2024 GPAC All-Conference Football Teams
First Team: Mark Arp (RB); Carson Fehlhafer (DL); Daylon Henson (DB); Austin Jablonski (WR); Devon Polley (DL); Blake Schlegel (OL); Kyle Sterup (DL); Tyler Walford (OL).
Second Team: John Goodwin (TE); DJ McGarvie (QB); Adam Van Cleave (WR).
Honorable Mention: Cohen Carpenter (OL); Grant Huss (LB); Christian Schlepp (OL).
SEWARD, Neb. – In light of the program’s winningest season in more than two decades, the Concordia University, Nebraska Football team landed eight players on the 2024 GPAC All-Conference first team. In total, 14 Bulldogs were honored with all-conference accolades in an announcement made by the league office on Wednesday (Nov. 20). The first team selections include running back Mark Arp, defensive lineman Carson Fehlhafer, safety Daylon Henson, receiver Austin Jablonski, defensive lineman Devon Polley, offensive lineman Blake Schlegel, defensive lineman Kyle Sterup and offensive lineman Tyler Walford.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad concluded the 2024 season at 8-2. Despite a strong resume, Concordia was left out of the 20-team NAIA Football Championship Series field. The eight first team All-GPAC honorees are a program record and tied for the most of any GPAC football program for 2024.
While running behind a physically stout and veteran offensive line, Arp enjoyed one of the finest seasons ever by a Bulldog tailback. His 1,195 yards represented the third highest single season rushing total in program history and his 13 rushing touchdowns equaled a record set by Cleve Wester in 1984. The McCook, Neb., native also added 20 receptions for 141 yards. Arp hit the century mark in the rushing department four times in 2024 with a high of 210 coming in the win at Dakota Wesleyan. Over four seasons, Arp amassed 2,037 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. The career rushing total ranks No. 7 on the school’s all-time list.
A junior from Utica, Neb., Fehlhafer served as a force at the nose guard position for a defense that ranked 21st nationally against the rush. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound stalwart moved up to the GPAC’s first team after being tabbed honorable mention in 2023. The season tallies for Fehlhafer included 39 tackles, six stops for loss, six sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal. Fehlhafer was named the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 7 after he registered three sacks in the 29-17 win at No. 2 Northwestern. Over his first three seasons at Concordia, Fehlhafer has notched 85 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
In the secondary, Henson emerged as a big-time playmaker in 2024. He equaled a GPAC high with six interceptions and added 55 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The Pearland, Texas, native was tabbed the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week following the 45-13 win at Midland. Henson also returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown as part of the victory at Briar Cliff.
A Lincoln Pius X High School alum, Jablonski put his name up there with the greatest receivers to ever play at Concordia. As a senior in 2024, the former Cornhusker walk-on posted 76 receptions for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown as one of the GPAC’s most dynamic offensive threats. 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 honored in 2023 by the American Football Coaches Association as an NAIA First Team All-American.
Polley teamed up with Fehlhafer and Sterup for arguably the best defensive line in the GPAC. The Edmond, Okla., native has picked up his third career All-GPAC award having been tabbed second team in 2022 and honorable mention in 2023. As a senior, Polley piled up 42 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and 11 quarterback hurries. His impressive career totals include 152 tackles, 54 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and two interceptions. Polley was an immediate impact player and registered at least 3.5 sacks in all four years.
Schlegel (Bruning, Neb.) and Walford (Lincoln, Kan.) have anchored an offensive line that helped pave the way for the Bulldogs to break program records for scoring average (38.5) and total yards per game (469.7). Schlegel (right tackle) and Walford (left guard) both started all 10 games in 2024 as part of a unit that surrendered only four sacks and opened holes for a run game that averaged 211.9 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry. Schlegel (honorable mention in 2023) and Walford (second team in 2023) have earned All-GPAC accolades in back-to-back years. In addition, right guard Christian Schlepp (10 starts in 2024) of Manhattan, Kan., and left tackle Cohen Carpenter (10 starts in 2024) of Manvel, Texas, were named Honorable Mention All-GPAC. A two-time all-conference honoree, Schlepp has spent six years in the program. As for Carpenter, he is a transfer from Abilene Christian University and started 18 games over two seasons as a Bulldog.
The Osceola, Neb., native Sterup has landed on the All-GPAC first team for the second-straight year. The 6-foot-5 senior ranked second on the team in tackles with 69 in 2024. He also added 15.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and a blocked field goal. Sterup made four stops in the backfield in the win over Mount Marty. In 37 career games as a Bulldog, Sterup has totaled 206 tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Sterup and his defensive teammates combined for 79 tackles for loss and 28 sacks in 2024.
A roommate and close friend to Jablonski, tight end John Goodwin (Lincoln, Neb.) earned Second Team All-GPAC accolades in his only season as a Bulldog. In his first game with Concordia, Goodwin caught two touchdowns as part of the home win over Waldorf. He finished this season with 12 receptions for 210 yards and four touchdowns while serving as an all-around player at the tight end position. Goodwin teamed up with fellow tight end Daylan Russell (six touchdown catches) for a potent combo.
The Lincoln North Star High School alum DJ McGarvie earned back-to-back Second Team All-GPAC honors and goes down as the most accomplished quarterback in program history. In his senior season in 2024, McGarvie 192-of-319 passes (.602) for 2,366 yards and 28 touchdowns for an efficiency rating of 144.6. McGarvie owns program career records for passing yards (9,045), passing touchdowns (82), completions (761) and pass attempts (1,318) and holds school single season standards for passing yards (2,642 in 2023), passing touchdowns (28 in 2024), completions (229 in 2022) and pass attempts (388 in 2022). His 458 passing yards versus Dordt in 2022 represent a school record for a single game. In addition to his 82 career touchdown passes, the Valparaiso, Neb., native ran for nine scores.
In his first full healthy season with the Bulldogs, Adam Van Cleave (Columbus, Neb.) blossomed. He picked up Second Team All-GPAC accolades thanks to a stellar junior campaign that included 57 receptions for 652 yards and six touchdowns. In his best statistical performance, Van Cleave made eight grabs for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Doane. Van Cleave caught at least four passes in nine of 10 games this season. He also returned 19 kicks for 417 yards with a long of 34.
As a junior in 2024, Grant Huss (Lincoln, Neb.) earned a starting role at linebacker and never looked back. Huss has garnered Honorable Mention All-GPAC status after leading Concordia in tackles with 87. His season stat line also included 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and three pass breakups. Huss accumulated a season high 12 tackles in the home win over Hastings and turned in four games with double-digit tackle numbers.