Nine Bulldog football players honored by Omaha World-Herald

By on Dec. 26, 2013 in Football

Nine Bulldog football players honored by Omaha World-Herald

SEWARD, Neb. – On Christmas day the Omaha World-Herald released its annual NAIA All-Nebraska teams, recognizing nine Bulldog football players. AFCA-NAIA First Team All-American safety Darnell Woods received the most notable honor as he was tabbed the honorary captain of the All-Nebraska defensive team.

Woods was joined on the NAIA All-Nebraska squad by return man Derek Blessing, defensive lineman Dylan Heithoff, linebacker Langston Jones and quarterback Von Thomas. An additional four Bulldogs were named honorable mention selections by the Omaha World-Herald (see full list below).

Of the nine Concordia honorees, four are repeat choices having earned All-Nebraska from the Omaha World-Herald last season. All nine Bulldogs were named either first, second or honorable mention All-GPAC.

OWH NAIA All-Nebraska

KR: Derek Blessing – 18 KR, 403 yds, 22.4 avg. / 22 PR, 276 yds, 12.5 avg.
DL: Dylan Heithoff – 42 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, 1 FF, 2 FRs
LB: Langston Jones – 80 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 1 FR
QB: Von Thomas – passing: 197-334 (59.0%), 1,947 yards, 13 TD, 8 INT; rushing: 561 yards, 3 TD
DB: Darnell Woods – 88 tackles, 1 INT, 1.0 TFL, 2 PBUs, 1 blk

OWH NAIA All-Nebraska Honorable Mention

DL: Michael Gill – 49 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks
OL: Josh Powell – 11 starts
DB: Tait Sibbel – 54 tackles, 4 INT, 1.5 TFLs, 2 PBUs
TE: Josh Slechta – 23 rec, 322 yards, 14.0 avg., 1 TD

2013 Omaha World-Herald NAIA All-Nebraska Football Team

OFFENSE
WR, Connor Zumpfe, Nebraska Wesleyan, Jr.
WR, Austin Curlee, Hastings, So.
TE, John Tatum, Doane, Sr.
OL, Dillon Carmichael, Doane, Sr.
OL, Tanner Paxton, Hastings, Jr.
OL, Ryan Beebe, Nebraska Wesleyan, Sr.
OL, Joe Vetrovsky, Doane, Sr.
OL, Tyler Ford, Peru State, Jr.
QB, Von Thomas, Concordia, Jr.
RB, Dustin Bryant, Nebraska Wesleyan, Sr.
RB, Ethan Bray, Peru State, Sr.

Honorary captain: Tyler Ford, Peru State.

DEFENSE
DL, Phil Latimer, Nebraska Wesleyan, Jr.
DL, Dylan Heithoff, Concordia, Sr.
DL, Taylor TeKolste, Nebraska Wesleyan, Sr.
DL, Zach Lempka, Peru State, Sr.
LB, Jeremy Wallace, Doane, Sr.
LB, Langston Jones, Concordia, Sr.
LB, Brandon Reeves, Nebraska Wesleyan, Sr.
LB, Curtis Larsen, Peru State, Sr.
DB, Darnell Woods, Concordia, Sr.
DB, Alex Gildon, Hastings, So.
DB, JerSean Walder, Doane, Jr.
DB, Dalton Jenkins, Midland, Fr.

Honorary captain: Darnell Woods, Concordia.

SPECIAL TEAMS
K, Aaron Lorraine, Nebraska Wesleyan, Sr.
P, Kelby Vandenberg, Nebraska Wesleyan, Sr.
KR, Derek Blessing, Concordia, Sr.

Honorable mention: Michael Gill, Josh Powell, Tait Sibbel, Josh Slechta, Concordia; Kenny Boggs, Brett Eyer, Rob Keeney, Kam Lenhart, Doane; Jacob Claeys, Sean Robnett, Josh Watchorn, Erik Wylie, Hastings; Michael Karls, Trey McCluskey, Nathan Schlueter, Kirk Zinermon, Midland; Jack Barteldes, Corey Cundall, Tyler Francis, Seth Wardyn, Nebraska Wesleyan; Tyler Audsley, Dayton Graf, Logan Paben, Lance Steffen, Peru State