AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University football program saw nine players named All-Sun Division on Thursday afternoon, as announced by the Mid-South Conference office. The contingent was led by three first team selections, including wide receiver Joshua Jenkins, who was named the division's Offensive Freshman of the Year. 

Jenkins is the first player since Ave Maria joined the Mid-South Conference to be named Offensive Freshman of the Year. He was also named a first team selection at wide receiver. Jenkins was one of the best receivers in the nation during his freshman season, setting AMU records with 987 receiving yards and ten touchdowns. The freshman ranked sixth in the nation in yards per catch, and 12th in receiving yards.

Joining Jenkins on the first team were Jose Fernandez and Roman Newkirk. Fernandez has been a mainstay on the AMU offensive line over his first two seasons, and earns his first All-Division honor. Newkirk was named first team All-Division both as a return specialist and as an all-purpose player. Newkirk's return special honor comes after logged more than 500 return yards this season, while his efforts as a wide receiver and a punter earned him the all-purpose nod.

On the second team, the honors were split evenly between three offensive and three defensive players. Will Tate was named an All-Division quarterback for the third time in his storied career, which included an Offensive Player of the Year nod in 2018. Brock Summers, who had touchdowns in the final two games, was honored at tight end, while Bennett Landry was recognized as a second team selection on the offensive line. 

The defensive side of the ball was represented by three players who are now multiple-time All-Division selections. Jalyn Robinson, who set an Ave Maria record with 9.5 sacks on the season, was named an All-Division defensive lineman for the second time. Shane O'Brien, AMU's leading tackler, also earned his second recognition on the All-Division teams. Connor Jewel was named an All-Division linebacker for the third season in a row to round out the group. 

Keiser's Marques Burgess was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Southeastern's Marc Viechec was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year. The other Freshman of the Year, along with Jenkins, was Defensive Freshman of the Year Joey Chatman of Southeastern. The Fire also swept the coaches' awards, with Cesar Rivas-Sandoval named Coach of the Year and Adam Waugh named Assistant Coach of the Year.

Additionally, Robinson was named as Ave Maria's Champion of Character. The student-athletes that are honored on the Champions of Character Team were nominated by their coaches based on their leadership on campus and in the community while demonstrating the five core character values of the NAIA. Also, 15 AMU players, listed here https://www.mid-southconference.org/article/10341.php were named Academic All-Mid South Conference.

Ave Maria's 2021 season ended with a 4-2 record in Sun Division play, which included victories over Southeastern, Webber, Warner, and Florida Memorial. The Gyrenes enter the offseason with high hopes entering the 2022 season, as many of the team's biggest standouts from 2021 - including eight of the nine recognized players - are set to return.