Three St. Ambrose football players earned All-American honors as announced by the College Fanz Sports Network today. Wide receiver Michael Hayward was named to the first team, left tackle Matt Sutton was tabbed for the second team, and defensive tackle Vince Fillipp earned honorable mention. All three Bees earned first team all-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League honors earlier.

Hayward, a two-time all-conference selection, set SAU single-season records for receptions (88), receiving yards (1,292) and receiving touchdowns (11) this season. The sophomore from Davenport, Iowa (Bettendorf High School), finished third in the country in receiving yards at 107.7 yards per game and sixth in catches at 7.3 receptions per game. In just two years, Hayward already holds school records for career receptions (166) and career touchdown receptions (20). He is second all-time with 2,175 career receiving yards.

Sutton led an offensive line that helped St. Ambrose average 24.9 points and 360.6 yards of total offense per game this season. The sophomore from San Diego, Calif. (West Hills High School), helped protect quarterback Will Ducey, who threw for 2,947 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Bees finished 19th in the country in passing offense after averaging 251.6 yards per game through the air.

Fillipp, also a two-time all-conference pick, had 68 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 8 sacks in 2008. The senior from Cary, Ill. (Cary-Grove High School), forced one fumble and recovered three. Fillipp finished 50th in the nation in sacks. He is fourth all-time in SAU history with 14 career sacks and is seventh with 28.5 career tackles-for-loss.

St. Ambrose finished 8-4 overall in 2008 and won the MSFA Midwest League title for the third straight year. The Bees qualified for their fourth consecutive NAIA Football Championship Series appearance and saw their season end in the first round at the hands of eventual NAIA National Champion Sioux Falls (S.D.).

Formerly the Victory Sports Network (VSN) NAIA Coaches' All-American Team, the VSN/College Fanz 2008 NAIA All-American team is selected by a group of 10 NAIA football coaches and the College Fanz Sports Network's Jason Dannelly.