CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) announced the 2024 Football All-Conference and special awards winners on Thursday.
Mount St. Joseph standout wide reciever
Eli Aston (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned the title of 2024 HCAC Offensive Player of the Year. Aston leads the HCAC in total receiving yards (855), receiving touchdowns (10), and average yards per game (142.5/game) during conference play. He also finished 4th in the country in receiving yards, helping lead the Lions to their third consectutive NCAA playoff berth.
Joining his teammate from the other side of the field
, Jack Tucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) was named the 2024 HCAC Defensive Player of the Year. The senior led his squad in tackles for loss and was second on his team in total tackles. His leadership on a dominant Lions defense, helped Mount St. Joseph clinch the 2024 HCAC Regular Season title.
Earning this year's HCAC Special Teams Player of the Year award is
Andrew Toler (Bidwell, Ohio) from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. During the 2024 season, the fifth year punter set the all-time Division 3 record for average yards per punt (47.85 yds/punt). While leading the Fightin' Engineers as captain, Toler tallied 17 total punts of 50+ yards, with his longest punt being 70 yards and 12 of his punts were downed inside the 20 yard line.
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 league's coaches selected Mount St. Joseph first year
Luke Fortkamp (Cincinnati, Ohio) as the 2024 HCAC Newcomer of the Year. The nickelback started eight games as a true freshman for the Lions and was the leading tackler in the 2024 HCAC Championship game.
In a new award for the 2024 season, the Coordinator of the Year award was awarded to Mount St. Joseph Offensive Coordinator,
Darold Hughes. Coach Hughes shares the sideline with Mount St. Joseph head coach
Tyler Hopperton, who
was voted as the 2024 HCAC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. Coach Hughes and Coach Hopperton lead the Lions to a perfect 6-0 record in HCAC play, claiming the 2024 HCAC Football Regular Season title and a berth in the 2024 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs.
Offensive Player of the Year – Eli Aston, Mount St. Joseph University
Defensive Player of the Year – Jack Tucker, Mount St. Joseph University
Special Teams Player of the Year – Andrew Toler, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Newcomer of the Year – Luke Fortkamp, Mount St. Joseph University
Coordinator of the Year - Darold Hughes, Mount St. Joseph University
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 |
| Eli Aston |
WR |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Decklan Brophy |
DL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Brady Buller |
DL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Noah Caswell |
DL |
Hanover College |
| Garrett Cora |
RB |
Franklin College |
| Ethan Corwin |
OL |
Franklin College |
| Jamey Deckard |
LB |
Hanover College |
| Markus Finley |
OL |
Bluffton University |
| Luke Fortkamp |
DB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Michael Gordon |
RS |
Hanover College |
| Parker Hacker |
OL |
Franklin College |
| Daniel Huery |
WR |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Connor Huffman |
DL |
Anderson University |
| Antonius Hurd |
DB/RS |
Anderson University |
| Kahari Jackson |
DB |
Franklin College |
| Collin Kandra |
OL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Ben Klein |
TE |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Marshall Koch |
LB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Jacob Mutchler |
OL |
Hanover College |
| Luke Paff |
LB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Dylan Page |
OL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Nick Perry |
LB |
Bluffton University |
| Kadin Pollard |
WR |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Gary Powell III |
TE |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Tyler Prather |
QB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Kyle Rehberg |
PK |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Eric Roudebush |
WR/P |
Hanover College |
| Evan Schlensker |
LB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Jonah Smith |
DB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Jay Smith |
RB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Andrew Toler |
P |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Jack Tucker |
DL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Ari Turner |
RS |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Brian Wall |
DB |
Hanover College |
| David Wall |
DL |
Hanover College |
| Owen Wright |
WR |
Franklin College |
All-Conference Second Team
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Antonio Barnes |
DB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Rickey Bell |
DB |
Anderson University |
| Ethan Beringer |
WR |
Bluffton University |
| Devonte Brown |
DL |
Franklin College |
| Levarian Campbell |
WR |
Manchester University |
| Travion Curry |
DB |
Bluffton University |
| Javion Davis |
DB |
Manchester University |
| Jackson Gifford |
RB |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Blake Haiflich |
LB |
Manchester University |
| Brock Harris |
DL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Austin Hastings |
LB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Clint Hearne |
PK |
Hanover College |
| Julian Holguin |
WR |
Anderson University |
| Garron Jenkins |
DL |
Hanover College |
| Marvus McWright |
DL |
Bluffton University |
| Drew Michael |
P |
Bluffton University |
| Matt Nealy |
TE |
Franklin College |
| Qiyone Nelson |
OL |
Bluffton University |
| DaMarion Newell |
DB |
Franklin College |
| Keegan O'Neill |
LB |
Franklin College |
| Austin Oppel |
RB |
Hanover College |
| Niegel Payne |
WR |
Bluffton University |
| Jalen Peck |
WR |
Hanover College |
| Gavin Reners |
LB |
Anderson University |
| Eian Roudebush |
QB |
Hanover College |
| Devin Salyers |
OL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| Ryan Schmidt |
DB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Bryce Shepherd |
OL |
Hanover College |
| Augustus Shryock |
DL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Eli Silva |
RS |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Jake Simpson |
LB |
Anderson University |
| Kainan Stoner |
RB |
Bluffton University |
| Aidan Sturgeon |
OL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Aiden Stuteville |
OL |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| David Warfield Jr. |
OL |
Bluffton University |
| Brayden Wilkins |
RS |
Franklin College |
All-Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
POS |
Institution |
| Wyatt Bell |
DB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Cannon Brunes |
LS |
Hanover College |
| Quinn Dreiband |
OL |
Anderson University |
| Rick Easterwood |
QB |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Angel Estrada |
P |
Manchester University |
| Adam Guth |
P |
Franklin College |
| Landon Hicks |
DB |
Manchester University |
| Braden McGowen |
LS |
Franklin College |
| Chris McLaurin |
TE |
Bluffton University |
| Casey McQueen |
OL |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| Diego Moguel |
PK |
Manchester University |
| Maxwell Moore |
DL |
Bluffton University |
| Saadiq Pasha |
DB |
Hanover College |
| Zaire Prioleau |
DB |
Anderson University |
| Kai Ross |
QB |
Franklin College |
| Curbrian Shelby |
WR |
Hanover College |
| Elijah St. Pierre |
P |
Anderson University |
| Sidiki Traore |
DL |
Anderson University |
| Yandel Victoriano |
DB |
Manchester University |
| Nolan Whobrey |
DB |
Bluffton University |
| Je'Kwan Williams |
LB |
Manchester University |
| Justin Williamson |
DB |
Hanover 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.