From Jimmie Athletics
University of Jamestown defensive lineman Paul Vandal (JR/Jamestown, N.D.) has been named to the 2022 AFCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America Team, announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.
Vandal recorded 12 sacks among his 50 total tackles, which also included 20.5 tackles for loss. His 12 sacks led the Great Plains Athletic Conference, and he was named to the GPAC first team defense.
Punter Izaak Myles was an honorable mention selection. Myles led the NAIA this season in average yards per punt (43.9) and punts inside the 20-yard line (25). His 43.9 yard average is a new single-season UJ record, and his 40.1 yards per punt career average is also a UJ record.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
The AFCA’s NAIA-€ˆAll-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA’s seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.