Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire football team’s All-American linebacker will take part in a game next month that showcases some of the best players in NCAA Division III.
Senior Mike Hendrick (Smithton, IL, Freeburg) was selected to play in the 4th Annual D-3 Senior Classic on December 7 in Salem, Virginia. The game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. at Salem Stadium, the home of the Stagg Bowl.
Hendrick, a two-time member of the All-Midwest Conference First Team on defense, earned All-American accolades following a stellar junior season in 2011 and during the 2012 preseason. He was named an All-American by D3football.com and Beyond Sports Network (BSN) in 2011 and a preseason All-American this past season by those two media sites as well as USA Football News.
Hendrick led all Division III defensive players in tackles per game with 15.7 in 2011, earning a statistical champion trophy from the NCAA. He followed with 133 tackles in 2012, which led the Midwest Conference and ranked third in the county.
Hendrick established five new Knox football records for tackles during his career. He owns the all-time marks for tackles in a game with 26, solo tackles in a game with 14 – which he accomplished twice, solo tackles in a season with 81, total tackles in a season with 157, and solo tackles in a career with 200. He finished with 373 career tackles, which is second in school history.
Hendrick’s 157 tackles in a season ranks fourth and the 373 he had in his career is ninth in Midwest Conference history. He also has the third-highest total for tackles in a game. Hendrick recorded 26 stops during the 2011 season against Beloit College at the Knosher Bowl.
The players in the 2012 D-3 Senior Classic are scheduled to arrive on December 5 for a meet and greet and team meetings. The participants will practice and workout for scouts, then attend the player banquet on December 6 prior to the game on December 7.
Hendrick is on the 2012 South Roster. The game Web site is http://www.d3seniorclassic.com/
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