Bethel’s Brayden Johnson Named First Team All-American
WACO, TEXAS — Graceland (Iowa) wide receiver Gerald Monroe and Bluefield (Va.) defensive lineman Quincy Robinson headline the 2024 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Teams announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
Monroe earned his second AFCA All-America honor in 2024 by leading the NAIA in receiving yards per game (156.2) and receiving touchdowns (22). In 10 games, he caught 84 passes for 1,562 yards and averaged 18.6 yards per catch. Monroe set an NAIA single game record with 387 receiving yards in the season opener against Doane (Neb.). He had 16 catches and five touchdowns in the game.
Robinson led the NAIA in sacks (15) and fumble recoveries (4). The Appalachian Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Robinson also added 41 solo tackles, 27 assists, 21.5 tackles for loss and forced six fumbles from his defensive lineman position.
Bethel punter Brayden Johnson was named to the first team. Johnson averaged 45.0 yards per punt and pinned opponents 21 times inside their own twenty yard line.
Coach Michael Jasper commented, "I am thrilled for Brayden. He has done a wonderful job for us and it's awesome seeing him rewarded for all his hard work and dedication to his craft. Brayden has such a bright future ahead of him and I feel certain he will work to give himself an opportunity at the next level in when his career is complete, here at Bethel."
Special teams coach, Dustin Kincaid added, "Brayden is an outstanding young man. It is a joy to coach him because he is one of the most dedicated guys when it comes to his craft. I would definitely consider him a perfectionist and at the specialist position I believe it is a great quality to have. His hard work does not go unnoticed, and I am happy for him to earn this honor because he definitely has worked his butt off to get it. I appreciate everything he has done for our units, and he is definitely one of the key parts of our special teams nucleus in all phases."
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2024 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team - First Team
Offense
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
QB Zack Chevalier 6-2 205 Jr. Morningside (Iowa) Steve Ryan Santa Clarita, Calif. (Golden Valley)
RB ^Ernest Ceasar, III 5-6 165 Sr. Texas Wesleyan Brad Sherrod Beaumont, Tex. (East Chambers)
RB Gunner Yates 6-0 205 So. Southern Oregon Berk Brown Coquille, Ore. (Coquille)
WR Jacob Gathright 5-10 160 Sr. Benedictine (Kan.) Joel Osborn Oceanside, Calif. (El Camino)
WR ^Gerald Monroe 5-10 185 Jr. Graceland (Iowa) Patrick Ross Glenn Heights, Tex. (Kimball)
WR *Austin Jablonski 6-4 215 Sr. Concordia (Neb.) Patrick Daberkow Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X)
TE Blake Lamb 6-2 236 Sr. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) Avante Mitchell Cincinnati, Ohio (Lebanon)
OL *Blake Gossett 6-2 280 Sr. Georgetown (Ky.) Chris Oliver Louisville, Ky. (Male)
OL Kyree Watkins 6-0 275 Sr. Friends (Kan.) Terry Harrison Atlanta, Ga. (Benton [Ark.])
OL ^Zach Sibila 6-3 285 Sr. Marian (Ind.) Ted Karras, Jr. Zionsville, Ind. (Zionsville)
OL Jordan Scott 6-2 306 Gr. Pikeville (Ky.) Corey Fipps Belfry, Ky. (Belfry)
OL Marcus Lombard 6-1 300 R-Sr. Montana-Western Ryan Nourse Laie, Hawaii (Kahuku)
Defense
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL Quincy Robinson 6-3 235 Sr. Bluefield (Va.) Dewey Lusk Wilmington, N.C. (Ashley)
DL *Nicholas Engler 6-4 280 Gr. St. Thomas (Fla.) Bill Rychel Port St. Lucie, Fla. (Treasure Coast)
DL Hunter Peck 6-2 245 Sr. Carroll (Mont.) Troy Purcell Windsor, Colo. (Windsor)
DL Marquise Cross 6-3 245 Sr. St. Francis (Ind.) Kevin Donley Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central)
LB Clayton Mosher 6-0 208 Sr. Indiana Wesleyan Andrew Rode Stow, Ohio (Stow-Munroe Falls)
LB ^Parker Fryar 6-3 230 Sr. Northwestern (Iowa) Matt McCarty Waukee, Iowa (Van Meter)
LB John Argo 6-0 220 Jr. Grand View (Iowa) Joe Woodley Davenport, Iowa (Assumption)
DB *Nehemiah Figueroa 5-11 180 Sr. McPherson (Kan.) Jeremiah Fiscus Boyertown, Pa. (Pottstown)
DB Jayden Heartwell 6-1 205 Sr. Dickinson St. (N.D.) Pete Stanton Anchorage, Alaska (South Anchorage)
DB Deveon Moses 6-0 180 Jr. Dakota St. (S.D.) Josh Anderson Houston, Tex. (Pearland)
DB Lucas Huttinga 6-5 204 Sr. Dordt (Iowa) Joel Penner Jenison, Mich. (Unity Christian)
