D2CCA All-America Release (PDF)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University quarterback Roland Rivers III was named the Ron Lenz National Offensive Player of the Year to highlight five Rock selections to the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association All-America team that was announced Thursday.
 
In addition to being named the top offensive player in the nation, Rivers was also selected as a first team All-American by the D2CCA. He was joined by offensive lineman Chris Larsen, wide receiver Henry Litwin and linebacker Brad Zaffram in earning first team All-America honors, while Chad Kuhn picked up a second team recognition to give Slippery Rock a nation-leading five selections.
 
The D2CCA All-America team is nominated for and voted on by the sports information directors at Division II football-playing institutions. Each school in the nation is allowed one vote on the All-America ballot and all first team All-Region selections advance to the All-America ballot.
 
All five of Slippery Rock's D2CCA All-America selections were also named as Associated Press All-Americans when the AP released its team yesterday. Slippery Rock led all schools in the nation on that list as well, with Rivers and Larsen each earning first team honors and Litwin, Zaffram and Kuhn being named to the second team.  
 
Rivers becomes the first SRU offensive player and the second Rock player ever to be named the National Player of the Year, joining 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Martin.
 
"We're so proud of Roland for what he has accomplished with our program," said head coach Shawn Lutz. "To bounce back from an injury the way he did and put up the kind of numbers he did here over the last two years speaks to the kind of work ethic he has. No one in the country worked harder in the offseason last year and it showed this fall. This is a tremendous and deserved honor for Roland. Landing five players on multiple All-America teams is an outstanding accomplishment for our program."
 
All five of The Rock's All-America candidates will have the opportunity to add to their list of postseason accomplishments as the D2football.com and Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America teams have yet to be announced.
 
A brief look at the season highlights for each of The Rock's five All-Americans can be found below.
 
 
ROLAND RIVERS III – National Offensive Player of the Year, 1st team QB
The D2CCA Offensive Player of the Year and All-America honors handed to Rivers today, and the AP All-America honor yesterday, are the latest in what is expected to be a lengthy list of postseason accomplishments for The Rock's quarterback. Rivers was also named the Super Region One Offensive Player of the Year, the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and is expected to be among the frontrunners for the Harlon Hill Award, presented to the Division II Player of the Year. He is one of the eight finalists for the Harlon Hill and will find out Friday, Dec. 20, if he is the first SRU player to ever take home the trophy. Rivers set SRU single-season records for completions (322), passing yards (4,460), passing touchdowns (52) and total offense (5,160). He also set or tied NCAA Division II single-season records for touchdowns responsible for (61), points responsible for (370) and most games with at least three touchdown passes (11). Rivers ranked first in the nation in passing yards (4,460), passing touchdowns (52), total offense (5,160) and points responsible for (370). He completed 322-of-481 passes for 4,460 yards with 52 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, while also rushing for 700 yards and nine touchdowns. Rivers shattered the SRU career record for touchdown passes, throwing 80 in just 26 games over two seasons at The Rock. His 99 career TD passes at the DII level are 25 more than any other active player in DII at the end of 2019. He finished the season with nine games of at least 300 passing yards and threw for 1,051 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception in three NCAA playoff games.
 
CHRIS LARSEN – 1st Team OL
Larsen continues to add postseason honors this fall after previously being named to first team All-PSAC and Super Region One honors and being named as one of the eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year. The Rock's starting left tackle finished fourth in the national voting for the Upshaw Award and was the second highest vote-getter among all offensive linemen in the nation. He picks up his first career All-America honor after starting all 14 games for SRU this season and helping The Rock to boast one of the best offensive units in the country. Larsen started 44 career games, including 29 straight to end his career. The Rock's offense ranks first in the nation in passing efficiency (176.9) and first downs (356), third in scoring (46.2 points per game), fifth in passing (329.9 yards per game) and completion percentage (66.7), seventh in fourth down conversions (696 percent), eighth in red zone scoring (91.7 percent) and ninth in total offense (501.7 yards per game).
 
HENRY LITWIN – 1st Team WR
Litwin was named to second team All-America honors by the AP yesterday, but bumped up to the first team on the D2CCA team, earning his first career All-America honors after posting the best statistical season in SRU history for a receiver. He broke The Rock's single-season records for receptions (103), receiving yards (1,509) and receiving touchdowns (21) while also breaking the SRU career record for touchdown catches (29) with all 29 coming in the last two seasons. His 1,509 receiving yards are the sixth most by any player in a single-season in PSAC history. What's even more impressive about Litwin's numbers, is that he put them up while sharing the ball with Jermaine Wynn Jr., who caught 95 passes for 1,339 yards and 15 touchdowns. That duo are the only pair of receivers from any level of college football to go over 1,300 yards this season. Litwin ranks second in the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns this season and ranks sixth nationally in total points scored (126).
 
BRAD ZAFFRAM – 1st Team LB
Zaffram was named to second team All-America honors by the AP yesterday, but moved up to the first team on the D2CCA team to earn his first Division II All-America honors after leading The Rock defense in a number of categories this season. He ranked first on the team in total tackles (93), solo tackles (61) and tackles for loss (19.5). He led all players in the PSAC in tackles for loss during the regular season and his 19.5 tackles for loss are the most among all linebackers in Division II this season. His 19.5 TFL are also the sixth most in a single-season in SRU program history. Zaffram had 25 more tackles than any other Rock defensive player and 14 more solo stops than any other SRU player in 2019. In addition to his tackle numbers, Zaffram also recorded two interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick and nine additional credited QB hurries.
 
CHAD KUHN – 2nd Team DL
Kuhn earns his first career All-America honors after a breakout junior season in which he led the PSAC and ranked ninth in the nation in total sacks with 11.5. He recorded 2.0 more sacks than any other player in the PSAC during the regular season and also finished the year with 17.0 total tackles for loss. Kuhn ranked fifth overall on the SRU defense with 58 total tackles while also forcing two fumbles and being credited with a team-high 11 QB hurries. His 11.5 sacks are the sixth most in a single-season in SRU program history and his 20.0 career sacks rank 10th all-time at The Rock.



To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics), Instagram (RockAthletics) and Snapchat (@RockAthletics).