Wheaton, Ill. – A pair of 2021 Division III All-America football teams were announced on Friday evening as both D3football.com and the Associated Press (AP) each announced their respective All-America teams. Wheaton is well represented on both teams, with four players earning a spot on each team.

Ryan Schwartz and Dallas McRae represent the Wheaton defense on both teams announced tonight, while Spencer Peterson (PICTURED LEFT) and Jake Hibben represent the Thunder offense on both teams. Defensive lineman Jake Holaday and running back Giovanni Weeks each earned a spot on the D3football.com All-America Team.

McRae (PICTURED RIGHT) repeats as a First Team All-American selection at defensive tackle from D3football.com and on the defensive line from Associated Press. McRae was also a First Team selection for both organizations in 2019. He led the Wheaton defense with 13 sacks (91 yards) this season. His 22 tackles for loss (-118 yards) led the Thunder defense and he was second on the team in total tackles with 51, including 37 solo stops. He registered eight quarterback hurries this season, breaking up five passes. McRae is ranked 15th in Division III in sacks per game (1.08 SPG) and is 16th in the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8 TFLPG).

Peterson was named a First Team All-American at tight end by both organizations. He led the Thunder with 13 touchdown catches this fall. His 533 receiving yards was second on the team, and he caught 35 passes this season. Peterson's 15.2 yards per reception average was second on the Thunder offense in the 2021 season.


Senior linebacker Ryan Schwartz (PICTURED LEFT) is now a two-time All-America selection from D3football.com. He is a First Team selection from the website this year and earned Third Team honors from D3football.com in 2019. Additionally, he is a Second Team All-America selection from the AP this year. For the second-consecutive season, Schwartz led the Wheaton defense in total tackles this fall. He made 89 total tackles in 2021, including 64 solos. Schwartz registered 9.5 tackles for loss (-17 yards), with three interceptions (-35 yards) this season.  

Center Jake Hibben (PICTURED RIGHT) was a First Team selection on offensive line to the Associated Press team and he was a Fourth Team All-America selection at center by D3football.com. Hibben was a Third Team All-American pick by D3football.com in the 2019 season. The Thunder center led an offensive line that was an integral part of an offense that ranks fourth in Division III in scoring offense (48.2 PPG), is 10th in total offense (491.0 YPG), and is 11th in rushing offense (253.5 yards per game).

Senior Jake Holaday (PICTURED LEFT) was named to D3football.com's Second Team unit at defensive tackle. He was second on the Thunder defense with 9.5 sacks (-54 yards) this season, and made 14 tackles for loss (-64 yards). Holaday made 44 total tackles this fall, including 27 solo stops. He led Wheaton with nine passes broken up.

Thunder running back Giovanni Weeks (PICTURED RIGHT) is a Third Team All-American at running back on this year's D3football.com All-America Team. Weeks led Wheaton with a school-record 1,462 rushing yards this season, and his average of 8.2 yards per carry ranks second in Division III. The junior's 20 rushing touchdowns established a new school record, and he had 21 total TD this year. Weeks caught 31 passes for 470 yards, averaging 15.2 yards per catch. He averaged 178.2 all-purpose yards per game this season, a mark that is fourth in Division III, and he is fifth in Division III in rushing yards. 

The six selections to this year's D3football.com All-America Team, marks the most Wheaton players on the website's postseason team in one season in program history. The previous program best was five honorees in 2019 and Wheaton had four D3football.com All-Americans in 1999 and 2016. D3football.com's recognition of the six players this year marks the seventh-consecutive full season that the Thunder football team has had at least one selection on the website's All-American Team. Wheaton has produced 43 total D3football.com All-American selections over 17 of the 22 full seasons that the website has announced All-American Teams.

The 2021 season marks the fourth season that the Associated Press has named student athletes to a Division III All-America Team. Previously Division III football players were named to the Associated Press "Little All-America Team" that also consisted of NCAA Division II player and NAIA standouts. Since the Associated Press Division III All-America Team began in 2017, Wheaton has produced nine All-America selections. Tight end Zach  Lindquist and defensive end Chase Greenlee were named to the inaugural Associated Press Division III All-America Team in 2017. In 2018, linebacker Eric Stevenson picked up First Team recognition. McRae and cornerback Spencer Rowland represented the Wheaton defense on the 2019 AP All-America Team.