The Associated Press (AP) announced its 2023 AP NAIA  All-America Teams this week as selected by by a panel of sports information directors and the AP. 

Four Seahawks were recognized by the AP for their play during the 2023 season as junior Roderick Carter and sophomore D'Andre Golden were named to the first team, and junior Jaden Meizinger and junior Wendol Philord were honored as second-teamers.

 

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AP First-Team All-Americans

Roderick Carter, Third Year, C, West Palm Beach, Fla.

• Named a First-Team AP All-American for the first time in his career.
• Earned first-team all-conference honors on the offensive line for the first time in his career.
• Started in all 12 games at center for the Seahawks.
• Part of an offensive line that has helped Keiser register 3,169 yards on the ground (a single-season record) with 47 rushing touchdowns (school record).
• Keiser ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in total rushing yards, No. 7 in rushing yards per game (226.9) and is No. 3 in rushing touchdowns.
• The Seahawks recorded 200-or-more yards rushing in eight games this season, including a school-record 383-yard performance versus St. Thomas in the NAIA Second Round.
• Also anchored a line that produced 373 yards on the ground in the National Championship Game versus Northwestern (Iowa).
• Helped the Seahawks tie the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game with six versus Webber Int'l (11/4).
• Protected a Seahawk passing game that has recorded 2,477 yards passing (second all-time at Keiser) with 18 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.

D'Andre Golden, Second Year, TE, Norcross, Ga.

• Earned First-Team AP All-America recognition for the first time in his career.
• Garnered First-Team All Sun-Conference.
• Appeared in 14 games for the Seahawks, starting in 11.
• Led the team with 36 catches for 610 yards (No. 6 in the Sun Conference).
• Also led the team in receiving touchdowns (7) (tied for second in the conference).
• Caught a pass in every game this season, including a career-best seven at Valdosta State (9/16).
• Had a career-best two receiving touchdowns to close out the regular season (at Florida Memorial - 11/11) and followed that up with a two-touchdown performance versus St. Thomas in the NAIA Second Round (11/25).
• Recorded the longest touchdown reception of the season with a 63-yard score at Valdosta State (9/16).
• Produced the fourth-most receiving yards in a game with 110 versus the Blazers.
• Was also a key contributor in the Keiser running game, helping the Seahawks register 3,169 yards on the ground (a single-season record) with 47 rushing touchdowns (school record).
• Keiser ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in total rushing yards, No. 7 in rushing yards per game (226.9) and is No. 3 in rushing touchdowns.

 

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AP Second-Team All-Americans


Jaden Meizinger, Third Year, RB, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

• Named to the AP All-America second team for the first time in his career.
• Earned First-Team All-Sun Conference honors at all-purpose.
• Started all 14 games for the Seahawks.
• Has rushed for 1,640 yards (No. 2 in the NAIA) and caught 20 passes for 157 yards to record 1,797 all-purpose yards this season.
• Posted a school-record 23 rushing touchdowns this season, ranking second in the SUN in points (138).
• Set a career-high in rushing, reaching the 1,000 yard mark for the second straight year.
• Part of a backfield that set the school record for both rushing yards (3,169) and rushing touchdowns (47).
• Was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Game three times during the NAIA Playoffs (Second Round, Semifinals, National Championship).
• Rushed for a career-high 261 yards on 22 carries in the National Championship Game, scoring on the first play of the game (75-yard run).
• Produced 245 yards rushing with two touchdowns versus St. Thomas in the Second Round of the NAIA Playoffs (11/25).
• Tied the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game, recording four in the team's conference opener versus Thomas (Ga.) (9/30).
• Recorded a rushing touchdown in 12 of the team's 14 games, including in each of the last nine.
• A two-time Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week winner this season (9/11 & 10/2).

Wendol Philord, Third Year, DB, Miramar, Fla.

• Earned Second-Team AP All-America honors for the first time in his career.
• Named a First-Team AFCA All-American .
• 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.

 

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