Hoxworth, Lundgren and Knapp named to HP Division III All-American Team

Wheaton, Ill. (12/18) - The Wheaton College

football program placed three players on the 2002

Hewlett Packard Division III All-American Team, it was announced today.

Junior offensive lineman James Hoxworth (Bridgeport, Neb./Bridgeport)

was selected as a First Team All-American at guard. Senior defensive tackle

Dane Lundgren (Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View) and senior linebacker

Justin Knapp (Ames, Iowa/Ames) were Second-Team All-American selections.

The trio was part of a Wheaton team that posted a 10-2 record this season,

tying the school-record for wins in a single-season and advanced to the NCAA

Division III Playoffs' Second Round. The Thunder posted a 7-0 record in the

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), winning the program's

second conference championship in three years.

The

6-0, 290-pound Hoxworth (PICTURED LEFT) was a key contributor to a Wheaton

offensive unit that was among the best in Division III and set numerous school

records. The left guard started every game on the offensive line and earned

All-CCIW First Team honors this year after earning Second Team accolades last

season. Hoxworth made a big impact for a Thunder offense that averaged 486.6

yards per game, as the top offensive outfit in the CCIW and ranked fourth

in Division III in total offense. Wheaton set school-records for yards in

a season (5839), points in a season (496), touchdowns in a season (70) and

several others.

A

four-year starter at defensive tackle, Lundgren (PICTURED RIGHT) made 57 total

tackles this season with a team-high ten quarterback sacks (-45 yards) and

16 tackles for lost yardage (-51). He is a four-time All-CCIW selection and

has been chosen to the first team on three occasions and served as a Thunder

tri-captain this season. In his stellar career Lundgren has recorded 22 career

sacks (-154 yards) with 48 career tackles for lost yardage and has also made

244 total tackles in his career.

Knapp (PICTURED LEFT) served as a tri-captain for the Thunder,

leading the team in total tackles for the second consecutive season with 109

tackles, 5 tackles for lost yardage (-31 yards) and 2 quarterback sacks

(-15 yards). The versatile middle linebacker also made two interceptions with

eight pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He was selected

as the CCIW "Defensive Player of the Year" by the league's coaches and earned

First Team All-CCIW accolades.