KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Arizona Christian wide receiver Jon Cole and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) linebacker Jason Freeman headline the 2021 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Teams announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.

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.

Cole, a two-time AFCA All-American, led the nation in receiving yards per game, averaging 135.4 yards. He caught 81 passes with 12 touchdown receptions and a long of 97 yards. Those 81 catches are a new school record. Another two-time AFCA All-American, Freeman led the nation in total tackles with 160 and tackles per game at 16.0. He had 66 solo tackles, two quarterback sacks, 15 tackles for loss and three interceptions. Freeman was also named Mid-States Football Association Midwest Division Defensive Player of the Year.

The AFCA's NAIA All-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.

Morningside has been represented a total of 31 times with 29 different players on AFCA Coaches' All-America Teams to lead all schools in NAIA. In second is Carroll (Mont.), which has had 21 different players selected as All-Americans on 23 different occasions.

Junior Dylan Wampler was selected for the NAIA All American Team. He received Honorable Mention All-American. This season Wampler had 112 total tackles, which was seventh overall in the NAIA. 63 of those tackles were solo (seventh overall in the NAIA). He averaged 10 tackles a game (12^th overall in the NAIA).

Wamplers coach this year has nothing, but great things to say about him. "This is exciting for Dylan and the MSU-Northern football program" said Coach Van Diest. "Dylan had an outstanding season for the Lights and was the heart and soul of our defense.  This is his second time that he has received All-American recognition and this will be a spring board for his senior year.  I am very proud of Dylan!"