Football

MIAC announces 2023 Football awards

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The 2023 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) football regular season concluded earlier this month and on Monday, the conference recognized the top performers from another outstanding campaign with the announcement of the 2023 MIAC Football Awards.
 
Gustavus senior wide receiver Jake Breitbach was selected as the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year while Gustie senior linebacker Carson DeKam was named MIAC Defensive Player of the Year. Concordia senior defensive lineman Collin Thompson received the Mike Stam Award, presented to the top lineman in the conference, and Cobber first-year offensive lineman Angel Reyes was named the MIAC Football Rookie of the Year. Bethel head coach Steve Johnson was honored by his peers with the John Gagliardi Coach of the Year Award.
 
Breitbach (Sr. | Golden Valley, Minn. | Armstrong) was selected MIAC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 82 catches for 1,140 yards and eight touchdowns in MIAC contests. He now ranks fourth in recorded conference history for single-season MIAC receptions (82), yards (1,140), and receiving yards per game (142.5). Breitbach became the first player in recorded MIAC history to tally five straight 100-yard receiving games against conference opponents and tied the single-season record for 100-yard receiving games in league play with six in 2023. He is the first Gustie in program history to be named MIAC Offensive Player of the Year and just the second wide receiver in the last decade to receive an individual MIAC postseason award.
 
DeKam (Sr. | Owatonna, Minn.) was voted MIAC Defensive Player of the Year. The senior linebacker recorded 72 total tackles in 2023, averaging 9.0 tackles per game – third-highest in the conference – with 39 solo stops and six coming behind the line of scrimmage against conference foes. He tallied double-digit tackle totals against four MIAC opponents and finished the year with two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception to his credit. He is the first Gustie in program history to be named MIAC Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Thompson (Sr. | Thatcher, Ariz.) received Mike Stam Lineman of the Year honors after collecting 30.0 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2023. He added a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two pass breakups in conference action. Thompson is the ninth Cobber in program history – and the first in a decade – to receive the Mike Stam Award. The Mike Stam Award was created in 1990 in memory of the former Carleton All-MIAC defensive lineman who passed away in a snowmobiling accident after his junior season.
 
Reyes (Fy. | Darwin, Minn. | Dassel-Cokato) was named MIAC Rookie of the Year after playing in seven conference games and starting five at offensive tackle for the Cobbers in his debut season. With Reyes' providing protection, Concordia's offense was able to set new single-season individual marks for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offensive yards in 2023. Only true first-year athletes are eligible for the MIAC Rookie of the Year award. Reyes is the first Cobber in program history to receive MIAC Rookie of the Year honors.
 
Johnson (35th season) received the sixth John Gagliardi Coach of the Year honor of his career after guiding the Royals to a MIAC title and the program's fourth trip to the NCAA Playoffs in the last five seasons. Johnson – the all-time wins leader among active NCAA Division III football coaches announced his retirement at the end of the 2023 season – after leading the Royals' football program for three-and-a-half decades. Johnson has guided the Royals to 29 consecutive winning seasons, 12 NCAA Playoff appearances, four Elite Eights, two Final Fours, and six MIAC Championships.
 
In addition to individual honors, the MIAC also announced All-Conference and honorable mention selections. Sixty-three players received All-MIAC accolades with another 24 receiving honorable mention distinctions. Twenty-seven of the 63 All-MIAC honorees were also All-Conference selections a season ago.
 
Twelve players – Augsburg quarterback Cade Sheehan and wide receiver Braden Tretter; Bethel offensive lineman Evan Ginter and defensive back Nate Farm; Carleton linebacker Isaac Simons; Concordia defensive lineman Chase Dockter; Gustavus wide receiver Jack Breitbach and linebacker Carson DeKam; Saint John's tight end Alex Larson, linebacker Erik Bjork, and defensive back Ethan Stark; and St. Olaf running back Jordan Embry – received their third All-MIAC nod, a feat achieved by 123 players in recorded conference history.
 
All MIAC awards were nominated by and voted on by MIAC head football coaches. Any nominated player who was not selected All-Conference but still received votes from at least three coaches was named honorable mention. Only conference statistics are considered for MIAC awards.

| 2023 MIAC Football Awards |