Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire football team’s defensive stopper is the recipient of a prestigious national honor.
Senior Mike Hendrick (Smithton, IL, Freeburg) is a member of the 25-player 2012 AFCA Division III Coaches’ All-America team on defense as a linebacker. Knox athletic director Chad Eisele, the Prairie Fire’s head football coach for the past three seasons, described the AFCA All-America team as the “premier” team for a player to be named to.
The AFCA, which stands for American Football Coaches Association, has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. A total of five teams are chosen for each AFCA division. Hendrick is Knox College’s first AFCA All-American, and he’s the only player from the Midwest Conference on this year’ Division III team.
Members of the AFCA Coaches’ All-America teams receive a plaque commemorating their selection. They are chosen by the coaches.
Hendrick was also named to the 2012 All-Midwest Conference First Team defense after leading the league with 133 tackles, the third-most in the nation, and 13.3 tackles per game. He was selected to the D3football.com 2012 All-West Region Team Third Team defense and Beyond Sports Network’s 2012 Honorable Mention All-American team as a linebacker as well.
Hendrick received 2012 preseason All-American recognition from D3football.com, Beyond Sports Network (BSN), and USA Football News. He garnered first team defense honors from BSN and USA Football news and was a second team defense selection by D3football.com.
Hendrick led the nation in tackles with 157 – which is also a school record – and tackles per game with 15.7 in 2011. He received an NCAA statistical champion plaque for being the top tackler in Division III. Hendrick was named in 2011 All-Midwest Conference First Team defense, D3.football.com All-West Region Second Team defense, and BSN All-American Second Team defense.
Besides the record for total tackles in a season, Hendrick owns four other Knox football all-time marks. He recorded the most tackles in a game (26), solo tackles in a game (14, twice), solo tackles in a season (81), and solo tackles in a career (200).
Hendrick played for the South team in the 2012 D-3 Senior Classic in Salem, Virginia on December 7. He had five tackles, including two for a loss. The South defeated the North 37-21. The game featured many of the best senior football players in the country.
Hendrick, a secondary education and social sciences major who finished second in school history with 373 tackles in his career, is the first Knox football All-American since Tighe Burke. A defensive end, Burke was selected to the 2008-09 Third Team Associated Press Little All-America team.
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