Galesburg, IL – A record-setting defensive player for the Prairie Fire football team is receiving national attention ahead of the 2012 season.

Beyond Sports Network named senior Mike Hendrick (Smithton, IL, Freeburg) as a 2012 D3 Preseason First Team All-American at linebacker.  BSN released its 2012 first, second, third, and honorable mention all-American teams on June 25.

The top tackler in NCAA Division III during the 2011 season with 157 – or 15.7 per game – Hendrick was named to BSN’s All-American Second Team Defense, D3Football.com’s All-West Region Team’s Second Team Defense, and he was an All-Midwest Conference First Team selection.

Hendrick, who was awarded an NCAA statistical champion plaque in May, set three new Knox football records for tackles in 2011.

He recorded 26 stops on September 24 at home against Beloit College, breaking the previous high of 23 by Del Camp in 1968.  In addition, Hendrick’s 75 solo tackles surpassed the 54 made by Tyler Hill in 2006 while his season total of 157 broke the all-time mark of 141 held by Tracy Rodgers since 1991.

The Prairie Fire and Hendrick will gear up for the new season when camp gets underway in August.  The first game on the 2012 schedule is against Eureka College on September 1 at 1:00 p.m. at the Knosher Bowl.

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