W&J's Dietz Earns D3football.com Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year

Honor highlights 19 from PAC on All-Region Teams

12/12/2024 9:30:00 AM

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (pacathletics.org) - For the second consecutive year, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) placed 19 players on the D3football.com All-Region 2 Teams, highlighted by Washington & Jefferson College senior defensive tackle Dawson Dietz earning the Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year award.

The 19 players matches the PAC high on the All-Region teams, set just last year. D3football.com began naming All-Region teams in 2005 and the previous high before the last two seasons was 18 on the All-South Team following that 2005 season.

The NCAA realigned Division III football into six regions in 2021. Region 2 includes the Centennial Conference, Empire 8, Landmark Conference, Liberty League, New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and the PAC. The 19 PAC players on the All-Region 2 teams is the most by any conference, followed by the Empire 8 (16), Liberty League and NJAC (13), Landmark (12) and Centennial (eight).

The 2024 PAC tri-champions headlined the PAC representation, as W&J had six make the teams, while Grove City and Carnegie Mellon had five apiece. Westminster placed two on the teams, while one from Case Western Reserve University was chosen.

The Region Defensive Player of the Year award for Dietz adds to a very impressive collection of hardware following his senior season. The Presidents' defensive tackle was also the PAC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association. Dietz is the first from the PAC to win the top defensive player award in the region from D3football.com and just the fourth to earn a Region Player of the Year honor. The last was W&J wide receiver Jesse Zubik, who was the South Region's top offensive player in 2017, and prior to that was Thomas More running back Domonique Hayden in 2014 and wideout Brandon Chambers from Thiel in 2005.

Many of those earning the D3football recognition have become regulars on the All-Region teams. Carnegie Mellon graduate student linebacker Robert Coury is now a four-time All-Region, including Third Team in 2021 and three consecutive First Team awards. Making their third appearance on the D3football lists is Dietz, now a three-time First Team selection, and Carnegie Mellon cornerback Adrian Williams.

Those appearing on the All-Region teams for a second time include Grove City linebacker Ben Bladel (2023 First Team), wide receiver Scott Fraser (2022 First Team), offensive lineman Brady Brungard (2023 Third Team) and defensive end Bryce Spolnik (2023 Third Team); W&J quarterback Jacob Pugh (2023 Third Team); and Westminster safety Brice Butler (2022 Second Team).

The teams, selected in balloting by Region 2 sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 247 nominations by full Division III member schools. A total of 81 players were chosen. Players nominated for All-Region are eligible to be considered for D3football.com All-America honors, which will be announced Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
 
2024 D3football.com All-Region 2
First Team Defense
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown/High School
DT Dawson Dietz W&J Sr. Allison Park, Pa./Hampton
LB Robert Coury Carnegie Mellon Grad. Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg
Second Team Offense
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown/High School
RB Scott Fraser Grove City Sr. Butler, Pa./Knoch
C Brady Brungard Grove City Sr. New Middletown, Ohio/Springfield Local
T Hunter Campbell Carnegie Mellon Grad. Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North
Second Team Defense
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown/High School
DE Avery Keith W&J Sr. Hartville, Ohio/Lake
LB Ben Bladel Grove City Jr. Coraopolis, Pa./Moon
CB Adrian Williams Carnegie Mellon Grad. Venetia, Pa./Peters Township
Third Team Offense
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown/High School
QB Jacob Pugh W&J Sr. Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson
WR Jacob Macosko W&J Jr. Venetia, Pa./Peters Township
TE Zach Cernuto W&J Sr. Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland
C Tony Thivener Case Western Reserve Sr. Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley
G Adam Kozera W&J Sr. Sharpsville, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic
RET Brite Cannon Westminster Fr. Parkland, Fla./Monarch
Third Team Defense
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown/High School
DE Bryce Spolnik Grove City Sr. McDonald, Pa./South Fayette
DE Mitchell Stokey Carnegie Mellon Sr. New Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia
LB Thomas Coury Carnegie Mellon Grad. Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford
S Brice Butler Westminster Sr. Farrell, Pa./Farrell
CB Boden Davidson Grove City Jr. Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian