Quarterback Luke Lehnen from North Central College in Illinois has been named the offensive player of the year and first-team quarterback on the recently announced Division III All-America team.

Safety Matt Jung from Bethel (Minnesota) earned the title of defensive player of the year, while kicker Tyler Huettel from Trinity (Texas) was recognized as the special teams player of the year. Mike Cerasuolo from Springfield (Massachusetts) has been honored as coach of the year.

Lehnen has been highlighted as a strong candidate for the Gagliardi Trophy, awarded to Division III’s most outstanding player, which he won in 2023. He currently leads his division in passing efficiency, having thrown for 35 touchdowns and rushing for 13, guiding the Cardinals to an impressive 13-0 record.

Having started for three consecutive teams that reached the national championship game, he aims to extend that streak this Saturday when North Central hosts Susquehanna (Pennsylvania) in a semifinal match-up.

Jung made headlines this season by leading the nation with nine interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns, matching the Division III single-season record. Additionally, he contributed significantly to Bethel’s defense with 98 tackles, ten of which were for a loss.

Huettel tied a Trinity record with 18 field goals, achieving an impressive 81.8% accuracy on 22 attempts, ranking him as one of the top kickers in the nation.

Cerasuolo, in his ninth year at the helm of Springfield’s program, steered his team to a perfect 12-0 record before their playoff loss to North Central last week.

The All-America team and the individual honors are determined by a panel consisting of sports information directors from various Division III football institutions.

The first-team offense includes:
– Quarterback: Luke Lehnen, North Central (Illinois), graduate, 6-1, 202, from Chatham, Illinois.

– Running Backs: Montie Quinn, Curry, junior, 5-9, 180, from Goose Creek, South Carolina; Arsen Shtefan, Springfield, graduate, 6-0, 225, from West Hartford, Connecticut.

– Linemen: Tucker Kinney, Wartburg, senior, 6-4, 308, from DeWitt, Iowa; Khalil Spivey, Hardin-Simmons, senior, 6-0, 325, from Abilene, Texas; Charlie Kulhay, Endicott, graduate, 6-2, 245, from Glastonbury, Connecticut; Sam Pryor, North Central (Illinois), senior, 6-0, 270, from Sugar Grove, Illinois; Giovanni Kennedy, Mount Union, junior, 6-1, 275, from Avon, Ohio.

– Tight End: Gabe Quigley, DePauw, senior, 6-3, 218, from Carmel, Indiana.

– Wide Receivers: Scott Fraser, Grove City, senior, 6-4, 205, from Butler, Pennsylvania; Collin Brunstein, Illinois College, senior, 6-2, 190, from Jacksonville, Illinois; Dylan Wheeler, Saint John’s (Minnesota), junior, 6-2, 190, from St. Paul, Minnesota.

The first-team defense features:
– Linemen: Nick Lardaro, Cortland, senior, 6-4, 265, from St. James, New York; Caden DeWall, Bethel, senior, 6-1, 225, from Becker, Minnesota; Rossy Moore, Mount Union, senior, 6-2, 225, from Lima, Ohio; Dawson Dietz, Washington and Jefferson, senior, 6-0, 245, from Allison Park, Pennsylvania.

– Linebackers: Charlie Patterson, Hardin-Simmons, senior, 6-3, 215, from Auburn, Illinois; Nicholas Burgess, Montclair State, senior, 6-0, 220, from Hackensack, New Jersey; Ben Bladel, Grove City, junior, 6-0, 225, from Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; Robert Coury, Carnegie Mellon, graduate, 5-11, 205, from Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

– Defensive Backs: Matt Jung, Bethel, sophomore, 6-3, 215, from Neenah, Wisconsin; Grant Henderson, Maryville (Tennessee), senior, 5-8, 165, from Miami; Carson Bourdo, Johns Hopkins, junior, 5-11, 195, from Traverse City, Michigan; Parker Rochford, Wartburg, senior, 6-0, 205, from Edgewood, Iowa; Jordy Tawa, Rochester, junior, 5-11, 170, from Wilsonville, Oregon.

For first-team special teams:
– All-Purpose Player: A.J. Jackson, Lake Forest, graduate, 6-0, 210, from Peoria, Arizona.

– Kicker: Tyler Huettel, Trinity (Texas), senior, 5-9, 200, from McKinney, Texas.

– Punter: Vicente Lyon, Hobart, junior, 6-4, 200, from Yorktown Heights, New York.

– Long Snapper: Josh Dennison, Central, senior, 5-11, 200, from Romeoville, Illinois.

The second-team offense includes:
– Quarterback: Aaron Syverson, Saint John’s (Minnesota), senior, 6-0, 195, from Minnetonka, Minnesota.

– Running Backs: Tyler Echeverry, Mount Union, senior, 5-10, 200, from Naples, Florida; Brandon Cade, Berry, senior, 5-11, 190, from Duluth, Georgia.

– Linemen: John Schirger, UW-Oshkosh, senior, 6-7, 327, from Grafton, Wisconsin; Matt Wrather, John Carroll, senior, 5-11, 250, from Powell, Ohio; Tre Price, Salisbury, graduate, 6-2, 275, from Westminster, Maryland; Jeske Maples, North Central (Illinois), senior, 6-3, 263, from Moweaqua, Illinois; Matt Kickel, Aurora, senior, 6-4, 300, from Bolingbrook, Illinois.

– Tight End: Quamel Jarvis, Morrisville State, senior, 6-2, 218, from Rochester, New York.

– Wide Receivers: Joey Kidder, Bethel, senior, 6-3, 220, from New Richmond, Wisconsin; Ben Bonga, Wheaton (Illinois), senior, 6-2, 181, from Brentwood, Tennessee; Evan Liggett, Whitworth, graduate, 6-3, 192, from Kirkland, Washington.

In the second-team defense, the lineup consists of:
– Linemen: Caleb Sell, Linfield, senior, 6-2, 240, from Salem, Oregon; Matt Burba, UW-Whitewater, senior, 5-11, 295, from Lake in the Hills, Illinois; Arnold Young, Montclair State, senior, 6-4, 280, from Mount Holly, New Jersey; Alex Aitchison, Coe, senior, 6-6, 255, from Cascade, Iowa.

– Linebackers: Jalen Todd, Washington and Lee, senior, 5-10, 215, from Louisville, Kentucky; Cole Luhmann, Hope, senior, 6-0, 220, from Rochester, Michigan; Durand Hill, Mary Hardin-Baylor, senior, 6-0, 210, from Buda, Texas; Reid Pakkebier, Central, senior, 6-2, 210, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

– Defensive Backs: Ty Richardson, Tufts, sophomore, 5-11, 175, from San Mateo, California; Timothy Leatherman, McMurry, senior, 5-11, 190, from Ingram, Texas; Gavin Smith, Central, junior, 6-0, 185, from Audubon, Iowa; Donell Mackey-Woodson, Wilkes, senior, 5-11, 190, from Hartford, Connecticut; Joseph Norris III, Heidelberg, graduate, 5-9, 175, from Lorain, Ohio.

Lastly, the second-team special teams comprise:
– All-Purpose Player: Brody Bantolina, Pacific, junior, 5-8, 170, from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

– Kicker: Luke Cool, UW-Stout, senior, 5-9, 180, from Franklin, Wisconsin.

– Punter: Andrew Toler, Rose-Hulman, senior, 6-2, 205, from Bidwell, Ohio.

– Long Snapper: Marcus Viramontes, Whitworth, graduate, 5-10, 178, from Anaheim, California.