Colorado School of Mines Trio Claims AFCA All-America Distinctions
WACO, Texas – The American Football Coaches Association announced its 2023 All-America rosters Thursday and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference was represented by a trio of student-athletes from Colorado School of Mines. Wide Receiver Max McLeod led the way as a first-team honoree, while quarterback John Matocha and linebacker Nolan Reeve claimed second-team distinctions.
McLeod leads the way for the Mines All-America trio as a first-team honoree after propelling the No. 1 Orediggers to the NCAA Division II Football Championships semifinal game as a receiver. The redshirt senior has been a force out wide all season for Mines and hauled in 1,493 receiving yards on 97 receptions for an average of 15.4 yards per catch. Throughout the Orediggers' 13-0 overall record, McLeod is averaging 114.9 yards per game and has racked up 16 touchdowns.
Matocha nabs a spot on the second team after throwing for 3,736 yards and 39 touchdowns on the year while completing 279 passes. Over 13 appearances, he has converted 65.6 percent of his passes and holds a 176.9 passer rating, which leads the nation. Leading the charge for an explosive Mines offense, Matocha is averaging 287.4 passing yards per contest in addition to 32.3 rushing yards per game. The Harlon Hill Award finalist and RMAC Offensive Player of the Year has 43 touchdowns in total this year and is responsible for 19.8 points per game, which stands seventh in the nation.
After earning RMAC Defensive Player of the Year distinctions, Reeve earns a second-team All-America nod as a redshirt senior linebacker. He has stamped 52 tackles throughout the season, including 18 solo tackles and 34 assisted tackles. Of his 12 tackles for loss for 96 yards, nine are recorded as sacks for 86 yards, joining nine quarterback hurries. Additionally, Reeve has forced four fumbles this season and recovered two of his own.
The Orediggers continue in the 2023 NCAA DII Football Championships with a semifinal matchup at Alumni Field at Marv Kay Stadium in Golden, Colo., on Saturday, Dec. 9. Mines will host Kutztown in that semifinal showdown beginning at 1:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
2023 AFCA All-America First Team – Offense
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| Zach Zebrowski |
QB |
R-Jr. |
Central Missouri |
Woodbury, Minn. |
| Shen Butler-Lawson |
RB |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
Augusta, Ga. |
| Chris Collier |
RB |
Gr. |
Lock Haven |
Elmhurst, N.Y. |
| Kyle Sheets |
WR |
Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
Springboro, Pa. |
| Max McLeod |
WR |
R-Sr. |
Colorado School of Mines |
Seattle, Wash. |
| Devon Garrison |
TE |
Sr. |
Pittsburg State |
Elk River, Minn. |
| Garrett Carroll |
OL |
Sr. |
Grand Valley State |
Fort Wayne, Ind. |
| Robert Dunham |
OL |
Sr. |
Henderson State |
Nashville, Ark. |
| Devin Hannan |
OL |
Gr. |
Valdosta State |
Belle Vernon, Pa. |
| Leondre Andreas |
OL |
Sr. |
Mars Hill |
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Blake Larson |
OL |
Sr. |
Augustana |
Brandon, S.D. |
2023 AFCA All-America First Team – Defense
| Name |
Pos. |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
| John McMullen |
DL |
Gr. |
West Florida |
Kankakee, Ill. |
| Marquise Fleming |
DL |
R-Jr. |
Wingate |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| Nathaniel Wallace |
DL |
Sr. |
Harding |
Bryant, Ark. |
| Eddie Miller-Garrett |
DL |
R-Sr. |
Ohio Dominican |
Newark, N.J. |
| Salvatore Lupoli, Jr. |
LB |
Jr. |
Bentley |
Chelmsford, Mass. |
| Micah Cretsinger |
LB |
Jr. |
Saginaw Valley State |
Jackson, Mich. |
| Garrett Cox |
LB |
R-Jr. |
Millersville |
Avondale, Pa. |
| Tanner Volk |
DB |
Jr. |
Central Washington |
Portland, Ore. |
| Willie Drew |
DB |
Gr. |
Virginia State |
Smithfield, Va. |
| Mikael King |
DB |
So. |
Tuskegee |
Tuskegee, Ala. |
| Melvin Smith, Jr. |
DB |
Jr. |
Southern Arkansas |
Bossier City, La. |
2023 AFCA All-America First Team – Special Teams
| Name |
Pos. |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
| Eric Scarpino |
K |
R-Sr. |
Gannon |
Waterford, Pa. |
| Aaron Winn |
P |
Sr. |
Arkansas Tech |
Summerville, S.C. |
| Dev Holmes |
AP |
Gr. |
New Haven |
Troy, N.Y. |
2023 AFCA All-America Second Team – Offense
| Name |
Pos. |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
| John Matocha |
QB |
R-Sr. |
Colorado School of Mines |
Magnolia, Texas |
| Jordan Terrell |
RB |
Jr. |
Barton |
Ramseur, N.C. |
| Kendel Givens |
RB |
Jr. |
Ouachita Baptist |
Little Rock, Ark. |
| John Jiles |
WR |
Sr. |
West Florida |
Wake Forest, N.C. |
| Arkell Smith |
WR |
R-Sr. |
Central Missouri |
Carthage, Mo. |
| Mike Rigerman |
TE |
Sr. |
Findlay |
Arcade, N.Y. |
| Treyvon Cahalan |
OL |
Gr. |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Champlin, Minn. |
| Hunter Willis |
OL |
Sr. |
Harding |
Kimberly, Ala. |
| Jacob Bruce |
OL |
R-Sr. |
West Florida |
Gainesville, Fla. |
| Trase Jefferies |
OL |
R-Sr. |
Pittsburg State |
Broken Arrow, Okla. |
| Gabe Clark |
OL |
R-Jr. |
Central Missouri |
Lawrence, Kan. |
2023 AFCA All-America Second Team – Defense
| Name |
Pos. |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
| Maven Kretche |
DL |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
Sun Prairie, Wis. |
| Christian McCarroll |
DL |
Sr. |
Grand Valley State |
Barberton, Ohio |
| Loobert Denelus |
DL |
Sr. |
Benedict |
Naples, Fla. |
| Jayden Broughton |
DL |
Jr. |
Benedict |
Monks Corner, S.C. |
| Gary Lewis |
LB |
R-So. |
Henderson State |
Fordyce, Ark. |
| Landon Honeycutt |
LB |
So. |
Mars Hill |
Mount Pleasant, N.C. |
| Nolan Reeve |
LB |
R-Sr. |
Colorado School of Mines |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| Peyton Buckley |
DB |
Jr. |
Augustana |
Rice Lake, Wis. |
| Rico Payton |
DB |
R-Sr. |
Pittsburg State |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Andrew Pitts |
DB |
R-So. |
Angelo State |
McKinney, Texas |
| Shon Stephens |
DB |
Sr. |
Ferris State |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
2023 AFCA All-America Second Team – Special Teams
| Name |
Pos. |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
| Logan Turner |
K |
Jr. |
Southwest Baptist |
Bentonville, Ark. |
| Avery Book |
P |
Jr. |
Augustana |
Ironton, Ohio |
| Trey Vaval |
AP |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
Blue Springs, Mo. |