AFCA Release | Little All-America Division III Team | D3football.com All-Americans | Worcester State All-Americans
WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's sophomore tight end, Jacob Maher (Marshfield, Mass.) has not only been named to the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Coaches' All-America First-Team, but also the 2017 Associated Press Little All-America Division III First-Team and D3football.com Honorable Mention as announced by the organizations the week of Dec. 10.
"Maher was the main force for us offensively this year," commented head coach Brien Cullen, who led his team to a 6-4 winning season and a 5-3 record in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).
Maher, a 6-3 sophomore tight end, finished the 2017 season with a league-best 14 receiving touchdowns for a team-best 84 points on the season. He totaled 986 receiving yards, averaging 98.6 yards per game for the second-best mark in the MASCAC.
Maher was the only underclassman named to the AFCA first team, one of six selections from New England on both the AFCA first and second teams, and one of two MASCAC selections. Also named to the AFCA first team from the MASCAC is senior defensive back Jaquan Harris of Framingham State.
Other New England AFCA first-team recipients include senior running back John Smith of Husson, senior offensive lineman Chris Simmons of Trinity. Springfield College's senior offensive lineman Christopher Hayden and junior defensive lineman Nick Giorgio of Springfield were named to the AFCA second team.
Maher is the second Lancer in program history to earn AFCA All-American Honors. The only other recipient was Russ Watson who was recognized in 2001.
In program history, Maher is the first Lancer to be named to the AP Little All-America first team. Two other Worcester State football players have been named to the AP Little All-America teams in the past: Chris Butts (2nd team in 1992) and Scott Holland (2nd team in 1994).
Also this season, Maher earned D3football.com All-America Honrable Mention, was named to the D3football.com All-East Region First-Team, recognized on the New England Football Writers Association Division II/III All-New England Team, a member of the Worcester Area All-Star First Team, and was named to the MASCAC First-Team All-Conference for his offensive efforts this season.
"We are very excited and proud of Jacob's accomplishments this year," stated Cullen. "I look forward to having him lead us for the next few years."