Wednesday, December 6, 2017

WACO, Texas – Three of the GNAC’s top players, led by Azusa Pacific sophomore wide receiver Weston Carr, have been selected to the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Division II All-America Team.

Carr was one of two wide receivers named to the first team, which was selected by a panel of Division II coaches. Humboldt State senior running back Ja’Quan Gardner, the 2017 GNAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Central Washington senior linebacker Kevin Haynes, the 2017 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, were both second-team selections.

This marks the third time in conference history that three players have been named to the AFCA All-America Team. The GNAC also had three selections in 2010 and 2016. This is the first AFCA All-America selections for Carr and Haynes while Gardner was a First Team All-American in 2015.

Carr led the GNAC and finished the year ranked second in Division II with 132.5 receiving yard per game and finished third nationally with 15 receiving touchdowns. He finished with over 100 receiving yards in seven of the Cougars’ 11 games, led by a 203-yard effort with three touchdowns against Colorado Mesa on Nov. 11.

Gardner finished his career as one of the top offensive players in GNAC history. The senior finished fourth in Division II with 192.6 all-purpose yards per game and 19 rushing touchdowns and was 10th nationally with 125.9 rushing yards per game. Gardner’s 13.2 points per game were second best in Division II. Gardner finished with over 100 rushing yards on six occasions and had a GNAC single-game record 446 all-purpose yards (293 rushing, 150 kick returns) against Azusa Pacific on Oct. 14.

Gardner ended his career as the GNAC’s all-time leader in touchdowns (75), points scored (450), all-purpose yards (6.979), all-purpose yards per game (170.2), rushing attempts (878), rushing yards (5,426) and rushing touchdowns (70).

Haynes, the two-time GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and the 2017 D2CCA Super Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, was the catalyst for a Wildcats’ defense that finished the season ranked fourth nationally in total defense, allowing 259.9 yards per game. Haynes finished with 100 tackles, second best in the GNAC. His 14 tackles for loss ranked third in the conference. In addition, Haynes set a GNAC career record with 224 solo tackles.

Haynes finished with 10 or more tackles in four of the Wildcats’ 12 games, led by 16 tackles in the Super Region 4 semifinals against Texas A&M-Commerce on Nov. 25.