MILWAUKEE, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) has announced its all-conference team and major awards for the 2025 football season.
The six major student-athlete awards were split amongst five programs. Lakeland University senior quarterback
Robby Michael was named the NACC Offensive Skill Player of the Year, while St. Norbert College senior
Lucas Tappy was honored as the NACC Offensive Lineman of the Year. Concordia University Wisconsin senior defensive lineman
Marquiton Sellers was named the NACC Defensive Lineman of the Year and NACC Special Teams Player of the Year honors went to Benedictine University freshman returner
Santino Florio.
Rockford University was the only program with multiple major student-athlete honors as senior linebacker
Joey Alvarez was selected the NACC Defensive Skill Player of the Year and defensive lineman
Ethan Rager was named NACC Freshman of the Year.
Concordia Wisconsin also swept the two coaching honors. Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach
Curran White was singled out as the NACC Assistant Coach of the Year, while head coach
Greg Etter's entire staff was recognized by the league's head coaches as the NACC Coaching Staff of the Year.
Offensive Skill Player of the Year - Robby Michael, Sr., QB, Lakeland University
Michael, a senior quarterback, started all 10 games for the Muskies this season. As much of a threat to run as he was to throw, Michael ranked third in NCAA Division III in total offense, averaging a NACC-best 370.6 yards per game.
Through the air, he completed 216 of 398 passes for 2,909 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing just eight interceptions. Michael also rushed for a team-leading 797 yards and 11 touchdowns on 225 carries. He threw for over 400 yards in three straight games in mid-October, capping the stretch by completing 30 of 61 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns at Benedictine. In that game he set conference season-highs for both completions and attempts.
On the ground, Michael had a pair of 100-yard games and just missed the mark in two others. He opened the year by rushing for 93 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-40 loss to Carthage, then ran for 164 yards and two scores against Greenville before opening NACC play with a league season-best 171 yards on 25 carries in a 35-7 win over Rockford. Michael also ran for 98 yards against Benedictine.
During the regular season, Michael led all NACC players in total offense, passing yards, completions per game (21.60), points responsible for (216), ranked second in passing touchdowns, third in yards per completion (13.47), fourth in passing efficiency (131.5), rushing touchdowns, and rushing yards, fifth in completion percentage (.543), sixth in scoring (6.6 points per game), and ninth in yards per carry (3.54).
Michael completed his career with 11,616 yards of total offense in 37 games - 8,136 yards and 63 touchdowns through the air and 3,480 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground.
This is Michael's second NACC major award. He was named the 2022 NACC Freshman of the Year.
This is the sixth time a Lakeland student-athlete has received the league's top offensive award.
Matt Pawlyk won the inaugural NACC Offensive Player of the Year award in 2008,
Jacob Heinemeyer shared it the following year, and
Michael Whitley won it three years in succession from 2015-2017.
Offensive Lineman of the Year - Lucas Tappy, Sr., OG, St. Norbert College
Tappy, a senior guard, has anchored the Green Knight offensive line for the last three seasons. In 2025, the returning all-region player and preseason all-American captained a front that allowed just 12 sacks - good for second among NACC programs.
The St. Norbert offense averaged 29.9 points and 288.5 yards per game - 160.8 through the air and 127.7 on the ground.
Tappy is the second St. Norbert student-athlete to receive a NACC major award in football. Defensive back
Brett Boelkow was last year's inaugural NACC Defensive Skill Position Player of the Year.
Defensive Skill Player of the Year - Joey Alvarez, Jr., LB, Rockford University
Alvarez, a junior linebacker, started all 10 games for the Regents, recording 140 tackles (57 solo), 14 tackles for loss (six solo) and 1.0 sack. He also defended six passes, intercepting one, and recovered three fumbles.
