Dziedzic Earns AP All-America Laurels
The Associated Press (AP) has named UW-Oshkosh senior linebacker Reese Dziedzic to its 2016 Little All-America Football Team.
Dziedzic, who was chosen to the third team, is the second Titan to receive AP Little All-America Football Team laurels. Punter Nate Ray was a third team selection in 2014.
The AP Little All-America Football Team includes players from the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA.
A total of 73 players were selected to this year's team, including 19 from the NCAA Division III. Each of three offensive teams were comprised of 13 players while the first team defense featured 12 players and the second and third team defenses both had 11 players.
Dziedzic, who also collected All-America honors from D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association this season, is among the 81 finalists for the Cliff Harris Award for the nation's top small college defensive player.
Dziedzic, who started each of UW-Oshkosh's 48 games over the past four seasons, concluded his career as UW-Oshkosh's career leader in tackles with 331. He was the Titans' leading tackler for the fourth straight year after compiling 41 solo tackles, 50 assisted tackles and 91 total stops. Dziedzic also registered seven tackles for a loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception this season.
This year, Dziedzic recorded a career-best 16 tackles against UW-Platteville on Oct. 22. He also had nine tackles against the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Dec. 3, eight tackles to go along with one pass interception against UW-River Falls on Oct. 29, and eight tackles and one fumble recovery against UW-Whitewater on Oct. 8.
Dziedzic's career totals include a school-record 331 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups, eight sacks, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions. He counted 83 tackles last year, 82 in 2014 and 75 in 2013. Dziedzic was named to the All-WIAC First Team the past two seasons after being selected to the league's second team in 2014.
Named to the AP Little All-America First Team Offense were quarterback Justin Dvorak from Colorado School of Mines; running backs Marty Carter from Grand Valley State University (Mich.) and Trevor Heitland from Coe College (Iowa); wide receivers Garry Brown from California University in Pennsylvania, Matt Heller from Augustana University (S.D.) and Koree Reed from Hartwick College (N.Y.); all-purpose player Keelan Cole from Kentucky Wesleyan College; and offensive linemen Jordan Morgan from Kutztown University (Pa.), Zach Voytek from University of New Haven (Conn.), Nate Theaker from Wayne State University (Mich.), Peter Bateman from University of Minnesota Duluth, and Brooks Jenkins from University of Mount Union (Ohio).
The Associated Press Little All-America First Team Defense featured defensive linemen John Flood from UW-Whitewater, Lucky Baar from McKendree University (Ill.), Sie Doe from Fort Hays State University (Kan.), and Collin Bevins from Northwest Missouri State University; linebackers Carter Hanson from Saint John's University (Minn.), Osband Thompson from Tuskegee University (Ala.), and Tyke Kozeal from University of Nebraska at Kearney; defensive backs Baylor Mullins from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), Philbert Martial from University of North Alabama, Matt McKoy from Saginaw Valley State University (Mich.), and Drew Hebel from Black Hills State University (S.D.).
Chosen to the First Team on special teams were placekicker Matt Davis from University of North Carolina at Pembroke and punter Aaron LaDeaux from Minot State University (N.D.).
Dziedzic and UW-Whitewater's Flood were among three players from the WIAC earning AP Little All-America honors this season. The other was UW-Platteville senior wide receiver Dan Arnold. Arnold was selected to the third team.