CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the 2023 Football All-Conference and marquee awards winners on Thursday.
Senior
Josh Taylor (Mt. Orab, Ohio) earned the title of 2023 HCAC Offensive Player of the Year. Josh Taylor finished 1st in the Country in Passing TD's and Points Responsible for, while leading MSJ offense to 57.5 ppg (3rd in country in scoring). 3,168 total yards and 52 Total TD's. Taylor finished the season with 45 passong touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns. The Lion's team captain boasts 207 completions for a 61.24 completion percentage, for 2,806 yards for a 280.60 passing yards per game average. In addition to getting it done in the air, the senior also did it on the ground, with 75 carries for 362 yards, with an average of 36.20 yards per game.
Franklin College's
Jireh Ojata (Carmel, Ind.) was named the 2023 HCAC Defensive Player of the Year. The senior led the confernce in tackles for loss. The senior was second in the HCAC in sacks with 7, six solo and five assisted, for a lost 52 yards. Ojata had 7 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 blocked kicks.
Earning his third straight HCAC Special Teams Player of the Year award is
Jailen Hobbs (Spring Lake, N.C.) from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The senior was a standout returner for the Fightin' Engineers, with 14 kickoff returns in 2023 for an impressive 305 yards. His average per carry was 21.79 yards and longest return was 49 yards. Hobbs also racked up a notable tally on punt returns, with 13 returns for 290 yards, for an average of 22.31 yards and two scores.
The HCAC recognizes an athlete in their first year of athletic competition who stands out above the rest as the Newcomer of the Year. The coaches selected
Eian Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) as the 2023 HCAC Newcomer of the Year. The quarterback put up impressive numbers in his first season in a Panthers uniform, throwing 20 touchdowns in seven games.
Mount St. Joseph head coach
Tyler Hopperton was voted as the 2023 HCAC Coach of the Year, following a perfect 7-0 record in HCAC play, claiming the 2023 HCAC Football Regular Season title and a berth in the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs. He also led the Lions to a 9-1 mark overall on the year.
Offensive Player of the Year – Josh Taylor, Mount St. Joseph University
Defensive Player of the Year – Jireh Ojata, Franklin College
Special Teams Player of the Year – Jailen Hobbs, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Newcomer of the Year – Eian Roudebush, Hanover College
Coach of the Year – Tyler Hopperton, Mount St. Joseph University
The HCAC also honors an All-Conference First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention team. The members of those teams are selected by a vote of league coaches and are listed below.
All Conference First Team
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Josiah Ansorena-Smith |
RS |
Manchester University |
| Cornell Beachem |
WR |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Caleb Brewster |
LB |
Hanover College |
| Decklan Brophy |
DL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Thomas Coltrain |
LB |
Defiance College |
| Garrett Cora |
RB |
Franklin College |
| Ethan Corwin |
OL |
Franklin College |
| Jamey Deckard |
LB |
Hanover College |
| Devon Donawerth |
DB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Markus Finley |
OL |
Bluffton University |
| Kenneth Gipson |
OL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Michael Gordon |
RS |
Hanover College |
| Jaylen Grimes |
DL |
Manchester University |
| Jailen Hobbs |
WR/RS |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Jamaal Hubbard |
LB |
Manchester University |
| Daniel Huery |
WR |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Collin Kandra |
OL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Ben Klein |
TE |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Brody Luker |
DB |
Hanover College |
| Danny Mabe |
OL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Ben Massey |
LB |
Hanover College |
| Joey Newton |
WR |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Jireh Ojata |
DL |
Franklin College |
| Nate Owens |
LB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Brady Pierce |
DB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Justin Pierson |
OL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Richard Pope IV |
DL |
Defiance College |
| Kyle Rehberg |
PK |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Grant Ripperda |
RB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Devin Salyers |
OL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Chaikou Sow |
DB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Deshawn Starks |
DB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Josh Taylor |
QB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Andrew Toler |
P |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| David Wall |
DL |
Hanover College |
| Anthony Wright |
LB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
All Conference Second Team
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Ethan Beringer |
WR |
Bluffton University |
| Brady Butler |
DL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Noah Caswell |
DL |
Hanover College |
| Jasper Damewood |
P |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Cameron Dorsey |
DB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Hunter Eads |
WR |
Hanover College |
| Kyle Farfsing |
PK |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Adam Field |
DB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Tyshaun Freeman |
RB |
Defiance College |
| Parker Hacker |
OL |
Franklin College |
| Dominic Harris |
DL |
Defiance College |
| Julian Holguin |
WR |
Anderson University |
| Hayden Kermode |
LB |
Franklin College |
| Isaac Lawrence |
DL |
Franklin College |
| Mariano Mckenzie |
RB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Dylan McKinney |
WR |
Franklin College |
| Shay McRath |
DL |
Franklin College |
| Ryus Moore |
TE |
Franklin College |
| Eric Moultrie Jr. |
OL |
Defiance College |
| Jacob Mutchler |
OL |
Hanover College |
| Qiyone Nelson |
OL |
Bluffton University |
| DeMarion Newell |
DB |
Franklin College |
| V’Sean Palmer |
DB |
Defiance College |
| Nick Perry |
LB |
Bluffton University |
| Gary Powell III |
TE |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Gavin Reners |
LB |
Anderson University |
| Miguel Robertson |
QB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Tawann Rome |
RS |
Defiance College |
| Eric Roudebush |
WR/P |
Hanover College |
| Chris Schletz |
OL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Bryce Shepherd |
OL |
Hanover College |
| Jacob Simpson |
LB |
Anderson University |
| Kainan Stoner |
RB |
Bluffton University |
| Jack Tucker |
DL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Ari Turner |
RS |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Justin Williamson |
DB |
Hanover College |
All Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Justin Abiagom |
TE |
Manchester University |
| Jordan Ambrose |
QB |
Defiance College |
| Wyatt Bell |
DB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Mathew Bolanos |
P |
Defiance College |
| Gabriel Bookman |
OL |
Defiance College |
| Gabe Crutchfield |
PK |
Franklin College |
| Quinn Dreiband |
OL |
Anderson University |
| Malik Echols |
DL |
Bluffton University |
| Jackson Elder |
OL |
Anderson University |
| Adam Guth |
P |
Franklin College |
| Conner Hindman |
OL |
Manchester University |
| Sam Huffman |
DL |
Manchester University |
| Connor Huffman |
DL |
Anderson University |
| Deitric Johnson |
TE |
Anderson University |
| Jaydon McBreen |
DB |
Bluffton University |
| Marvus McWright |
DL |
Bluffton University |
| Devontay Moore |
DL |
Manchester University |
| Duriel Moss Jr. |
WR |
Manchester University |
| Austin Oppel |
RB |
Hanover College |
| Jakey Ovanic |
DL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Dylan Page |
OL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Pedro Paixao |
PK |
Hanover College |
| Dave Paul |
DB |
Manchester University |
| Niegel Payne |
WR |
Bluffton University |
| Jalen Peck |
WR |
Hanover College |
| Xavier Reyero |
QB |
Bluffton University |
| Kai Ross |
QB |
Franklin College |
| Zeke Sanchez |
PK |
Defiance College |
| Josh Sanders |
OL |
Franklin College |
| CJ Thompson |
RS |
Bluffton University |
| Derek Thompson |
RS |
Franklin College |
For more information on HCAC football, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.