is a senior from Marmion Academy. He started 12 games last season at center and has done the same thus far this season. The Cardinal offensive line has plowed the way for 5,951 total yards this season and has allowed just 11 sacks. They've helped the Cardinal offense convert on nearly 79% of its fourth-down opportunities while being a top-10 offense in first downs.

Aidan Ellison was named to the Region Five special teams first team for his historic efforts this year for the Cardinals. Ellison, who was named just the second-ever Division III Fred Mitchell Award winner yesterday, has made the longest kick in Division III football this year from 57 yards. He has also connected on 13 of his 14 field-goal attempts, remaining perfect from 49 yards and in. He's also converted on 62 of his 65 point-after tries. The Naperville native has booted the ball for a touchback on 34 of his 79 kickoff opportunities (43%).

Joining Sullivan on the first-team defense is Rahmareon Roby, who has had quite the senior season. The Lena-Winslow alum has picked off four passes this year (including a 59-yard pick-six in last week's third-round contest against the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse). Roby has also collected 32 tackles (five for loss) and two sacks. He has broken up 11 passes and forced a fumble. In his career, Roby has accrued 108 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, nine interceptions, 28 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 47 games played.

Danny Nuccio and Matt Janiak were the lone second-team honorees for the Cardinals, both on the defensive side of the ball. Nuccio, a graduate student, has been credited with 59 tackles — 2.5 for a loss — and one sack. Nuccio has also intercepted a pass and forced a fumble while hurrying the quarterback four times. In his career, Nuccio has accumulated 156 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, eight pass breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Janiak was selected to the second-team defense this year after an impressive season in the linebacking corps. The sophomore led the Cardinals in tackles with 79 (27 of which were solo) while picking off two passes and breaking up another.

Maverick Ohle and Eli Renick were both tabbed third-team defensive members. Ohle, a sophomore defensive lineman, has piled up 27 tackles (6.5 for a loss), two sacks, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in his first full season of action for the Cardinals. Renick ranks 31st in the nation in sacks with nine. The Sarasota, Florida, native has also racked up 11 tackles for loss, an interception, a pass deflection and two forced fumbles in his senior campaign.

D3Football.com release.

Statistics are accurate as of Dec. 12, 2025.