Three NESCAC football student-athletes were selected for the Associated Press (AP) Division III All-America teams, the most in a single season since the founding of the conference in 1971. Wesleyan's Dylan Connors was named to the First Team while Bowdoin's Angus Leary and Middlebury's Owen Thornton earned spots on the Third Team. The All-America team and individual honors are chosen by a panel of sports information directors from Division III football schools.
Connors is the first Wesleyan football player to earn AP All-American honors since 1967 and is just one of two Cardinal defensive players in team history to earn AP All-American honors, while Connors is the team's first-ever defensive player to be named First Team All-American by the AP. The playmaking senior safety led the NESCAC's top-ranked defense for each of the past two seasons. The 2025 NESCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year posted 51 tackles (35 solo) in nine games this season to go along with four tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, two interceptions, and one blocked punt which he returned 22 yards for a touchdown against Amherst. Connors' all-around ability shined in the win over the Mammoths as he posted six tackles, one TFL, two pass breakups, and the blocked punt and return for TD. He finished up his career with 145 career tackles, five interceptions, 26 pass breakups, and four touchdowns (two INT returns, two blocked punt and recovery TDs).
Leary, a sophomore defensive lineman, is Bowdoin's first All-American since 2009. An All-NESCAC First Team choice this fall, Leary was one of the most dominant defensive players in the league, finishing first in the conference in both tackles for loss (1.88/game) and sacks (8.5). His 8.5 sacks were eigtht in a single season in program history and his 14.5 sacks through his first two seasons already stand sixth on Bowdoin's career list.
Thornton earned All-America honors as a long snapper. A captain, the senior contributed on the defensive side, recording 25 tackles, one sack and one interception at linebacker. Thornton posted a season-high five tackles in the season opener at Wesleyan and hauled in his second career interception against Trinity on October 18. The Panther finished his career with 59 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries while appearing in all 36 games during his four-year tenure.Thornton is the 28th All-American in program history and the first to garner the honor by AP since 2000.
