Ray, Sommers Earn All-America Awards

D3football.com named UW-Oshkosh senior punter Nate Ray and junior tight end Joe Sommers to its 2014 NCAA Division III All-America Football Team.

Ray was selected to the first team while Sommers was chosen to the second. It was the first All-America award for both players.

Ray, a two-time All-West Region First Team selection, led the NCAA Division III in punting this season with an average of 43.9 yards per kick. The 2014 WIAC Special Teams Player of the Year launched 16 punts of 50-plus yards this season, including a conference-leading 73-yard kick against UW-River Falls and a 71-yard boot against UW-Whitewater. Ray landed 19 of his punts inside the 20-yard line.

Sommers, who received All-West Region First Team honors in 2014 and Second Team mention in 2013, led UW-Oshkosh this season with 41 receptions for 669 yards and three touchdowns. Sommers caught a career-high eight passes for 81 yards against UW-Platteville and three passes for a career bests of 105 yards and two touchdowns against UW-Eau Claire.

Thirteen UW-Oshkosh student-athletes have now earned All-America honors by D3football.com, including running back Cole Myhra who received Second Team awards in both 2012 and 2013 and quarterback Nate Wara who was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2012.

A total of 104 players were picked to this year's four All-America squads. The University of Mount Union (Ohio) owned eight of the selections and national champion UW-Whitewater seven.

National Player of the Year awards went to UW-Whitewater wide receiver Jake Kumerow on offense and Hobart College (N.Y.) end Tyre Coleman on defense. Linfield College's (Ore.) Joe Smith was named Coach of the Year.

UW-Oshkosh won six of its last seven games to finish the 2014 season with a 6-4 record. The Titans, who placed second in the WIAC standings with a 6-1 mark, were ranked 23rd in the latest D3football.com poll.

Three of UW-Oshkosh's four losses this fall were to teams who eventually qualified for postseason play. The Titans lost 41-3 to NCAA Division I South Dakota State University, 24-20 to NAIA finalist Marian University (Ind.) and 24-7 to NCAA Division III champion UW-Whitewater.

D3football.com's 2014 NCAA Division III All-America Football Team