Football | 8/19/2025 5:00:00 PM

TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - Three players from three different Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) programs were named to the D3football.com Preseason All-American teams, the second consecutive season the conference had three players on the national website's preseason All-American teams.

Earning First Team recognition was Grove City College senior linebacker Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon), while Westminster College sophomore Brite Cannon (Parkland, Fla./Monarch) was a Second Team selection as a return specialist. Rounding out the PAC players on the list was Washington & Jefferson College senior wide receiver Jacob Macosko (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township). 

This is Bladel's second straight preseason accolade from D3football, which comes on the heels of earning D3football.com All-America recognition in 2024, as well as American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Associated Press Division III All-America status after his junior campaign.

He started all 11 games last year for Grove City, recording 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. He forced three fumbles and had 40 total tackles. A three-time First Team All-PAC selection, Bladel is Grove City's all-time leader in both sacks and tackles for loss as he owns 34 career sacks and 59 tackles for loss. His 12 forced fumbles are the most in program history.

With Bladel back for a Wolverine defense that led Division III in turnover margin (+21) and ranked third nationally in rushing defense (40.6), Grove City will enter the 2025 season ranked 23rd in both the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 polls. The Wolverines will also be playing for their third straight PAC championship this season.

Cannon secured First Team All-PAC spots last November as both an all-purpose player and as a return specialist. He had six total touchdowns last season, including four special teams' scores. Cannon finished with 33 catches for 390 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 14 tackles (7 solo), a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. He is the fifth Westminster player to earn preseason All-American status from D3football under 12th-year head coach Scott Benzel and first since defensive back Brice Butler was a Third Team choice in 2023.

The Titans, who closed the 2024 season with an 8-3 record following a 27-13 win over Marietta College in the Extra Points Bowl as part of the Opendorse Bowl Series, have also gained some attention in the preseason polls. Westminster is receiving votes in both the D3football and AFCA balloting.

Macosko's appearance on the D3football list makes him the first Presidents' Preseason All-American wide receiver since Andrew Wolf prior to the 2021 season. As a junior, Macosko snared 83 receptions for 1,230 yards and 14 touchdowns and collected his first All-PAC First Team honor following his career year. Macosko ranked among the top receivers in NCAA Division III in receiving yards (12th), receiving yards per game (12th), receiving touchdowns (12th) and receptions (8th).

W&J is also coming off a PAC championship season, as the Presidents won their 27th conference crown and made their 27th NCAA Playoff appearance in 2024. Following their PAC championship season, W&J nearly cracked the Top 25 in both preseason polls this year, as the Presidents are first among Others Receiving Votes in the AFCA voting and third in ORV in the D3football rankings. 

Story contributions from Grove City, Westminster, W&J Sports Information