All-NFFCC Teams

COLORADO SPRINGS - Blake Doud has repeated as the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter's Specialist of the Year to lead seven Orediggers on the NFFCC's annual year-end All-Colorado awards.

Doud was joined as a First-Team All-NFFCC selection by running back Landon Walker, receiver Max McLeod, and offensive tackle Nic Van de Graaf; receiver Flynn Schiele and linebackers Jaden Healy and Adrian Moreno were Second-Team All-NFFCC honorees. 

Named a consensus first-team all-American on Wednesday, Doud was the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year and led NCAA Division II in punting at 46.6 yards per punt. Mines led the nation in net punting at 42.8 yards per attempt as opponents had only 13 returns off 41 punts in 2024. Doud put 19 of his 41 punts inside the 20, had 13 of 50+ yards, and a long of 80 yards. Doud was also an AP, D2CCA, and D2football.com First-Team All-American, along with a First-Team Academic All-American, in 2023.

McLeod, an AFCA Second-Team All-American, finished his career fourth on the NCAA D-II all-time receiving yards list, compiling 4,688 yards and 54 touchdowns. He is Mines' all-time record holder in yards and #2 in Mines and RMAC history in TDs, and in 2024 earned First-Team All-RMAC honors ranking in the NCAA D-II top-20 in receiving yards (9th, 1078), yards per game (10th, 98.0), receptions per game (8th, 6.5), and receiving TDs (18th, 10). His 72 catches led the RMAC. 

Van de Graaf was named an Associated Press and D2CCA First-Team All-American yesterday, after also earning 2024 First-Team All-RMAC and D2CCA First-Team All-Region honors this postseason. The Gene Upshaw Award finalist started all 11 games for the Orediggers at left tackle, and was 2024 D2football.com Elite 100 Watchlist Squad member and Lindy's Preseason All-American. The team co-captain ended his career as a four-time all-RMAC selection, starting 51 times (the second-most ever by an Oredigger and most by a lineman), and he blocked for three Harlon Hill finalists in his career.

Walker, a Second-Team All-RMAC honoree, led Mines' rushing unit with 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. Averaging 6.2 yards per carry, Walker was also a threat in the receiving game with 15 catches for 62 yards. He went over 100 yards twice with his top games being a 154-yard, two-touchdown season opener against West Texas A&M and a 142-yard, four-touchdown day at Washburn. 

Schiele, a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee this year and second-team all-American from the AP and D2CCA, also earned D2CCA First-Team All-Super Region 4 and First-Team All-RMAC honors this season. He ranked in the national top-10 in receiving yards and touchdowns with a region-best 1,195 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 108.6 yards per game. Schiele produced his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, and set D-II's biggest receiving game of the season with 297 yards against Black Hills State. He caught multiple touchdowns in five games including three versus BHSU and two each against South Dakota Mines, Adams State, #8 Western Colorado, and Fort Lewis. 

Healy led Mines in tackles (57), tackles for loss (14), and sacks (4.0) this season from his outside linebacker spot, adding four hurries, three break-ups, and a kick block. The co-captain finished his career with standout splash numbers of 36.5 TFL, 20 sacks, and eight total turnovers created while earning First-Team All-RMAC and D2CCA Second-Team All-Region honors.

Moreno, a three-time first-team all-RMAC selection and two-time D2CCA all-region pick in his career, co-captained the defense with 53 total tackles, 2.5 for loss, and a sack to go with three break-ups and a hurry. Moreno led a run-stopping unit that held opponents under 100 yards rushing seven times in 11 games.

The NFFCC honors outstanding performers from all of Colorado's 10 college football programs, regardless of division. In addition to Doud, Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders was the Offensive Player of the Year, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter was the Defensive Player of the Year, and Deion Sanders was selected as the Coach of the Year. The honorees will be recognized at the organization's annual banquet in April.