Six SAC Football Players Named 2019 D2CAA All-Americans; Lenoir-Rhyne's Artis Named Ron Lenz Defensive Player of the Year
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Slippery Rock senior quarterback Roland Rivers III and Lenoir-Rhyne senior defensive lineman Jaquan Artis headline the 2019 D2CCA All-America squad as the Ron Lenz Players of the Year as released Thursday by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America.
Rivers keyed The Rock's run to the NCAA Division II national semifinals setting numerous school single-season records in the process.
The Harlon Hill finalist raised program marks in completions (322), passing yards (4,460), passing touchdowns (52) and total offense (5,160). He also set or tied NCAA Division II single-season records for touchdowns responsible for (61), points responsible for (370) and most games with at least three touchdown passes (11).
Rivers ranked first in the nation in passing yards (4,460), passing touchdowns (52), total offense (5,160) and points responsible for (370). He completed 322-of-481 passes for 4,460 yards with 52 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, while also rushing for 700 yards and nine touchdowns.
The 6-3, 230-pound native of Ellenwood, Ga. finished the season with nine games of at least 300 passing yards and threw for 1,051 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception in three NCAA playoff games.
Rivers garnered D2CCA Super Region One Offensive Player of the Year honors and was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division Athlete of the Year.
As D2CCA Super Region Two Defensive Player of the Year, Artis helped Lenoir-Rhyne to a 13-1 mark as the Bears advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
The 6-2, 245-pound defensive end from Kinston, N.C. was a finalist for both the Harlon Hill Trophy and Gene Upshaw Award closing his senior campaign with 82 tackles with 23 stops for loss and 14.5 sacks.
The 2019 South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year finished his collegiate career with a staggering 47.5 tackles for loss and 29 sacks.
The Ron Lenz National Player of the Year award was named for long-time South Dakota State sports information director Ron Lenz in 2008. Lenz was instrumental in the foundation of the Division II All-America program beginning in 1993.
In addition to Artis, the South Atlantic Conference had five All-American selections. Carson-Newman's Desmond Fairell was a first team selection at cornerback, while Lenoir-Rhyen's Jason Poe (OL) and Mars Hill's Craig Rucker (WR) were second team offense picks. Earning second team defensive honors were Carson-Newman's Rondrow Peebles (LB) and Lenoir-Rhyne's Kyle Dugger (S).
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.