Hogan and Hartnett Named AFCA-NAIA All-Americans

OFFICIAL AFCA-NAIA ALL-AMERICA ANNOUNCEMENT

WACO, Texas - A pair of Knights were named to the 2015 American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA)-NAIA Coaches' All-America Team when the team was announced by the AFCA Selection Committee on Tuesday morning.

Marian University junior wide receiver Krishawn Hogan and senior linebacker Ryan Hartnett highlight the 2015 team and become the 10th and 11th all-americans in program history.

The 25-player team highlights 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players and three specialists (placekicker, punter, and an all-purpose player) from around the NAIA and all selections are voted on and decided exclusively by NAIA football coaches. This year marks the 10th time since the AFCA began choosing an All-America Team in 1945 that an All-NAIA Team was selected (first in 2006). The Knights have been represented each season since 2011.

"There is no doubt that Krishawn and Ryan deserve this honor," said third-year head coach Mark Henninger as he prepares his team for the 60th Annual NAIA Football National Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla. "Both of these young men have been an integral part of our program and have shown their commitment to the Marian University program. Ryan has been a three-year captain for us, while Krishawn has proven that he is one of the best college players in the country. I am extremely proud of both of them."

Hogan is the sixth AFCA-NAIA All-America First Team selection after he led the Knights to their second consecutive national championship game berth and third in four years in what has been a record-setting season so far. He is currently the national leader in receiving yards (1,677) and is averaging a NAIA-best 129 receiving yards per game. The 1,677 receiving yards re-set his single-season record and gave him the career receiving record as well. IN addition, he also re-set his single-season receptions record with 90 catches and became the all-time leader in receptions as well. His 15 receiving touchdowns is also a single-season school record.

The 1,677 receiving yards is also a single-season record for the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) breaking the record of 1,547 set by Saint Francis (Ind.)'s Jeremy Dutcher in 2000.

Alongside his ability as a receiver, Hogan has also proven himself as a runner, particularly during the NAIA Football Championship Series. He has run the ball 35 times for just 115 yards, but has scored 14 rushing touchdowns to go with his 15 receiving scores. He is currently ranked second in the NAIA in scoring with 174 points. In the NAIA FCS, he has scored 11 rushing touchdowns and three receiving markers for the Knights. MU has amassed 119 total points in the NAIA FCS and Hogan has scored 84 of those points.

Hartnett was named to the AFCA-NAIA All-America Second Team and is the fourth all-time second team selection. He leads the Knights' defense, which is ranked as the top run defense in the nation and the third-ranked total defense. He has amassed a career-high 114 tackles with 49 of them being solo stops, which is a team-best. He has notched 11 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception to go with two pass break-ups, 15 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

He is 18 tackles shy of the program's single-season tackles record set by current defensive line coach Brock Caraboa in 2010. Hartnett is also ranked second in program history in tackles with 362 and is 22 tackles shy of the all-time record of 384 set by Caraboa from 2007-10. He is the fourth defensive player in program history to earn the prestigious honor.

The No. 6-ranked Knights (11-2) will take on No. 7-ranked Southern Oregon (11-2) in the 60th Annual NAIA Football National Championship Game, presented by Waste Pro on Saturday at Larry Kelly Field at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. Kickoff is slated for 6:04 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN3.

The game will also air locally on Catholic Radio Indianapolis 89.1 FM and 90.9 FM with veteran broadcaster Scott McCauley (p-b-p), former MU lineman Zach Graves (color) and MU's all-time leading rusher Tevin Lake (sideline) calling all the action beginning at 5:30 p.m.