Victory Sports Network NAIA 99 preseason watchlist
SEWARD, Neb. – Returning First Team All-GPAC performers Austin Jablonski and Kyle Sterup garnered preseason recognition. On Wednesday (Aug. 14), Victory Sports Network named Jablonski and Sterup to it’s “NAIA 99: Preseason NAIA Football Watchlist.” The list is intended to highlight the top returning NAIA football players from around the country. There are 18 players from the GPAC mentioned on the watchlist.
Tabbed a 2023 First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, Jablonski enters 2024 as one of the top returning receivers in the nation. The Lincoln Pius X High School alum concluded the ’23 season with 91 receptions for 1,134 yards and eight touchdowns. His 1,134 receiving yards set a new program record for a single season, surpassing the previous standard of 1,024 by Korrell Koehlmoos (honorable mention All-American) in 2022. Jablonski also rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns and threw for a score in 2023. As the top target for quarterback DJ McGarvie, Jablonski eclipsed 100 receiving yards in six games. Jablonski has totaled 127 catches for 1,617 yards and 11 touchdowns (20 total touchdowns) in 20 career games as a Bulldog.
Up front, the Osceola, Neb., native Sterup anchors the defense. Sterup led all GPAC players and ranked top five nationally for tackles for loss with 19 in 2023. Sterup ranked third on the team with 69 tackles while also posting seven quarterback hurries, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt. Sterup collected a career high five tackles for loss in the win over Doane. He also caught a 16-yard pass on a fake field goal in that contest. The strong junior season for Sterup followed a sophomore campaign that saw him make 63 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad will open the 2024 season by hosting new GPAC member Waldorf for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on Aug. 31.