Benedict’s Loobert Denelus named AP All-American

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Benedict College standout defensive lineman Loobert Denelus earned another prestigious honor, being named to The Associated Press Division II All-America team announced Wednesday. Denelus was named to the second team.

Denelus is one of the most decorated football players in Benedict history.

The two-time SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, he was named first-team All-American by the AFCA in 2022 and second team this season. He was named the HBCU Football Player of the Year in 2022 by the Rice Fame Group, and was named to several HBCU All-America teams. He has distinguished himself academically, earning first-team Academic All-America honors in 2022 and was recently named one of 16 national finalists from all college football schools for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, which is presented to the top football student-athlete.

This season he finished with 47 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss for -81 yards, and 10 sacks for -57 yards. He forced one fumble and recovered one fumble for a touchdown.

FIRST TEAM (Offense)
Quarterback — Zach Zebrowski, third-year, Central Missouri
Running backs — Shen Butler-Lawson, fourth-year, Minnesota State; Jay Harris, second-year, Northwest Missouri State.
Linemen — Garrett Carroll, sixth-year, Grand Valley State; Ty Cobb, sixth-year, Bemidji State; Yuriy Hryckowian, fifth-year, Slippery Rock; Levi Johnson, fifth-year, Colorado School of Mines; Hunter Willis, sixth-year, Harding.
Tight end — Devon Garrison, fifth-year, Pittsburg State.
Wide receiver — Max McLeod, fifth-year, Colorado School of Mines; Kyle Sheets, fifth-year, Slippery Rock University; Arkell Smith, sixth-year, Central Missouri.
All-purpose player — Gage Porter, seventh-year, Southern Nazarene University.
Kicker — Eric Scarpino, sixth-year, Gannon University.

FIRST TEAM (Defense)
Linemen — Marquise Fleming, fourth-year, Wingate; Christian McCarroll, sixth-year, Grand Valley State; John McMullen, seventh-year, West Florida; Nathaniel Wallace, fifth-year, Harding.
Linebacker — Micah Cretsinger, third-year, Saginaw Valley State; Nolan Reeve, sixth-year, Colorado School of Mines; Abe Swanson, sixth-year, Grand Valley State.
Defensive backs — Peyton Buckley, fifth-year, Augustana; Wyryor Noil, sith-year, Central Missouri; Shon Stephens, fourth-year, Ferris State; Tanner Volk, third-year, Central Washington; Jackson Zimmermann, third-year, Colorado School of Mines.
Punter — Blake Doud, third-year, Colorado School of Mines.

SECOND TEAM (Offense)
Quarterback — John Matocha, fifth-year, Colorado School of Mines.
Running backs — Blake Delacruz, fourth-year, Harding; Jordan Terrell, fourth-year, Barton.
Linemen — Shane Bumgardner, fourth-year, Tiffin; Robert Dunham, fifth-year, Henderson State; Devin Hannan, seventh-year, Valdosta State; Trase Jeffries, fifth-year, Pittsburg State; Blake Larson, sixth-year, Augustana.
Tight end — Mike Rigerman, fifth-year, Findlay.
Wide receivers — John Jiles, sixth-year, West Florida; Tyler Kahmann, fourth-year, Emporia State; Ben Noland, fourth-year, South Dakota School of Mines.
All-purpose player — Michael Herzog, fifth-year, Hillsdale College.
Kicker — Logan Turner, third-year, Southwest Baptist.

SECOND TEAM (Defense)
Linemen — Loobert Denelus, fourth-year, Benedict College; Marcus Hansen, third-year, Bemidji State; Eddie Miller-Garrett, fourth-year, Ohio Dominican; Dakari Streeter, sixth-year, Missouri Western State.
Linebackers — Jack Barkley, fifth-year, Pittsburg State; Garrett Cox., fourth-year, Millersville; Hayden Kelly, fifth-year, Texas at Permian Basin.
Defensive backs — Willie Drew, fifth-year, Virginia State; Giye Jenkins, third-year, New Haven; Josiah Johnson, third-year, Ouachita Baptist; Malik Jones, fourth-year, Delta State; Josh Stokes, fourth-year, Slippery Rock.
Punter — Aaron Winn, fifth-year, Arkansas Tech.