Alvarez recorded double-digits in tackles in nine of 10 games, twice hitting the 20 tackle plateau. He had 20 tackles, including a conference season-best 13 solo stops and three solo tackles-for-loss against St. Norbert in late October. Alvarez then capped his season with 21 tackles (seven solo) and five tackles-for-loss (one solo) against Wisconsin Lutheran. His lone interception came in a 14-tackle effort at Concordia Wisconsin. Alvarez also returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown against Eureka.
During the regular season, Alvarez led NCAA Division III in total tackles and ranked second in tackles per game (14.0). He also ranked second amongst NACC players in solo tackles (5.7 per game) and fumbles recovered.
This is Alvarez's second NACC major award. He was named the 2023 NACC Freshman of the Year. It is also the first major positional award for a Regent.
Defensive Lineman of the Year - Marquiton Sellers, Sr., DL, Concordia University Wisconsin
Sellers, a senior defensive lineman, started all 10 games for the Falcons during the regular season. He totaled 51 tackles (23 solo), including 22 tackles for loss (10 solo) and 5.5 sacks (three solo).
Sellers registered a season-high 10 tackles (five solo), including three tackles-for-loss (one solo), 0.5 sacks, and blocked a field goal in a 28-20 double-overtime win over Benedictine to earn NACC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The following week, he had nine tackles, including a season-high six solo stops, and four tackles-for-loss (two solo) at St. Norbert. Sellers also played a key factor in CUW's 41-34 overtime win over Lakeland, registering eight tackles (two solo) and 2.5 sacks.
Sellers tied for the league lead in blocked kicks, while ranking fourth in tackles for loss (1.60 per game) and eighth in sacks per game (0.55 per game).
Sellers is the first Falcon to receive a NACC major award on the defensive side of the ball. Placekicker
Logan Navis won the inaugural NACC Special Teams Player of the Year honor a year ago and quarterback
Austin Damaschke was named NACC Offensive Player of the Year in both 2014 (shared) and 2015.
Special Teams Player of the Year - Santino Florio, Fr., RET, Benedictine University
Florio played in nine games for Benedictine this season, posting a NACC-best 572 combined kick return yards. He returned 18 kickoffs for 453 yards, averaging 25.2 yards per return. Florio returned six kickoffs for 155 yards in a 36-35 win at Aurora.
Florio returned three punts for 119 yards during the season, returning two for touchdowns. He had an 80-yard return for a score against Eureka, then took one back 43 yards against Concordia Chicago. Florio was one of seven NCAA Division III players to return two punts for touchdowns during the regular season.
Florio also contributed to the Eagle offense, making 23 catches for 213 yards. Three of his catches went for touchdowns - all in the win over Aurora. He also rushed for 75 yards on six carries. All told, Florio ranked seventh amongst NACC players in all-purpose yards at 95.56 yards per game.
Florio is the first Benedictine football student-athlete to win a NACC major award since
Scottie Bobeck was named NACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Freshman of the Year - Ethan Rager, DL, Rockford University
Rager played in nine games for the Regents, recording 44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He recorded at least one sack in seven of nine contests.
Rager's two best games statistically came against Eureka on Sept. 20 and Benedictine on Oct. 4. He posted a season-high eight tackles in both contests. Against Eureka, Rager registered five solo stops, three tackles-for-loss (two solo), a sack, and a forced fumble. He then had four solo stops, two tackles-for-loss (both sacks), and a forced fumble against Benedictine.
Rager ranked third among NACC players in forced fumbles (0.22 per game), fourth in sacks (0.83 per game), and eighth in tackles for loss (1.22 per game).
Rager is the third Rockford Regent to be named NACC Football Freshman of the Year, following
Joey Alvarez (2023) and
Seth Swinehart (2011).
Assistant Coach of the Year - Curran White, OC/OL, Concordia University Wisconsin
White, Concordia Wisconsin's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, was the architect of a Falcon offense that led all NACC programs in fewest sacks allowed (1.10), ranked second in third-down conversion percentage (.439), and third in first downs (204), scoring (32.5 points per game), tackles-for-loss allowed (5.3 per game), and total offense (417.6 ypg).
