ESU Sports
Don Weast, Associate Athletic Director
Senior punter Justin Marcha can add another All-American honor to his resume after being named First-Team Associated Press All-America on Wednesday. It is his third All-American honor for the Edmond, Okla. native who led the nation in punting this past season.
Marcha is leading the nation in punting average with an Emporia State school record 45.0 yards per punt. It is the best average in the MIAA since Brian Moorman averaged 46.0 yards per punt in 1998. He was a main part of Emporia State leading the nation in net punting this season with a net average of 40.89 yards per punt. His career average of 40.1 yards per punt is better than all but two other players single season bests at Emporia State.
He is one of two MIAA selections on the first team.
Marcha earns the 19th AP All-American honor for Emporia State and is the second special teams player in the last three seasons to be named First-Team All-America by the AP. Prior to this season it was known as the AP Little All-America team and comprised of players from NCAA Division II, Division III and the NAIA. This is the Hornets 46th overall All-American honor in football.
The Hornets went 6-5 this season, their third straight winning season and fifth year above .500 over the last six seasons.
2017 Associated Press NCAA Division II
All-American Football Team
First Team Offense
Quarterback – Luis Perez, senior, Texas A&M-Commerce.
Running backs – Marc Jones, senior, Gannon; Cameron Mayberry, sophomore, Colorado School of Mines.
Linemen – Alex Cappa, senior, Humboldt State; Lavonte Hights, senior, Shepherd; Dominic Giunta, senior, Ashland; Harley Vaughan, senior, West Georgia; Gavin De Los Santos, senior, Harding.
Tight end – D.J. Cornish, sophomore, Shepherd.
Receivers – J.T. Luper, senior, Central Oklahoma; Weston Carr, sophomore, Azusa Pacific.
All-purpose player – Devontae Jackson, junior, West Georgia.
Kicker – Casey Bednarski, junior, Minnesota State.
First Team Defense
Linemen – Marcus Martin, senior, Slippery Rock; Bo Banner, senior, Central Washington; Adonis Davis, junior, Florida Tech; Myles Humphrey, senior, Shepherd.
Linebacker – Kevin Haynes, senior, Central Washington; Terry Samuel, junior, West Alabama; Dennis Gardeck, senior, Sioux Falls.
Backs – Tyler Hasty, junior, Central Washington; Tavierre Thomas, senior, Ferris State; J.R. Stevens, sophomore, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Chris Johnson, junior, North Alabama.
Punter – Justin Marcha, senior, Emporia State.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Travis Tarnowski, senior, Ashland.
Running back – Walter Fletcher, sophomore, Edinboro; Deshawn Jones, sophomore, Missouri S&T.
Linemen – Andrew Alten, senior, Findlay; Jerron Seales, senior, Indiana, Pennsylvania; Jake Daugherty, senior, Ferris State; Daniel Owens, senior, Wingate; Jared Machorro, senior, Texas A&M-Commerce.
Tight end – Qua Boyd, junior, West Alabama.
Receivers – Marcus Johnson, senior, Slippery Rock; Jalen Tolliver, senior, Arkansas-Monticello.
All-purpose player – Ja’Quan Gardner, senior, Humboldt State.
Kicker – Cole Tracy, senior, Assumption.
Second Team Defense
Linemen – Evan Perrizo, senior, Minnesota State; Zach Seiler, junior, Ferris State; Nathan Shepherd, senior, Fort Hays State; John Williamson, junior, West Florida.
Linebacker – Kyle Kitchens, senior, Catawba; Sam Blankenship, junior, Harding; Tyler Morrisey, junior, West Chester.
Backs – Tevin Madison, senior, West Alabama; Cua’ Rose, junior, Arkansas Tech; Aaron Ivory, senior, Findlay; Marvin Conley, junior, West Florida.
Punter – Zach Gaines, sophomore, West Alabama.
Emporia State AP All-Americans
First Team
Justin Marcha P 2017
Austin Morton K 2015
Dontaye McCoy SS 2002
Brian Shay RB 1998
John Hesse OL 1998
Brian Shay RB 1997
Brian Shay RB 1996
Quincy Tillmon RB 1991
Bruce Cerone SE 1969
Bruce Cerone SE 1968
Keith Caywood RB 1941
Shorty Long G 1940
James Fraley FB 1935
Second Team
Daniel Webb DE 2010
Justin Gray PK 2004
Lester McCoy WR 1999
Wade LeDuc TE 1991
Chuck Sanger E 1950
Harry Kline E 1937