D2CCA All-America Teams

GOLDEN, Colo. - For a second straight day, Colorado School of Mines has led an all-American team, this time as eight Orediggers have been named to the D2CCA All-America squads. 

#1 Mines (14-0) garnered four first-team all-Americans and another four second-teamers. Receiver Max McLeod, right tackle Levi Johnson, linebacker Nolan Reeve, and punter Blake Doud all earned first-team nods, with cornerback Jackson Zimmermann, quarterback John Matocha, center Steele Petty, and placekicker Hunter Pearson on the second team. McLeod, Johnson, Reeve, Doud, Zimmermann, and Matocha were also named to the Associated Press' teams on Wednesday, and McLeod, Reeve, and Matocha were AFCA All-Americans last week as they each earn their third of the postseason.

McLeod, now a first-team all-American on three squads this year, 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 another all-America spot 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 third 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. Also an AP All-American, 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. He was also an AP First-Team All-American.

Matocha adds his record-tying ninth 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). 

Petty picks up his first career all-America honor after shifting to center fron guard this season. A co-captain on offense, Petty has been a leader in the nation's #2 total and scoring offenses, and he was also a First-Team All-RMAC and First-Team D2CCA All-Region selection this postseason.

Pearson earns his first award in his only season as an Oredigger after the Virginia grad transfer won the starting placekicking job and excelled in 2023. Pearson was 93-of-95 on PATs and ranked fourth nationally in scoring among kickers, adding seven field goals including a career-long 44-yarder. He was one-quarter of one of the nation's top specialist units combined with Doud, holder Jacob Click, and long snapper Josh Wojciechowicz.

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+.