February 11, 2015 Contact: Dan Wilkes, National Chair For Immediate Release (620) 235-4147 or
[email protected] 2014 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team Announced Vander Laan Offensive POY, D. Allen Defensive POY, E. Allen Special Teams POY, Martin Freshman POY, Wristen Coach of the Year PITTSBURG, Kan. — Harlon Hill Trophy winning quarterback Jason Vander Laan of Ferris State and Gene Upshaw Award winning defensive end Darius Allen of NCAA Division II national champion Colorado State-Pueblo headline a talented 2014 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team. Vander Laan, who captured the Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II National Player of the Year honors, garnered Don Hansen Offensive Player of the Year accolades. A junior from Frankfort, Ill., Vander Laan rushed for 1,466 yards and 20 touchdowns and he completed 183 of 275 passes for 2,381 yards and 30 touchdowns with just seven interceptions (198.4 rating), helping the Bulldogs to the GLIAC title and an 11-1 overall record. Allen, a senior from Pueblo, Colo., captured the Gene Upshaw Award as the Division II Lineman of the Year for a second straight year. He made 72 tackles (39 solo) with 23.0 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 quarterback sacks during the ThunderWolves’ championship run. Ouachita Baptist return specialist Etauj Allen, who led Division II with three punt returns for touchdowns and averaged 18.5 yards per return, was selected the Don Hansen National Special Teams Player of the Year. Slippery Rock defensive end Marcus Martin, who made 68 tackles (29 solo) with 22.5 tackles-for-loss and 16.0 quarterback sacks, was named the Don Hansen National Freshman of the Year honors.