Led by junior quarterback
Roman Funk, CUW combined to lead all NACC passing offenses in completion percentage (.652) and passing efficiency (156.79), and ranked third in passing offense (275.0 ypg).
Nationally, the Falcons ranked 39th in passing efficiency, 48th in total offense, and 61st in scoring offense.
Coaching Staff of the Year - Concordia University Wisconsin (Greg Etter, head coach)
Under the direction of 18th-year head coach
Greg Etter, Concordia Wisconsin went 9-1 during the regular season and a perfect 8-0 in conference play to win the program's second NACC title (2013). The Falcons will host Coe College in an NCAA Division III Football Championship first-round game on Saturday.
In addition to the marks posted by
Curran White's offense, the Falcons' defense and special teams led all NACC programs in fewest first downs allowed (158), total turnovers (24), fumbles recovered (11), passes intercepted (13), passing efficiency defense (109.62), blocked kicks (5), and fourth-down conversion percentage defense (.417), and ranked second in defensive touchdowns (3), fewest fumbles lost (6), passing yards allowed (177.4), scoring defense (19.8 ppg), and total defense (298.1 ypg), and third in rushing defense (120.7 ypg), and red zone defense (.647).
Etter is assisted by White (Off. Coord./Off. Line),
Joseph Federico (Pass Game Coord./QBs/Recruiting Coord.)
Jeff Merritt (Def. Coord./DBs),
Nicholas Erling (WR/TE),
Tristan Simpson-King (OLBs),
Drew Mickelson (DL),
Richie Dehnel (Asst. DBs),
Zak DeWindt (Asst. LBs),
Whitney Dobson (LBs),
Tyler Ryan (Asst. OL),
Keith Casey (Asst. DL), and
Jake Riportella (RBs).
This is the first time an Etter-led staff has been recognized by the league's coaches. Etter, himself, was named NACC Coach of the Year in 2013.
All-Conference Teams Announced
Postseason participants Concordia Wisconsin and Aurora both secured 12 of the 66 all-conference honors on offer from the league's coaches. The league-champion Falcons landed seven first-teamers, while the Lakefront Bowl-bound Spartans had six. Benedictine was next with 10 all-league picks, including a league-best 10 on the first team. St. Norbert secured eight all-NACC picks, and Lakeland and Wisconsin Lutheran each had seven. The Green Knights, Muskies, and Warriors all scored three first-team honors. Two of Rockford's three honorees landed on the All-NACC first team, as did one of Concordia Chicago's five. Eureka received a pair of All-NACC second-team honors.
| 2025 All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Football Team |
| Offensive Skill Player of the Year - Robby Michael, Sr., QB, Lakeland University |
| Offensive Lineman of the Year - Lucas Tappy, Sr., St. Norbert College |
| Defensive Lineman of the Year - Marquiton Sellers, Sr., DL, Concordia University Wisconsin |
| Defensive Skill Player of the Year - Joey Alvarez, Jr., LB, Rockford University |
| Special Teams Player of the Year - Santino Florio, Fr., RET, Benedictine University |
| Freshman of the Year - Ethan Rager, DL, Rockford University |
| Coaching Staff of the Year - Concordia University Wisconsin (Greg Etter, head coach) |
| Assistant Coach of the Year - Curran White, OC/OL, Concordia University Wisconsin |
| Pos. |
First Team |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| QB |
