CONCORDIA’S (NEB.) AUSTIN JABLONSKI AND GRAND VIEW’S TRISTIN WAUGH HEADLINE THE 2023 AFCA NAIA COACHES’ ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

Concordia (Neb.) wide receiver Austin Jablonski and Grand View (Iowa) defensive lineman Tristin Waugh headline the 2023 AFCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America Teams announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

Jablonski tied for the NAIA lead in receiving yards per game with 113.4. He caught 91 passes in 2023 and set a school record with 1,134 receiving yards and had eight touchdowns. Waugh was named Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NAIA in sacks with 15. He also recorded 26 solo tackles and 48 total tackles.

Friends (Kan.) offensive lineman Keegan Martin earned his fourth AFCA All-America honor, making him just the third player in NAIA history to accomplish the feat. Martin earned his first three All-America honors while at Bethel (Kan.) in the spring and fall of 2021 and 2022. He joins Ottawa (Ariz.) teammates Dustin Rivera (OL-2018-19-S21-F21) and Austin Bohn (P-2018-19-S21-22).

*-2022 AFCA All-American

Team Background: The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams – University Division and College Division – were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively.

From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.

Selection Process: The AFCA’s NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA’s seven 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.

The Award: Members of the AFCA Coaches’ All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.

AFCA NAIA Player Selection History: NAIA players who were selected to AFCA All-America teams were named to the AFCA College Division team from 1967-71. In 1972, the AFCA College Division was split to College I and College II. Players from NAIA Division I teams were placed in AFCA College I, while players from NAIA Division II were placed in AFCA College II. That process lasted until 1996, when College I and College II were renamed Division II and Division III. From 1996-2005, all NAIA players who were selected as AFCA All-Americans were placed on the AFCA Division II team. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.