AVE MARIA, Fla. — Four Ave Maria University football players were named to the Second All-Sun Conference team Wednesday when the league announced post season honors. The honorees were Bryan Stiemke, Roman Newkirk, Willie Jackson, and John Suran. It is the second time being selected for Stiemke and Jackson and the third time being selected for Newkirk.

Stiemke finished the season with 593 rushing yards, bringing his career total up to 2370. He became the second ever Gyrene to rush over 2,000 yards in a career and passed Quino Mauricette to become the all-time leading rusher in program history. Stiemke also recorded the longest rush of his career this season, gaining 60 yards in one play against St. Thomas.

Newkirk earned his third career All-Conference nomination doing a little bit of everything this year for the Gyrenes. He was the primary returner for Ave Maria this season, returning 18 kickoffs for 532 yards. Newkirk took one of those kicks back for a touchdown, which was the first kickoff return for a touchdown for the Gyrenes in four seasons. Offensively, Newkirk led the team with 29 receptions for 416 yards. Lastly, he threw for a touchdown against Southeastern, the first passing touchdown in his career. With his selection this year, Newkirk becomes just the eighth Gyrene to be named to an All-Conference team three or more times.

Jackson finished his senior season with 5.5 sacks on season and 10 total tackles for a loss. For his entire career, he sits at 21.5 sacks, the second most in program history. Jackson also forced and recovered a fumble against Thomas.

Suran was selected to the All-Conference team for the first time in his career. The senior linebacker led the team with 64 total tackles. He ended the year with three tackles for a loss. Suran contributed on four turnovers with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He forced the first fumble recovery himself. The other was forced by a teammate that Suran returned for 91 yards and a touchdown. It was the longest scoop-and-score in program history.

No. 1 Keiser, the 2024 Regular Season Champion, led the conference with 16 selections. Ten of the Seahawks selections were named to the first team. Keiser also won the Offensive Lineman, Defensive Player and Special Teams Player of the Year and the Coach of the Year awards.

No. 16 Southeastern finished second with 12 selections, four on the first team and eight on the second team. Southeastern won the Freshman and the Assistant Coach of the Year awards and the Champion of Character.

No. 5 St. Thomas was right behind them with 11 selections, nine on the first team. St. Thomas took home the Back, Receiver, Defensive Lineman, Linebacker and Offensive Player of the Year awards.
The rest of the field rounded out with Florida Memorial getting seven selections, Ave Maria with four, Webber with two and Warner and Thomas each with one.

Ave Maria completed the 2024 season this past Saturday with a 3-7 record with two conference victories over Thomas and Warner and a non-conference win over Fort Lauderdale.