FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University offensive lineman Michael LaSala earned All-American honors from three separate outlets to lead the ODAC's contingent of five All-American honorees. That group includes a quartet from Guilford College in quarterback Matt Pawlowski, receiver Adam Smith, running back De'Eric Bell, and punter Tyler Hunt.
With the 2015 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl now in the books -- Mount Union defeated St. Thomas (Minn.), 49-35 -- several media outlets put the finishing touches on their annual All-American lists. That includes the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), D3football.com, and the Associated Press. LaSala was the ODAC's lone representative on the AFCA and AP lists, but was joined by Pawlowski, Smith, Bell and Hunt on the D3football.com All-America Third Team.
AFCA All-American Teams
D3football.com All-American Teams
AP Little All-American Teams
LaSala, a junior from Wilton, Conn., was one of the engines that powered the nation's top rushing attack, as W&L led all of college football with an average of 433.9 rushing yards per game. He started all 11 games at tackle and helped the Generals set a slew of records, including total offense (5,439 yds.), rushing offense (4,773 yds.) and points scored (417). During the season, W&L produced the three best single-game rushing performances in ODAC history. W&L rushed for a school-record 649 yards in a season-opening 63-35 win over Averett, and added 508 rushing yards against Emory & Henry and 506 rushing yards against Bridgewater. Washington and Lee finished the 2015 season with a 10-1 overall record. The Generals set a school record for wins and completed their first undefeated regular season in 54 years. W&L won the ODAC title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to Thomas More (51-21) in the opening round.
Bell, a sophomore from Jackson, Ga., earned his place on the D3football.com third team as a return specialist after finishing second in NCAA Division III with 2,235 all-purpose yards. A First Team All-ODAC all-purpose back, Bell set the Guilford standard with 736 kickoff return yards. His league-leading 30.7-yard kickoff return average ranked fourth nationally. Bell returned a Division III-best four kicks for touchdowns (2 kickoffs, 2 punts) and stood second in the country with 995 combined kick return yards. He also served as Guilford's top running back, collecting a career-high 943 rushing yards, third-most in the ODAC, and nine touchdowns.
Hunt, a senior from Gibsonville, N.C., became Guilford's first three-time all-region performer with his Second Team All-South honor earlier this month. He was selected as the First Team All-ODAC punter for the third straight season, his school-record sixth all-conference selection, which includes three all-league honors as a place-kicker. He led Division III with a 42.9-yard punting average, second-best in ODAC and school history, and became just the fourth two-time Division III punting champion and the first since 2006. Hunt totaled 1,543 yards on 36 punts and placed 13 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard-line. He had a long punt of 65 yards, one of his eight kicks of at least 50 yards and one of 25 that travelled at least 40 yards. Guilford's punt coverage team, combined with Hunt's powerful leg, helped the Quakers lead Division III with a 39.22-yard net punting average. In four seasons, Hunt averaged a school- and league-record 41.4 yards per punt in 141 attempts. His average stands 13th in Division III history. He set ODAC and school standards with a Division III-best 43.1-yard average in 2013 and booted a school-record 81-yard punt in 2014.
Pawlowski, senior from Greensboro, Va., appeared in Salem, Va., as a finalist for the 2015 Gagliardi Trophy as the nation's top player in addition to a second straight J. Stokeley Fulton Offensive Player of the Year award from the ODAC. NCAA Division III's fifth-highest rated passer (180.5) led the ODAC in passing yards (3,333), touchdowns (39) and fewest interceptions thrown (2) among quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts. He was second in the league in completions (227) and completion percentage (64.9%; 227-of-350). Pawlowski threw for an ODAC record 611 yards with seven touchdowns in a 52-49 win at Catholic. The 611 yards stand second in the country this year, regardless of NCAA division. A Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist for the second straight season, Pawlowski sits second among the ODAC's career leaders in passing yards (11,625) and touchdowns (116) and is third in completion percentage (63.7%; 872-of-1,369). With just 16 career interceptions, he compiled a 7.25-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Smith, a senior from Mocksville, N.C., set numerous league and school records in the finest of his four seasons. He ranked second in the ODAC with 89 receptions for 1,262 yards and 18 touchdowns, both conference highs. His 18 touchdown catches set a Guilford standard, rank second in ODAC history and fourth in Division III this year. Smith posted the second-highest receiving yards total in Guilford history with a figure that stood ninth nationally. He ranked sixth in Division III in receiving yards (126.2) and receptions (8.9) per game. The team captain placed 17th nationally with a league-best 11.0 points per game average. Smith leaves with Guilford's career records for receiving yards (3,988) and touchdowns (46), overall touchdowns (46), games with at least 100 receiving yards (19) and scoring (280). He ranks 14th among NCAA Division III's career leaders in touchdowns and 22nd in receiving yards.
For more information on ODAC Football, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.