GOLDEN, Colo. - A record-setting six Orediggers have been named Associated Press All-Americans in the organization's annual NCAA Division II year-end awards.

#1 Mines (14-0) collected five first-team all-Americans in receiver Max McLeod, right tackle Levi Johnson, linebacker Nolan Reeve, cornerback Jackson Zimmermann, and punter Blake Doud, and a second-teamer in quarterback John Matocha. It marks the second all-America honors of the postseason for McLeod, Matocha, and Reeve, who were named to the AFCA teams last week.

McLeod, an AP Second-Team All-American last year and an AFCA first-teamer this season, has been the nation's best receiver in 2023 earning D2CCA First-Team All-Region and First-Team All-RMAC honors. McLeod has compiled only the second 1,500-yard season in Mines history at 1,503 yards to go with 16 touchdowns on a program-record 101 catches (the only 100-catch season in Mines history). He has nine 100+ and two 150+ yard games and has caught touchdowns in nine games, as well.

Johnson earns his first AP honor after winning the 2023 Gene Upshaw Award as the nation's best senior lineman. He has led an offensive line that has produced D-II's #2 total and scoring offenses that has been equally adept in the run and pass games, scoring 49 rushing and 45 passing touchdowns in 2023. Also a D2CCA First-Team All-Region and First-Team All-RMAC honoree this year, Johnson was a 2022 Don Hanson Honorable Mention All-American.

Reeve picks up his second all-America honor of the postseason. The RMAC Defensive Player of the Year has 59 total tackles with 13.5 for loss, 10.0 sacks, 10 hurries, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries including one for a touchdown. The NCAA's active career leader in sacks at 42.5, Reeve has sacks in 11 of 14 games and is having another monster postseason with a combined 20 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, and three total turnovers.

Zimmermann had a breakout season in his first year starting at corner, picking up First-Team All-Region and All-RMAC recognition on the way to his first all-America nod. Zimmermann has an RMAC-leading six interceptions among 15 passes defended to go with 34 tackles and is the leading turnover generator on the nation's best turnover-producing team with Mines gaining 33 this season.

Doud has been the nation's best punter, also in his first season as starter, as he has averaged an impressive 46 yards per punt on 41 tries. A First-Team All-RMAC and All-Region honoree, Doud has stuck 19 punts inside the 20, put 15 over 50 yards, and had only nine returned for an average of only 3.9 yards; Mines leads the nation in net punting at 41.1 yards.

Matocha adds his eighth different all-America honor in his career as he has led Mines back to the national title game in his final season. College football's all-time leader in touchdowns produced (190) and thrown (161), Matocha has passed for 4,028 yards and 42 touchdowns at a 70.6 percent rate this season, and also rushed for 444 yards and five touchdowns. He has continued to move into the upper echelon of all-time greats in D-II with 14,736 career passing yards (second all-time) and 16,731 total offensive yards (third). 

The Orediggers will play #3/4 Harding in the NCAA Division II Championship game Saturday at 12 p.m. CT in McKinney, Texas, live on ESPNU and ESPN+.
 

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2023 Associated Press Division II All-America Team
 
First Team Offense
QB: Zach Zebrowski, Jr., University of Central Missouri
RB: Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr., Minnesota State University
RB: Jay Harris, So., Northwest Missouri State University
WR: Max McLeod, Sr., Colorado School of Mines
WR: Kyle Sheets, Sr., Slippery Rock University
WR: Arkell Smith, Sr., University of Central Missouri
TE: Devon Garrison, Sr., Pittsburg State University
OL: Garrett Carroll, Sr., Grand Valley State University
OL: Ty Cobb, Sr., Bemidji State University
OL: Yuriy Hryckowian, Sr., Slippery Rock University
OL: Levi Johnson, Sr., Colorado School of Mines
OL: Hunter Willis, Sr., Harding University
AP: Gage Porter, Sr., Southern Nazarene University

First Team Defense
DL: Marquise Fleming, Jr., Wingate University
DL: Christian McCarroll, Sr., Grand Valley State University
DL: John McMullen, Gr., University of West Florida
DL: Nathaniel Wallace, Sr., Harding University
LB: Micah Cretsinger, Jr., Saginaw Valley State University
LB: Nolan Reeve, Sr., Colorado School of Mines
LB: Abe Swanson, Sr., Grand Valley State University
DB: Peyton Buckley, Jr., Augustana University
DB: Wyryor Noil, Sr., University of Central Missouri
DB: Shon Stephens, Sr., Ferris State University
DB: Tanner Volk, Jr., Central Washington University
DB: Jackson Zimmerman, So., Colorado School of Mines

First Team Special Teams
PK: Eric Scarpino, Sr., Gannon University
P: Blake Doud, So., Colorado School of Mines
RET: Tae Marrero, So., University of Charleston

Second Team Offense
QB: John Matocha, Sr., Colorado School of Mines
RB: Blake Delacruz, Jr., Harding University
RB: Jordan Terrell, Jr., Barton University
WR: John Jiles, Sr., University of West Florida
WR: Tyler Kahmann, Jr., Emporia State University
WR: Ben Noland, Jr., South Dakota School of Mines
TE: Mike Rigerman, Sr., University of Findlay
OL: Shane Bumgardner, Sr., Tiffin University
OL: Robert Dunham, Sr., Henderson State University
OL: Devin Hannan, Gr., Valdosta State University
OL: Trase Jeffries, Sr., Pittsburg State University
OL: Blake Larson, Sr., Augustana University
AP: Michael Herzog, Sr., Hillsdale College

Second Team Defense
DL: Loobert Denelus, Sr., Benedict College
DL: Marcus Hansen, So., Bemidji State University
DL: Eddie Miller-Garrett, Sr., Ohio Dominican University
DL: Dakari Streeter, Sr., Missouri Western State University
LB: Jack Barkley, Jr., Pittsburg State University
LB: Garrett Cox., Jr., Millersville University
LB: Hayden Kelly, Gr., University of Texas at Permian Basin
DB: Willie Drew, Gr., Virginia State University
DB: Giye Jenkins, Jr., University of New Haven
DB: Josiah Johnson, Jr., Ouachita Baptist University
DB: Malik Jones, Sr., Delta State University
DB: Josh Stokes, Jr., Slippery Rock University

Second Team Special Teams
PK: Logan Turner, Jr., Southwest Baptist University
P: Aaron Winn, Sr., Arkansas Tech University
RET: Devon Jones, Sr., Augustana University