FB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[Baldini]

All-Region 6 honors for Garrett and McLaurin. 

Garrett (Jr.) 1st team RB
McLaurin (So.) 2nd team DT

Great accomplishment for these two Panthers and a sign of respect for the UMAC.  I am hopeful that Garrett could even appear as an AA when announced Stagg weekend.

There was a 3rd UMAC player on the All-Region team. OL Andrew Owczarzak was named 3rd team, was a starter for 44 games in his career and was a 3 time all UMAC selection at RT for Martin Luther College.   

[GU1999]

Very true.  I just had my black and orange colored glasses on again. 

From the ML press release.  What a dude.   

"Owczarzak finished his career in 2021 as a five-year starter and three-time All-UMAC performer. Owczarzak was named First Team All-UMAC in 2019 and 2021, and Second Team All-UMAC in 2018. No conference awards were given during the 2020-21 abbreviated spring season."   

[GU1999]

Owczarzak is the only dude to make the AFCA All-American list.  He comes in on the 2nd team.  Great honor for him.

https://www.afca.com/centrals-blaine-hawkins-and-monmouths-korbyn-personett-headline-the-2021-afca-division-iii-coaches-all-america-teams/

[GU1999]

Paul Garrett makes 4th team All-America for d3football.com.  This is a great honor for the Jr. RB who put up insane numbers during the regular season and had a 116 apy and a TD in the round of 32 playoff v. UW-W.   

This is GU's first d3football All-American since 2009 and 5th d3football.com All-American since the poll began in 1999. 

[GU1999]

Great news from Greenville. 

Seth Logan (Sr.) who had his season was cut short due to injury had surgery yesterday.  He was told he has an approximately 3 month recovery time and he announced that he is planning to play again at GU in the Fall.  Seth was a d3football team of the week member in week one of last year after he collected 10 receptions for 151 yards, including touchdown catches of 29, 34, 6, and 19 yards against a decent Millikin team that had top 25 votes in the preseason. 

This is a really nice weapon to have back.  Seth was injured in the first conference game of last season.

[Baldini]

The College Football Network put out a list of top players by position in D3 and on the list of top 20 RB's were 2 UMAC players. Paul Garrett - Greenville and Carson Oestreich - Martin Luther both made the list. 

[GU1999]

Will either be the next UMAC player to make the league? 

... speaking of making the league, Nick Morrow signs back in UMAC country with the Chicago Bears.  Based on the contract it looks like he is going to be slotted in as a starting LB.  He only is signing for one season. and the deal is reportedly for up to 5mm if all incentives are hit.  This is a prove it contract again after he sat out the whole season while playing on a 1 year fully guaranteed 4.5mm deal.  He suffered a broken bone in his foot during a joint practice in the pre-season.  He was on the Raiders roster, just not active, all 2021 season.  This will be his 6th year in the NFL.   If he hits the 5mm mark he will top 15mm for his career earnings.   

The Bears LB corps is now super athletic and super fast.  Morrow and Smith are both 4.5 guys who are sudden when changing direction. 

2020 highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSp0PNf4dAE

Love the play at 1:18

[Baldini]

This came as a bit of a surprise, but Paul Huebner is the new HC at Martin Luther College. Mark Stein did a very good job with that program and leaves some big shoes to be filled.

https://mlcknights.com/news/2022/4/26/paul-huebner-is-new-mlc-head-football-coach.aspx

[GU1999]

Paul Garrett making a fun list.  Didn't fully count but maybe 20ish d3 guys on the list of "draft diamonds"

https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2022/06/top-small-school/

[GU1999]

It looks like Nicholas Morrow will be the starting Mike and wear the green dot for the Chicago Bears.  Pretty wild to go from OL/DL in high school, to hybrid safety at GU to signal caller for the Chicago Bears.  While the Bears are of little consequence in the NFL these days, it is pretty wild to fill the same position as some of the greats to ever do it.  Morrow will wear #53.  Former Bears Mike linebackers 50, 51 and 54 are all Pro Football HOF.     

[GU1999]

The Greenville University roster is available and it looks like very good news for the defending champs.

Total number of players currently listed - 104 (updated 8/26 now 109)
Returning Players - 57
OPOY and DPOY - Garrett (pre-season 3rd team AA) and McLaurin both returning
UMAC 1st team all-conf offense  - 3 of 4 returning
UMAC 1st team all-conf defense - 4 of 5 returning
O starters returning - 9/11
D starters returning - 7/11

One big loss appears to be last years Jr. starting QB Chase Butterfield who was 1st team all-conf.  It will be interesting to see if one of the two returning QBs (Jr. Payton Bates or So. Joseph Diasparra) or the incoming Fr. Nick Sanford II gets the nod.    http://www.hudl.com/v/2Gbvt4 - a lot to like about this video, but the throw at 2:50 was ripped.  The throw at 6:00 shows great touch with pressure.

[GU1999]

Minnesota Morris (UMAC 3rd last year) has also posted their roster:

Total number of players currently listed - 71
Non-Freshman - 38 (some of these will also be transfers and new to the program, but UMM has already assigned numbers to newcomers and I did not do a deep dive on who was a transfer and who was a returner)
UMAC 1st team all-conf offense - 1 of 2 returning
UMAC 1st team all-conf defense - 1 of 2 returning
O starters returning - 8/11 (full OL & UMAC 2nd teamers at QB and RB are all returning) 
D starters returning - 7/11

[GU1999]

UNW:

Total number of players currently listed on roster - 79
Total number of returning players - 36
UMAC 1st team all-conf offense - 2 of 2 returning
UMAC 1st team all-conf defense - 0 of 0 returning

[Baldini]

I see Crown posted their roster and only 30 players are listed. Hard to make a go of it with 30 players. Sorry to see that a number of their better players from last season are not listed, retention continues to be a problem for Crown's football program.

[Pat Coleman]

I have not yet met Anthony Franz, but had conversations with John Auer on a regular basis when we were doing Kickoff and it was always a struggle for him to get numbers. He often lost kids at the last minute who couldn't afford to return.