Franklin’s Welp & Bluffton’s Aelker Headline All-HCAC Football Selections
Posted: Nov 19, 2014
GREENWOOD, IN – Franklin College led the conference with 10 players on the 2014 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team, including the conference’s Offensive Most Valuable Player. Franklin’s Grant Welp (Ferdinand, Ind./Forest Park) has been named the HCAC Offensive Most Valuable Player, while Bluffton’s Ryan Aelker (New Bavaria, Ohio/Holgate) picked up the HCAC Defensive Most Valuable Player award.
Manchester’s Dakota Nelson (Fairland, Ind./Triton Central) was honored as Special Teams Most Valuable Player for the first time, while Franklin head coach Mike Leonard garnered Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time in his career.
Mount St. Joseph University’s Greg Simpson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) was named Freshman of the Year for his efforts this fall.
Welp, a senior quarterback for the Grizzlies, has passed for 3,127 yards this fall, ranking sixth in all of NCAA Division III. The senior is averaging 312.7 yards per game, while amassing 31 passing touchdowns and eight rushing scores. During conference play, Welp averaged a 325.8 passing yards per contest and tossed a HCAC-leading 27 touchdowns. The first-year starter crossed the 300-yard passing mark seven times in ten games, including a 398-yard performance against Hanover.
Aelker, a junior defensive lineman for Bluffton, led the Beavers defense this season that ranked among the conference leaders in scoring (2nd) and total defense (3rd). The junior leads NCAA Division III with 13.0 sacks and ranks fourth nationally with 22.0 tackles for loss. Aelker also ranks fifth nationally with four forced fumbles, while adding two fumble recoveries and an interception from the defensive end position.
Nelson, a sophomore returner for Manchester, scored four return touchdowns for the Spartans this season. The sophomore leads the nation in punt return average and punt return touchdowns, averaging 25.5 yards per return with three scores. Nelson also averaged 25.9 yards per kickoff return with one touchdown this fall.
Simpson, a freshman quarterback for Mount St. Joseph, played in all 10 games for the Lions this season. The freshman completed 56.8% of his passes for 1,831 yards and 22 touchdowns. Simpson also rushed for 579 yards and six touchdowns on 97 carries this fall.
Franklin College head coach Mike Leonard has been selected as the HCAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career. Leonard guided the Grizzlies to a seventh HCAC title, including a NCAA tournament appearance for the seventh time in eight seasons. Franklin stands 8-2 overall heading into the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs at Wabash College Saturday.
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Grant Welp, Franklin College
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Ryan Aelker, Bluffton University
Special Teams Most Valuable Player: Dakota Nelson, Manchester University
Freshman of the Year: Greg Simpson, Mount St. Joseph University
Coach of the Year: Mike Leonard, Franklin College
First Team All-HCAC
|
Name
|
School
|
Year
|
Position
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
Grant Welp
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
QB
|
Ferdinand, Ind./Forest Park
|
|
Spencer Corrao
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
New Albany, Ind./Our Lady of Providence
|
|
Joey Pasquale
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Noblesville, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Denzel Norvell
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
So.
|
RB
|
Dayton, Ohio/Thurgood Marshall
|
|
Zac Erba
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
TE
|
Winona Lake, Ind./Warsaw
|
|
Dakota Nelson
|
Manchester
|
So.
|
WR/Ret.
|
Fairland, Ind./Triton Central
|
|
Alec Fisher
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
WR
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills
|
|
Jonny Hession
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Speedway, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Leonard Riston
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow
|
|
Zach Cole
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Middletown, Ind./Shenandoah
|
|
Jack Tomlinson
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Westerville, Ohio/South
|
|
Quinton Terrell
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Martinsville, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Austin Carlton
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Evansville, Ind./F.J. Reitz
|
|
Brandon Keller
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Flowery Branch, Ga./H.S.
|
|
Ryan Hahn
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Ft. Thomas, Ky./ Highlands
|
|
Tanner Engle
|
Defiance
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Harrod, Ohio/Allen East
|
|
D’Ante Dorsey
|
Manchester
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington
|
|
Ryan Aelker
|
Bluffton
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
New Bavaria, Ohio/Holgate
|
|
Jake Stilwell
|
Hanover
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights
|
|
Nate Bryan
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Greencastle, Ind./North Putnam
|
|
Jonathan Campbell
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
So.
|
DL
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle
|
|
Stephen Coble
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Edwardsburg, Mich./H.S.
|
|
Konnor Blevins
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
|
|
Jeremiah Windell
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Corydon, Ind./Central
|
|
Brent McCleerey
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Mooresville, Ind./Monrovia
|
|
Vince Peiffer
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Franklin, Ind./Indian Creek
|
|
Brad Swavel
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Marion, Ohio/Ridgedale
|
|
Jameson Brock
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Noblesville, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Andrew Feldhaus
|
Defiance
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner
|
|
Marvin Draper
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone
|
|
Josh Slayton
|
Defiance
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Ft. Wayne, Ind./North Side
|
|
Taylor Christensen
|
Franklin
|
So.
|
DB
|
Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
|
|
Shane Kelly
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Jr.
|
K
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin
|
|
Ryan Acosta
|
Earlham
|
Sr.
|
P
|
San Juan, PR/Commonwealth
|
|
DeOntez Alexander
|
Anderson
|
Fr.
|
Ret.
|
Indianapolis, Ind./George Washington
|
Second Team All-HCAC
|
Name
|
School
|
Year
|
Position
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
Austin Swenson
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
QB
|
Wauconda, Ill./H.S.
|
|
Logan Haston
|
Manchester
|
Jr.
|
QB
|
Avon, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Brennan Laird
|
Earlham
|
Jr.
