2014 USA Football Network Division III Preseason All-Americans

Five Illinois Wesleyan seniors have been chosen as members of the 26th annual USA College Football Pre-Season Division III All-American teams.

Offensive lineman Niall Mulcahy, defensive back Tyrell Bolden, defensive lineman John Worley and punter Matt Kussmann were chosen to the first team while linebacker Connor Klein earned honorable mention.

The USA Football Network chose a total of 649 players as preseason All-Americans from 244 Division III schools. Selections are made by a national panel including head coaches, sports information directors, members of the Football Writers Association of America, Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association, New England Football Writers Association and Philadelphia Football Writers, pro football scouts plus staff journalists of Lindy's Sports Annuals, The Sports Network and USA Football News.
A total of 79 players were named to both the first team offense and defense while 75 more earned second team on both sides of the ball and 73 more earned third team offense and defense honors.
There were 95 honorable mention offense players and 100 on defense.

A co-captain for the 2014 team, Mulcahy (Elmhurst, Ill., Fenwick HS) was a first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin lineman in 2013 and second team all-CCIW in 2012.

Bolden (Springfield, Ill. HS) was a first team all-CCIW squads as he made a total of 27 tackles (24 solo) with three interceptions.

Worley (Elmhurst, York HS) was on the American Football Coaches Association 2013 Division III All-American team and is a preseason Division III All-American in both the 2014 Sporting News College Football Magazine and the Lindy's College Football National Edition magazine. In 2013, Worley was a first team all-CCIW selection and earned the team's "Best Lineman" award as he finished with 39 total tackles and had 12 quarterback sacks, second most in an IWU season. He ranked in the top 15 nationally for sacks, accounting for 71 yards lost by opposing teams. His 19.5 tackles for loss was good enough to be in the top 25 in the nation in the statistic.

Kussmann (Bloomington, Ill., Tri-Valley HS) was a first team all-CCIW punter who averaged 40.3 yards on 26 punts.

Klein (Park Ridge, Maine South HS), who was also honorable mention on the USA Football preseason team in 2013, was a second team all-CCIW selection last fall. He had 75 total tackles, including 51 solo.