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

D3football.com 2026 Preseason All-Americans

Aug. 12, 2026 - Three North Central College football student-athletes have been selected to D3football.com's preseason All-America list as the Cardinals report to fall camp this week. QB Garret Wilson and OL Cortez Jones earned First Team honors, while LB Matt Janiak was named to the Third Team.

Jones, a 2025 D3football.com preseason pick as a defensive lineman before moving to offense, continued his success at left tackle with Second Team All-America and First Team All-Region recognition from D3football.com. The Associated Press named him a First Team All-American. He anchored an offense that ranked second nationally at 47.0 points per game.

Wilson received Third Team All-America honors and was named Region 5 Offensive Player of the Year by D3football.com, along with Associated Press Second Team All-America recognition. He threw for 3,080 yards and 42 touchdowns last season and led Division III in passing efficiency at 197.8. He added 394 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 74 carries.

Janiak earned Second Team All-Region 5 honors from D3football.com last season. He led the Cardinals with 119 tackles and posted a season-high 16 in the national quarterfinal win over Bethel University, North Central's week one opponent this fall. He recorded two interceptions, including a pick-six against North Park University.

This is the seventh straight season North Central has had multiple players named to the D3football.com Preseason All-America Team. In July, D3football.com ranked the Cardinals No. 1 in its preseason poll, awarding all 25 possible first-place votes.

The Cardinals open the 2026 campaign against No. 2 Bethel with a noon kickoff at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on Sept. 5. North Central defeated the Royals 35-21 in the postseason on the way to a sixth straight Stagg Bowl appearance.