|
QB
|
Olmsted Falls, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Eric Fox
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Brunswick, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Daniel Collins
|
Defiance
|
Jr.
|
RB
|
West Springfield, Va./H.S.
|
|
Jalen Kenner
|
Earlham
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Reserve, La./East St. John
|
|
Marc Jones
|
Anderson
|
So.
|
WR
|
Knoxville, Tenn./Proviso East
|
|
Aaron Abbott
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Lebanon, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Ricky Windell
|
Hanover
|
So.
|
WR
|
Camden, Ind./Delphi
|
|
John Peters
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West
|
|
Austin Spiece
|
Bluffton
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Paulding, Ohio/Wayne Trace
|
|
Eric Taylor
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Chapel Hill, N.C./Carrboro
|
|
T.J. Demos
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Huntsville, Ala./H.S.
|
|
Nick Buchta
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
N. Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich
|
|
Eric Weitholter
|
Manchester
|
So.
|
OL
|
Zionsville, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Mike Alberts
|
Earlham
|
So.
|
OL
|
Folkston, Ga./Charlton Co.
|
|
Kyle Wilson
|
Defiance
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Wauseon, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
LaJay Kelly
|
Earlham
|
So.
|
DL
|
Carson, Calif./Long Beach Poly
|
|
Ryan Leopold
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf
|
|
Josh Sonneberger
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Edon, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Jon Scribner
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Ft. Wayne, Ind./Carroll
|
|
Eric Strickland
|
Defiance
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
West Palm Beach, Fla./Seminole Ridge
|
|
Nate Moser
|
Anderson
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Bremen, Ind./Penn
|
|
Lucas Windell
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Corydon, Ind./Central
|
|
Anthony Berry
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow
|
|
Justin Magaw
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
West Palm Beach, Fla./Kings Academy
|
|
Chris Sander
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Baileyville, Ill./Forreston
|
|
Tyrone White
|
Bluffton
|
So.
|
DB
|
Orrville, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Taylor Anglemyer
|
Manchester
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Wakarusa, Ind./Northwood
|
|
Kevin Nowak
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
DB
|
Naperville, Ill./Central
|
|
Angello Proulx
|
Defiance
|
Fr.
|
DB
|
Warren, Mich./Mott
|
|
Stephen Colligan
|
Franklin
|
Fr.
|
K
|
Ft. Wayne, Ind./Dwenger
|
|
Josh Green
|
Hanover
|
Jr.
|
P
|
Beaumaris, Australia
|
|
Taylor Christensen
|
Franklin
|
So.
|
Ret.
|
Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
|
Honorable Mention All-HCAC
|
Name
|
School
|
Year
|
Position
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
Willie Robinson
|
Anderson
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Flora, Miss./Madison Central
|
|
Jason Samuels
|
Anderson
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central
|
|
Drew Ponder
|
Anderson
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove
|
|
Sammy Faulkner
|
Anderson
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Dayton, Ohio/Butler
|
|
Codie Flecker
|
Anderson
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Sheridan, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Zack Moe
|
Anderson
|
So.
|
DB
|
Cochran, Ga./Bleckley Co.
|
|
Jordan Watkins
|
Bluffton
|
Fr.
|
K
|
Reynoldsburg, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Donovan Brown
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian
|
|
Micah Roberson
|
Bluffton
|
So.
|
WR
|
Ada, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Ben Schamp
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
St. Marys, Ohio/Memorial
|
|
Miguel Alicea
|
Bluffton
|
So.
|
DB
|
Westerville, Ohio/South
|
|
Alex Larson
|
Defiance
|
So.
|
QB
|
Highland, Mich./Milford
|
|
Cody Wilson
|
Defiance
|
So.
|
RB
|
McComb, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Darius Harper
|
Defiance
|
So.
|
WR
|
Jacksonville, Fla./Robert E. Lee
|
|
Levi Hansen
|
Earlham
|
Fr.
|
RB
|
Anchorage, Ak./Robert Service
|
|
Kollin Wheat
|
Earlham
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Greenwood, Ind./Whiteland
|
|
Mason Davis
|
Earlham
|
Fr.
|
LB
|
Las Vegas, Nev./Legacy
|
|
James Johnson
|
Earlham
|
So.
|
DB
|
Redford, Mich./Inkster
|
|
Sam Otley
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli
|
|
Cody Beeks
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
P
|
Wabash, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Mason Deal
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian
|
|
Trafton Holder
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham
|
|
Layne Taylor
|
Hanover
|
So.
|
WR
|
Sellersburg, Ind./Silver Creek
|
|
Austin Adams
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Dowagiac, Mich./Union
|
|
Hunter Hardee
|
Manchester
|
Fr.
|
RB
|
Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
|
|
Tyler Katschke
|
Manchester
|
Fr.
|
LB
|
Winamac, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Greg Simpson
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Fr.
|
QB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore
|
|
Colan Beare
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
So.
|
OL
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills
|
|
Joe Meade
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Paintsville, Ky./Pike Co. Central
|
|
Greg Lee
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Christiansburg, Va./H.S.
|
HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team
|
Ethan Hoffman
|
Anderson
|
So.
|
LB
|
White House, Tenn./H.S.
|
|
Joel Unzicker
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
QB
|
Goshen, Ind./Northridge
|
|
Cody Wiggins
|
Defiance
|
So.
|
DB
|
Howell, Mich./H.S.
|
|
Tre Stephens
|
Earlham
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Terre Haute, Ind./South
|
|
Kole Stogner
|
Franklin
|
So.
|
RB
|
Greenwood, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Jamal Edwards
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Indianapolis, Ind./North Central
|
|
Collin Huffine
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Centerville, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Kevin McHale
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
So.
|
LB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas
|
|
Eric Taylor
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Chapel Hill, N.C./Carrboro
|