WACO, Texas --- Three ODAC standouts earned recognition in the final set of awards announced by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Wednesday. Bridgewater linebacker Re'Shaun Myers and Ferrum offensive lineman Jordan Patti earned First Team All-America laurels, while Shenandoah offensive lineman Daniel Small collected Second Team All-America recognition.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. The AFCA's Division III All-America Selection Committee is made up of head coaches representing each conference from each of the AFCA's eight districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
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Myers, a senior from Ringgold, Va., is the seventh Eagle to earn a spot on an AFCA All-American team. He is the first two-time and back-to-back winner of the ODAC's Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year award since it was inaugurated in 2004. Myers racked up 98 tackles on the season including 52 solo stops. Those numbers rank third and fourth in the ODAC. His 6.0 quarterback sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss both ranked third in the conference. He also forced a league-best three fumbles. Myers put together some of his best performances against the Eagles' toughtest opponents this season. He posted 12 stops with 3.0 sacks and 4.0 TFLs in a key non-conferene victory at Stevenson. He racked up a season-best 15 tackles with 2.0 TFLs in an ODAC-clinching win over Randolph-Macon. He capped his career with 14 stops in Bridgewater's playoff contest with Delaware Valley. Myers posted 208 tackles including 22.0 for a loss and 9.0 sacks for his career.
Patti, a senior from Moneta, Va., earns his first All-America honor. His selection marks the third straight year a Panther has earned AFCA All-American recognition following running back Brian Mann in 2018 and defensive lineman Montel Lee in 2017. Patti is a two-time All-ODAC Second Team choice and a four-time all-conference pick after earning All-USA South First and Second Team honors in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Small, a senior from Atlanta, Ga., Small, Shenandoah's starting right tackle, is the second AFCA All-America in the program's 20-year history. Free safety Gregg Anderson '03 was selected following his senior year as the program's first-ever All-America. Small, a three-year starter at Shenandoah, helped the squad to 17 wins during that span and saw quarterback Hayden Bauserman '18 lead the nation in passing yards in 2018 on his way to ODAC Offensive Player of the Year and Gagliardi Award finalist honors. Small earned All-ODAC Second Team accolades this season after registering 17 knockdowns in 10 games and not allowing a sack. SU finished the year with a 6-4 record and won four ODAC contests.