Twelve Bulldogs Named to All-ASC Football Teams
SEGUIN, Texas -- Twelve members of the Texas Lutheran football team earned 2023 All-ASC honors from the league's coaches, headlined by first team selections Cameron Welch (New Braunfels/Canyon) and DaKory Willis (Flatonia/Flatonia) and ASC Tri-Freshman of the Year, Troy Tomaselli (Castroville/Cornerstone Christian).
Willis and Welch represented the Bulldogs on the All-ASC first team, with Cole Andrus (Jourdanton/Jourdanton), Jaxson Eskridge (Crandall/Crandall), Jacob Forton (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley), Andrew Gormly (Alvin/Alvin), and Joaquin Rodriguez (San Antonio/Smithson Valley) earning second team recognition.
Cameron Welch led the ASC and ranks sixth in NCAA Division-III in punting average, finishing the 2023 season with a 42.4 yard average. This is the third All-ASC honor for the junior punter, earning All-ASC Newcomer of the Year and All-ASC Second Team honors as a freshman in 2021.
Willis finished second on the Bulldogs in rushing with 389 rushing yards and totaled four total touchdowns, for his first career All-ASC first team honor, and fourth All-ASC honor in total. Willis finished his career with 1,706 career rushing yards to finish sixth all-time in TLU's NCAA Division-III history.
A freshman who played in all ten games in the Bulldogs secondary, Tomaselli recorded 42 tackles (34 solo) to finish second on the Bulldogs. He intercepted a pass in the Bulldogs' final game of the season against Austin College, broke up two more passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Tomaselli led the Bulldogs with 34 solo tackles on the season. Tomaselli makes it the second time in three years TLU has claimed Freshman of the Year honors, joining Welch in 2021. It is the fourth total ASC Freshman of the Year honor for TLU.
Andrus, Eskridge, and Gormly all earn All-ASC honors for the first time in their careers. Andrus, in his second season as a tight end after converting from the quarterback position, finished with 20 receptions for 136 yards, both career-highs.
Forton earns his second consecutive All-ASC honor, leading the Bulldogs in rushing for the second consecutive season with a career-high 591 yards - ranking third in the ASC. Forton would also rank in the top 20 in receiving in the ASC with 295 yards receiving on 31 receptions, ranking second on the Bulldogs. Forton finished the 2023 season ranking third in the ASC with 984 all-purpose yards. The senior running back finishes his TLU career ranking fifth all-time in TLU's Division-III history in rushing (1,710 yards) and all-purpose yards (2,698 yards).
The kicker on the All-ASC second team, Rodriguez earns his second career All-ASC honor. Rodriguez, who was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week earlier this season, converted 9-of-15 field goal attempts this season to finish in a tie for second in successful field goals and made field goals per game. Rodriguez averaged 5.0 points per game for the Bulldogs, which is sixth most in the American Southwest Conference and second amongst kickers in the conference. Rodriguez connected on kicks from 35, 29, 46, and 45 yard for a career-best outing against Howard Payne. The four field goals are the second most in a single-game in program history while tallying for a career-best 13 points.
Mason Hardy (Flynn/Normangee), Eugene Robinson IV (Lake Charles, LA/Fort Bend Hightower), and Tristan Smith (New Braunfels/Canyon) all earned All-ASC Third Team honors. Hardy earns his second career All-ASC honor while Robinson IV and Smith earn their first career honors. Hardy finished third on the Bulldogs with 35 tackles while adding an interception. Hardy would also earn a spot on the ASC's Outstanding Sportsman Team of the Year. Smith led the Bulldogs with 53 tackles in his first season with significant playing time. The 53 tackles ranked 13th in the ASC. Robinson IV earned third team honors as a return specialist, leading the Bulldogs with 530 yards as the Bulldogs primary kick returner. Robinson would finish second in the ASC in total kick return yards and fourth with a 21.2 yard kick return average. Robinson concludes his career in second place on TLU's Division-III leaderboard with 1,404 kick return yards in his career.
Christian Monroe (College Station/College Station) and Jermario Thomas (Jasper/Jasper) were recognized as honorable mentions for their performances during the 2023 season.
The full ASC release can be read here.
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