Dallas McRae is named the 2019 D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year

Wheaton, Ill. – Wheaton College senior Dallas McRae was named the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year by D3football.com on Friday night, following the conclusion of the 2019 Stagg Bowl. McRae is just the third defensive tackle to be named the Defensive Player of the Year by the website, joining Mount Union's Tom Lally (2015) and Ryan Kleppe of UW-Whitewater (2006).

McRae is the first Wheaton player to be named the national Defensive Player of the Year by D3football.com since the website created the award in 2005. He is the second CCIW player to earn the website's Defensive Player of the Year award, joining North Central linebacker Matt Wenger (2010).

Earlier on Friday, McRae was honored as a First Team All-American at defensive tackle. He is a unanimous Division III First Team All-American this season, earning recognition as a First Team All-American on all three Division III All-American Teams this fall: American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press and D3football.com. McRae was honored as the 2019 CCIW Defensive Player of the Year and was also named the D3football.com North Region Defensive Player of the Year this fall.

McRae registered a team-best 18.5 tackles for loss (-102 yards) this season, including 8.5 quarterback sacks (-72 yards). He recorded 52 total tackles, including 36 solo stop in the outstanding 2019 season. McRae registered a team-high eight quarterback hurries, forced one fumble and recovered a fumble on the year.

McRae anchored a Wheaton defense that was top-five in Division III in eight different statistical categories. The Thunder defense led Division III in total defense, holding opponents to 202.7 yards per game this season. Wheaton also finished the campaign ranked first in Division III in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 8.9 points per game in 13 contests. The Thunder ranked second in Division III in rushing defense as opponents averaged just 51.8 yards per game on the ground against Wheaton this season.

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2019/12/21/dallas-mcrae-is-named-the-2019-d3football-com-defensive-player-of-the-year.aspx