ILLINOIS COLLEGE’S COLLIN BRUNSTEIN AND POMONA-PITZER’S CAMERON SHIRANGI HEADLINE THE 2023 AFCA DIVISION III COACHES’ ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

Illinois College wide receiver Collin Brunstein and Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) punter/kicker Cameron Shirangi headline the 2023 AFCA Division III 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.

Brunstein led all NCAA Divisions this season with 91 catches, 2,200 receiving yards and 31 receiving touchdowns, helping Illinois College to their first-ever Midwest Conference title. Those totals are also new program and Midwest Conference single season records.

Shirangi became the first student-athlete to ever be named an AFCA All-American at two positions on the same team. He was named first team at punter and second team at kicker. Shirangi led the nation in punting with a 46.39 average and was perfect on field goals this season, going 8 for 8. He was also 24 of 25 on PATs.

*-2022 AFCA All-American

Team Background: The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. 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 — Division I-A and Division I-AA.

In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. The AFCA began selecting an NAIA-only team in 2006. Also in 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), 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 Division III All-America Selection Committee is made up of head coaches representing each conference 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.