The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced its 2023 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Teams on Wednesday.
Three Seahawks were recognized by the AFCA for their play during the 2023 season as junior
Wendol Philord (first team), junior
Scarlee Jean (second team), and junior
Jaelin Willis were named All-Americans.
The AFCA's NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
AFCA First-Team All-Americans
Wendol Philord, Third Year, DB, Miramar, Fla.
- Named a First-Team AFCA All-American for the first time in his career.
- Was an AFCA All-America Honorable Mention selection in 2022.
- Earned the program's first Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Year.
- Named the 2023 SUN Defensive Back of the Year.
- Collected first-team all-conference honors as a return specialist for the second straight year.
- Started all 13 games for the Seahawks.
- Notched 49 total tackles (38 solo) with 11.0 tackles for loss.
- Became the second player in program history to record 100-or-more solo tackles in a career.
- Registered three-or-more tackles in seven games this season.
- Had a tackle for loss in 10 contests in 2023.
- Ranks third all-time in career tackles for loss at Keiser (27.0).
- Is the school's all-time leader in fumble recoveries (7).
- Returned a fumble for a touchdown (65 yards) versus Bethel (Tenn.) in the NAIA Quarterfinals - the second of his career.
- Posted two interceptions, including a 37-yard return for a touchdown versus Southeastern (10/21).
- Is the only player in program history to record more than one interception return for a touchdown.
- Has seven pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, and ranks No. 4 in the SUN in passes defended (10).
- Leads the conference (No. 5 in the nation) in punt return yards (15.7 per game) and is third in the SUN (No. 13 in the nation) in kick return yards (25.2 per game).
- Was named the Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Week four times in 2023.
- Recorded first-collegiate kick return for a touchdown with an 82-yard return (tied for the fourth longest in school history) at Warner (10/14).
- Also returned three punts for touchdowns in 2023 – 58 yards versus Mississippi College (8/31), 69 yards at Ave Maria (10/28), and 56 yards versus Bethel (Tenn.) (12/2).
- The punt return for a TD versus Mississippi College was the first of his career.
- Is the only player in school history with multiple punt returns for touchdowns.
AFCA Second-Team All-Americans
Scarlee Jean, Third-Year, OL, Riviera Beach, Fla.
- Garnered AFCA Second-Team All-America honors for the first time in his career.
- Became the first Seahawks to earn SUN Offensive Lineman of the Year recognition.
- Earned first-team all-conference honors on the offensive line for the first time in his career.
- Started in all 13 games at left tackle for the Seahawks.
- Is part of an offensive line that has helped Keiser register 2,796 yards on the ground (a single-season record) with 45 rushing touchdowns (school record).
- Keiser ranks No. 9 in the NAIA in rushing yards per game (215.6) and is No. 3 in rushing touchdowns.
- The Seahawks recorded 200-or-more yards rushing in seven games this season, including a school-record 383-yard performance versus St. Thomas in the NAIA Second Round.
- Helped the Seahawks tie the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game with six versus Webber Int'l (11/4).
- Has protected a Seahawk passing game that has recorded 2,360 yards passing (second all-time at Keiser) with 17 passing touchdowns.
- Keiser reached 300 yards in passing for just the third time in program history with 300 at Ave Maria (10/28).
- The Seahawks reached the 500-yard plateau in three games this season (535 vs. Southeastern, 550 at Ave Maria, and 545 at St. Thomas).
- Part of a line that has allowed just four sacks during the 2023 season.
Jaelin Willis, Third Year, LB, Fort Myers, Fla.
- Named an AFCA Second-Team All-American for the first time in his career.
- Became the first Seahawks to earn SUN Linebacker of the Year recognition.
- Earned first-team all-conference honors as a linebacker for the second time in his career.
- Started all 13 games for the Seahawks.
- Leads the team in total tackles with 77 (43 solo) – No. 7 in the Sun Conference.
- Among the top 10 in tackles in the conference despite playing in three quarters-or-less in each of the last five games to end the regular season.
- Collected 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, one interception, three pass breakups, and an NAIA-best seven forced fumbles.
- Became the third player in program history to record 100-or-more solo tackles in a career.
- His seven forced fumbles broke the school record he previously set in 2022.
- Produced five-or-more tackles in nine games.
- Opened the year with a season-high 12 tackles versus Mississippi College (8/31) – marking the sixth time reaching double-digit tackles in a game during his career.
- Became the school's all-time leader in tackles during the team's 21-14 win over No. 16 St. Thomas.
- Named the Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week (10/9).
The Seahawks will face the Northwestern (Iowa) Raiders on Monday, December 18, in the NAIA National Championship Game. Kickoff from Durham County Memorial Stadium (Durham, N.C.) is set for Noon (ET).
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