Specialists
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
P Brayden Johnson 6-2 213 Jr. Bethel (Tenn.) Michael Jasper Syracuse, Ind. (Wawasee)
PK *Job Matossian 5-9 185 Jr. Cumberlands (Ky.) Shan Housekeeper Maryville, Tenn. (William Blount)
AP Luke Armstrong 5-11 190 Jr. Kansas Wesleyan Chris Snyder/David Leonard Carlsbad, Calif. (Carlsbad)
LS *Brooks Gardner 5-10 215 Sr. Tabor (Kan.) Mike Gardner Hillsboro, Kan. (Hillsboro)
2024 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team - Second Team
Offense
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
QB Lee Kirkland 6-6 265 Gr. Pikeville (Ky.) Corey Fipps Bluffton, S.C. (Bluffton)
RB *Rontavious Farmer 5-10 190 Sr. St. Thomas (Fla.) Bill Rychel Palm Bay, Fla. (Cocoa)
RB *Darius Neal 6-0 215 Sr. Georgetown (Ky.) Chris Oliver Lexington, Ky. (Frederick Douglass)
WR David Hayes 6-4 180 Sr. St. Thomas (Fla.) Bill Rychel Tampa, Fla. (King)
WR Eli Nourse 5-10 170 So. Montana-Western Ryan Nourse Dillon, Mont. (Beaverhead County)
WR Isaac Smith 6-0 180 Jr. Indiana Wesleyan Andrew Rode Flat Rock, Mich. (Huron)
WR Matthew Holthusen 5-11 180 Jr. Southwestern (Kan.) Brad Griffin Wichita, Kan. (Bishop Carrol)
OL Blake Schlegel 6-6 320 Sr. Concordia (Neb.) Patrick Daberkow Bruning, Neb. (Shickley)
OL Brandon Spencer 6-3 315 Sr. Montana Tech Kyle Samson Lolo, Mont. (Sentinel)
OL Scotty Woodruff 6-2 300 Sr. Dickinson St. (N.D.) Pete Stanton Torrington, Wyo. (Torrington)
OL Jayson Weiland 6-3 290 Sr. Grand View (Iowa) Joe Woodley Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls)
OL Aidan Queen 6-4 270 Sr. Morningside (Iowa) Steve Ryan Fremont, Neb. (Omaha Burke)
Defense
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL Jackson Filer 6-3 245 Jr. Grand View (Iowa) Joe Woodley Des Moines, Iowa (Dowling Catholic)
DL Joseph Chavez 5-11 265 Sr. Nelson (Tex.) Jared Hudgins Waxahachie, Tex. (Waxahachie)
DL Isaac Anderson 5-9 276 Sr. Benedictine (Kan.) Joel Osborn San Diego, Calif. (Mission Hills)
DL Trystin Voss 6-2 260 Jr. Northwestern (Iowa) Matt McCarty Rogersville, Mo. (Logan-Rogersville)
LB *Bradley Myers 5-11 215 R-Sr. Evangel (Mo.) Chuck Hepola Lee's Summit, Mo. (West)
LB Aven Jones 6-0 225 Sr. Taylor (Ind.) Aaron Mingo New Palestine, Ind. (New Palestine)
LB Kendall Wilson II 5-10 220 Sr. St. Thomas (Fla.) Bill Rychel Orlando, Fla. (Wekiva)
DB Dijion Walls 6-1 185 Sr. Morningside (Iowa) Steve Ryan Hazelwood, Mo. (East)
DB Daviere Jones 5-10 195 Jr. Grand View (Iowa) Joe Woodley Des Moines, Iowa (Roosevelt)
DB Neil Campbell 5-11 205 Gr. Indiana Wesleyan Andrew Rode Chicago, Ill. (Hope Academy)
DB Thad Metcalfe 5-9 175 Sr. Baker (Kan.) Miguel Regalado Grantville, Kan. (Perry-Lecompton)
Specialists
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
P Kelen Meyer 6-2 210 R-Jr. Doane (Neb.) Jonathan Johnson Ord, Neb. (Ord)
PK Eli Stader 6-0 225 Sr. Northwestern (Iowa) Matt McCarty Cedar Grove, Wis. (Oostburg)
AP ^JaShawn Todd 5-10 175 Sr. Benedictine (Kan.) Joel Osborn Santa Clarita, Calif. (Oaks Christian)
LS Isaiah Hayse 6-3 225 Sr. Indiana Wesleyan Andrew Rode Danville, Ind. (Danville)
*-2023 AFCA All-American ^-2022 AFCA All-American
Team Background: The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams – University Division and College Division – were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively.
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.
Selection Process: The AFCA's NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
The Award: Members of the AFCA Coaches' All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.
AFCA NAIA Player Selection History: NAIA players who were selected to AFCA All-America teams were named to the AFCA College Division team from 1967-71. In 1972, the AFCA College Division was split to College I and College II. Players from NAIA Division I teams were placed in AFCA College I, while players from NAIA Division II were placed in AFCA College II. That process lasted until 1996, when College I and College II were renamed Division II and Division III. From 1996-2005, all NAIA players who were selected as AFCA All-Americans were placed on the AFCA Division II team. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.
For more information on the AFCA and its programs, visit www.afca.com and follow us on Twitter @WeAreAFCA.
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