Jablonski named to first team, Schlegel second team on AFCA All-America teams

By Jacob Knabel on Dec. 11, 2024 in Football

2024 AFCA NAIA All-America Football Teams

2024 NAIA All-America Football Teams (extended)

SEWARD, Neb. – For the 10th-straight year, the Concordia University, Nebraska Football program has placed at least one player on the list of NAIA All-Americans released by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). On Wednesday (Dec. 11), the coaches organization announced senior receiver Austin Jablonski as an NAIA First Team All-American and senior offensive lineman Blake Schlegel as an NAIA Second Team All-American. Both Jablonski and Schlegel were part of a program record-breaking offense in 2024. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad completed the season at 8-2 and ranked No. 17 in the NAIA.

Honored as an NAIA First Team All-American by the AFCA in back-to-back years, Jablonski played in the FCS Bowl this past Saturday, which allowed him the opportunity to get in front of professional scouts. The Lincoln Pius X High School alum posted 2024 totals of 76 receptions for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Jablonski is the only player in the program’s history to achieve back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Jablonski was twice named the GPAC Offensive Player of the Week in 2024 and broke a program record for a single game with 213 receiving yards in the win at Doane. On the program’s all-time lists, Jablonski ranks second in receptions (203), second in receiving yards (2,723) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (21). Jablonski is a two-time First Team All-GPAC selection and was tabbed a 2023 Second Team All-American by the Associated Press.

A Bruning, Neb., native and Bruning-Davenport-Shickley High School alum, Schlegel started all 10 games at right tackle this fall. He played a key role for an offense that averaged 211.9 rushing yards per game (5.3 per carry). Schlegel and his fellow offensive line teammates allowed only four sacks all season. The school records broken by the offense in 2024 included most points scored in a season (385), highest scoring average (38.5), most touchdowns scored in a season (53), most first downs per game (23.4), most yards gained in a season (4,697), most total yards per game (469.7), highest completion percentage (.605) and most passing touchdowns (28).

Since 2012, the program’s NAIA First Team All-Americans from the AFCA have included kicker Kenny Zoeller (2012), safety Darnell Woods (2013), defensive lineman Trey Barnes (2016), linebacker Lane Napier (2021) and receiver Austin Jablonski (2023 and 2024).

CONCORDIA FOOTBALL ALL-TIME ALL-AMERICANS

2024 – Austin Jablonski, receiver (first team – AFCA)

2024 – Blake Schlegel, offensive line (second team – AFCA)

2024 – Daylon Henson, safety (first team - Associated Press)

2023 – Austin Jablonski, receiver (first team – AFCA; second team – Associated Press)

2022 – Korrell Koehlmoos, receiver (honorable mention – AFCA)

2021 – Lane Napier, linebacker (first team – AFCA)

2021 – Garrett Schardt, tight end (honorable mention – AFCA)

2020 – Lane Napier, linebacker (second team – AFCA)

2019 – Lane Napier, linebacker (honorable mention – AFCA)

2018 – Lane Napier, linebacker (first team – Associated Press; honorable mention – NAIA)

2017 – Tarence Roby, defensive back (first team – Associated Press; second team – AFCA)

2016 – Trey Barnes, defensive line (first team – AFCA)

2015 – Trey Barnes, defensive line (second team – AFCA)

2013 – Darnell Woods, safety (first team – AFCA)

2012 – Derek Blessing, punt returner (first team – Beyond Sports Network)

2012 – Kenny Zoeller, kicker (first team – AFCA)

2007 – JaMaine Lewis, running back (second team – Victory Sports Network)

2007 – Jeff Neujahr, kick/punt returner (honorable mention – Victory Sports Network)

2006 – Jeff Neujahr, kick/punt returner (honorable mention – Victory Sports Network)

2004 – Matthew Egger, punter

2002 – Sean Stewart, safety (second team)

2001 – Erik DeHaven, linebacker

2001 – Sean Stewart, safety (honorable mention)

2001 – Ross Wurdeman, tight end (first team)

2000 – Sean Stewart, safety (honorable mention)

2000 – Ross Wurdeman, tight end (first team)

1998 – Drew Ekart, defensive back (honorable mention)

1996 – Ed McLaughlin, offensive line (honorable mention)

1995 – Mike Hoernemann, linebacker (honorable mention)

1994 – Travis Soukup, tight end/punter (first team)

1984 – Kahlil King, safety (first team)

1984 – Cleve Wester, running back

1982 – Gary Pomerenke, defensive line (first team)

1981 – Gary Pomerenke, defensive line (second team)

1965 – Dennis Oetting, lineman (honorable mention)

1964 – Bob Oetting, lineman

1961 – Larry Oetting, lineman

1959 – John Suhr, quarterback/safety/punter

1956 – Gary Seevers, running back

1955 – Gary Seevers, running back