Four ODAC Players Earn AFCA and D3football.com All-American Honors

Posted: Dec 22, 2021

FOREST, Va. --- The 2021 football season is in the books with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl crowning another champion this past weekend. The two major outlets covering Division III football have weighed in with their final awards. Four standouts from ODAC schools earned All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and/or D3football.com.

Three players earned high honors from the AFCA. Randolph-Macon College offensive lineman Will Jackson was tabbed a First Team All-American along with Shenandoah University linebacker Ben Burgan. Yellow Jackets kicker Chris Vidal was named to the All-America Second Team.

D3football.com honored four teams of All-Americans. Vidal again was recognized, this time as the fourth team kicker. Bridgewater College punter Garrett Graves was also named to the fourth team.

The D3football.com All-America release comes on the heels of its Division III All-Region announcement. A total of 20 players earned All-Region laurels.

D3football.com ALL-REGION III | ODAC HONOREES

First Team Offense (2): Chris Vidal, R-MC (PK); Brant Butler, SU (WR)
First Team Defense (1): Garrett Graves, BC (P)
Second Team Offense (5): Tmahdae Penn, FC (WR); Justin DeLeon, R-MC (RB); Will Jackson, R-MC (T); Josh Breece, W&L (RB); Jared Cordova, W&L (OG)
Second Team Defense (5): Brendan Weinberg, H-SC (LB); Tyler DeBerry, R-MC (DE); Jace DePriest, R-MC (DT); Dean Johnson, W&L (S); Robert Poindexter, W&L (DE)
Third Team Offense (2): Connor Denning, R-MC (OG); Tim Hanratty, R-MC (TE)
Third Team Defense (6): Chase Rosenthal, BC (CB); Brett Tharp, BC (LB); Will Pickren, H-SC (S); Stephen Richardson, R-MC (CB); Chris Vidal, R-MC (P); Mason Caldwell, SU (DT)

Jackson is a three-time All-ODAC First Team honoree and two-time winner of the Offensive Lineman of the Year award by the Touchdown Club of Richmond. This is his second All-American recognition joining a second team appointment from D3football.com last season. Jackson helped lead an offensive line that ranked among Division III's best in several statistical categories. Those including second in time of possession (34:58), fourth in sacks allowed (0.60/game) and fourth down conversion percentage (0.773), eighth in tackles for a loss allowed (3.30/game), 12th in rushing offense (251.7 yards/game), 17th in total offense (451.4 yards/game), and 18th in scoring offense (41.3 points/game).

Burgan is the third All-American in SU program history and add this year's AFCA award to a pair of All-ODAC selections. Burgan led NCAA Division III in tackles with a program record 136 stops. That included 74 solo tackles and 62 assists. His total and solo marks led the ODAC, while the assists ranked second. He was second in the league with 14.5 tackles for a loss and registered double figure stops in all but one game. That included a season-high 20 stops in a 14-6 season-ending victory over Washington and Lee. In his 30-game career, Burgan has 129 solo tackles and 108 assisted stops with 22.5 TFLs.

RELATED: 2021 All-ODAC Football Awards

Vidal is a two-time (2021 spring, 2021 fall) All-ODAC First Team honoree as a placekicker and earned a second team selection as a punter this year. He earned State Specialists of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond for the second straight year. Vidal finished second in the ODAC in scoring (84 points) as he led the ODAC in PATs made (48), PAT percentage (48-of-48), field goals made (12), and field goals attempted (15). His 80.0-percent (12-of-15) field goal percentage ranked second in the league.

For his career, Vidal is the ODAC's all-time leader in PATs made at 172. He is #2 in ODAC history in field goals made (34). Those totals rank first and second, respectively, in Randolph-Macon history. Vidal made a career-best 49 field goal in a win at Ferrum this season.

Graves is the 34th All-American in BC program history and marks the third straight season an Eagle has earned a high honor. He adds his All-America honor to an All-ODAC First Team nod in his second season as the Eagles full-time punter. He led the ODAC in punting yardage (1,976), punting average (37.6), punts inside the 20-yard line (26), and punts fair caught (21). He was third in total punts (49). He booted eight kicks over 50 yards with a pair of 60-yard efforts including a season-best 62-yard punt against Apprentice School. Graves punting average ranked 10th in Division III.