Roman Funk |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| QB |
Robby Michael |
Lakeland |
Sr. |
Sheboygan, Wis. |
| RB |
TJ Ramsey |
Aurora |
Jr. |
Schaumburg, Ill. |
| RB |
Dino Stephens Jr. |
Benedictine |
So. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| WR |
Connor Bright |
Aurora |
Sr. |
Plainfield, Ill. |
| WR |
Alex Siebens |
Benedictine |
Sr. |
DeKalb, Ill. |
| WR |
Jack Bradley |
Concordia Wisconsin |
So. |
Tucson, Ariz. |
| WR |
Jason Leonard |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Sr. |
Tampa, Fla. |
| TE |
Wesley Jackson |
Concordia Chicago |
Jr. |
Robinson, Ill. |
| OL |
Connor Walters |
Aurora |
Sr. |
Tampa, Fla. |
| OL |
Keeven Blanton |
Benedictine |
So. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| OL |
Will Harter |
Benedictine |
Jr. |
Harvard, Ill. |
| OL |
Luis Arellano |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
Tucson, Ariz. |
| OL |
Logan Erchull |
St. Norbert |
Sr. |
New Berlin, Wis. |
| OL |
Lucas Tappy |
St. Norbert |
Sr. |
Iron Mountain, Mich. |
| DL |
JP Chaney |
Aurora |
Jr. |
Batavia, Ill. |
| DL |
Jack Hayden |
Benedictine |
Jr. |
Woodstock, Ill. |
| DL |
Brian Pritt |
Benedictine |
Gr. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| DL |
Marquiton Sellers |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Sr. |
Winnsboro, La. |
| DL |
Ethan Rager |
Rockford |
Fr. |
Durand, Ill. |
| LB |
Ty Hopp |
Aurora |
Sr. |
Montgomery, Ill. |
| LB |
Jake Diamantos |
Benedictine |
Jr. |
Downers Grove, Ill. |
| LB |
Ben Birch |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
Grafton, Wis. |
| LB |
Joey Alvarez |
Rockford |
Jr. |
Rockford, Ill. |
| LB |
Layson Handwork |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
Sr. |
Merritt Island, Fla. |
| DB |
Devin Glowicki |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
Commerce City, Colo. |
| DB |
Zelmarious Banks |
Lakeland |
Fr. |
Fort Wayne, Ind. |
| DB |
Markese Collins |
Lakeland |
Sr. |
Phenix City, Ala. |
| DB |
Sean Gilles |
St. Norbert |
Jr. |
Onalaska, Wis. |
| DB |
Connor Martin |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
Sr. |
Chino, Calif. |
| RET |
Santino Florio |
Benedictine |
Fr. |
Oak Brook, Ill. |
| P |
Drew Mears |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
Sr. |
Appleton, Wis. |
| PK |
Brett Money |
Aurora |
Jr. |
Alamogordo, N.M. |
| Pos. |
Second Team |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| QB |
Liam Mickle |
Aurora |
Sr. |
Woodstock, Ill. |
| RB |
Joron Brown |
Concordia Chicago |
Jr. |
St. Joseph, Mich. |
| RB |
Liam Heiges |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
So. |
Appleton, Wis. |
| WR |
Kevon Lawson |
Concordia Chicago |
So. |
Pompano Beach, Fla. |
| WR |
Deshawn Hampton |
Lakeland |
Jr. |
Hazel Crest, Ill. |
| WR |
Timothy Bearden |
Rockford |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| WR |
Bailey Turenne |
St. Norbert |
Sr. |
Merrill, Wis. |
| WR |
Jamil Gordon |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
Sr. |
San Marcos, Texas |
| TE |
Colin Amack |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
Sr. |
Menomonee Falls, Wis. |
| OL |
James Brennan |
Aurora |
Jr. |
St. Charles, Ill. |
| OL |
Christian Providence |
Aurora |
Sr. |
Ocoee, Fla. |
| OL |
Kyle Bortz |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Sr. |
Viera, Fla. |
| OL |
Kenneth Thompson Jr. |
