WACO, Texas – The American Football Coaches Association announced its 2023 Division II All-America Teams, naming six MIAA football players All-America selections.
 
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) named 50 student-athletes to its 2023 NCAA Division II All-America teams. Six MIAA football players tabbed All-America status for the 2023 season – two First Team selections and four Second Team.
 
Central Missouri’s Zach Zebrowski highlighted the 2023 AFCA Division II All-America Teams.
 
Zebrowski, a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, earned AFCA First Team All-America honors by setting new NCAA Division II single season records for passing touchdowns (61), total offensive yards (5,690), points responsible for (380) and touchdowns responsible for (63 – 61 pass, two rush). He also set Central Missouri and MIAA records for passing touchdowns (8), passing yards (615) and total offense (673 yards) in a single game in the Mules’ 77-27 win over Emporia State (Kan.) on October 21. Zebrowski was also named the 2023 MIAA Play of the Year.
 
Joining Zebrowski as a First Team selection was Pittsburg State tight end Devon Garrison. Garrison caught a team-leading 53 passes for 855 yards (16.1 yards per catch) and six touchdowns on the year. He leads Division II in tight end receiving yards (855) and ranks third nationally in tight end touchdown receptions (6).
 
Central Missouri’s Arkell Smith and Gabe Clark were both named to the AFCA’s Second Team All-America.
 
Smith leads Division II and the MIAA in both receiving yards (1,425) and receiving touchdowns (18) after playing in all 13 games in 2023. He had 98 receptions and averaged 109.6 receiving yards per game this season.
 
Clark, an offensive lineman, helped Central Missouri average a Division II and MIAA best 417.9 passing yards per game and 593.8 yards of total offense per game.
 
Pittsburg State’s Trase Jeffries and Rico Payton were also Second Team All-America selections.
 
Jeffries anchored a Pitt State offensive line that helped the Gorillas average 33.9 points and 398.0 yards of total offense per game. He started 41 consecutive games at offensive tackle for the Gorillas between 2020-23.
 
Payton posted 35 tackles (23 solo) on the year with 5.0 tackles-for-loss, four interceptions and 12 pass breakups. He helped the Gorillas lead Division II in interceptions this season with 22. 

The AFCA's Division II?All-America Selection Committee is made up of three 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 teams are chosen.
 
To view all the Division II football players named to the 2023 AFCA All-America Teams, click here.
 
2023 AFCA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
QB      Zach Zebrowski – Central Missouri, R-Jr.
TE       Devon Garrison – Pittsburg State, Sr.
 
2023 AFCA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
WR     Arkell Smith – Central Missouri, R-Sr.
OL      Gabe Clark – Central Missouri, R-Jr.
OL      Trase Jeffries – Pittsburg State, R-Sr.
DB      Rico Payton – Pittsburg State, R-So.