Concordia Wisconsin |
So. |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
| OL |
Deacon Carroll |
St. Norbert |
Jr. |
Gresham, Wis. |
| OL |
Nate Nash |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
So. |
Wildomar, Calif. |
| DL |
Jose Barragan |
Benedictine |
Sr. |
Aurora, Ill. |
| DL |
Adam Lambaz |
Concordia Chicago |
Jr. |
Elgin, Ill. |
| DL |
Derrick Payton Jr. |
Eureka |
Jr. |
West Seattle, Wash. |
| DL |
Kenyon Peoples |
Lakeland |
Jr. |
Lansing, Ill. |
| DL |
Vyron Rosquist-Wallace |
Lakeland |
Sr. |
Henderson, Nev. |
| LB |
John Thompson |
Benedictine |
Jr. |
Orland Park, Ill. |
| LB |
Kadin Stroer |
Concordia Chicago |
Fr. |
Warrenton, Mo. |
| LB |
Kadin Huisinga |
Concordia Wisconsin |
So. |
Glendale, Ariz. |
| LB |
Duncan Ireland III |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
Eagle, Wis. |
| LB |
Brian Treacy |
St. Norbert |
Sr. |
Homer Glen, Ill. |
| DB |
Korey Hunter |
Aurora |
Sr. |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| DB |
Rahmello Law |
Aurora |
Jr. |
Champaign, Ill. |
| DB |
Omari Waldron |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
Evanston, Ill. |
| DB |
Jovon Gibson |
Eureka |
Fr. |
Statesboro, Ga. |
| DB |
Shamond Oliver |
Lakeland |
Sr. |
Phenix City, Ala. |
| RET |
TJ Ramsey |
Aurora |
Jr. |
Schaumburg, Ill. |
| P |
Mason Levake |
St. Norbert |
Jr. |
Lake Mills, Wis. |
| PK |
Tyler Juergensen |
St. Norbert |
Jr. |
McHenry, Ill. |
| Pos. |
Honorable Mention |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| WR |
Lucious Dones |
Aurora |
Jr. |
Belleville, Ill. |
| WR |
Ethan Svoboda |
Aurora |
So. |
Oswego, Ill. |
| DL |
Wyatt Williams |
Aurora |
So. |
Fort Pierce, Fla. |
| DB |
Robert Goedert |
Benedictine |
Jr. |
Plainfield, Ill. |
| LB |
Dawson Piper |
Benedictine |
Jr. |
Peotone, Ill. |
| WR |
Tristan Weglarz |
Benedictine |
Sr. |
Mokena, Ill. |
| OL |
Daniel Banks |
Concordia Chicago |
So. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| OL |
Ezekiel Pearson |
Concordia Chicago |
Jr. |
Richville, Mich. |
| DB |
Hagan Wascher |
Concordia Chicago |
Fr. |
Frankenmuth, Mich. |
| WR |
Nick Crowell |
Concordia Wisconsin |
Jr. |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
| DB |
Khalil Hargrove-Collins |
Concordia Wisconsin |
So. |
Katy, Texas |
| RET |
Kam'Ron Pierre |
Concordia Wisconsin |
So. |
Canyon Country, Calif. |
| OL |
Tanner Laesch |
Eureka |
Sr. |
Lexington, Ill. |
| DE |
Will Watkins |
Eureka |
So. |
Flint, Mich. |
| LB |
Chuck Weathersby |
Eureka |
So. |
Kankakee, Ill. |
| OL |
Orion Cairo |
Lakeland |
So. |
El Paso, Texas |
| WR |
Caden Kleparski |
Lakeland |
So. |
Unity, Wis. |
| DB |
Trayvonne Roberts |
Lakeland |
Jr. |
Lynwood, Ill. |
| LB |
Napoleon Williams |
Rockford |
Sr. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| HB |
Joshua Harris |
Rockford |
Fr. |
Byron, Ill. |
| OL |
Caden Record |
Rockford |
So. |
Farmington, Ill. |
| DL |
Nate Lee |
St. Norbert |
Sr. |
Neenah, Wis. |
| RB |
Jacob McVane |
St. Norbert |
So. |
Green Bay, Wis. |
| LB |
Johnny Seitz |
St. Norbert |
Jr. |
Stratford, Wis. |
| DB |
Sam Ehlke |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
So. |
Jackson, Wis. |
| LB |
Nathan Nevad |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
Gr. |
Merritt Island, Fla. |
| OL |
Marshall Palmer |
Wisconsin Lutheran |
Sr. |
Collinsville, Okla. |