UTICA, NY (May 1, 2009) – Senior linebacker Eric Kahl (Spencer-Van Etten/Lockwood) of the Utica College Football team has been named a 2009 Consensus Draft Services Preseason Division III All American released Thursday. 54 student-athletes were named to the first and second teams from colleges across the country.

Kahl, who earned Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team status in 2008, registered a career-high and conference leading 116 tackles, including 61 solo stops last season. Kahl finished the 2008 regular season ranked fifteenth in the nation with 11.60 tackles per contest in ten games. The 5-foot-10 team captain also registered three sacks for a loss of 18 total yards, one pass breakup and a 50-yard interception return on opening day. 116 tackles ranks fourth on the College's single season total tackles list. He was also named Defensive Player of the Week by the Empire 8 after posting a career-high 17 tackles in the Pioneers' 24-10 loss to visiting RPI on September 20, 2009.

Kahl has 187 career tackles, good for fourth all-time at UC, and he also has six sacks for a loss of 40 yards. The two-time all-conference selection has two career interceptions in 26 career games.

As a team UC managed to put 172 points on the board throughout 10 contests this past season. After 153 first downs, 18 touchdowns and 2,679 yards from 641 plays, the team wound up with a 3-7 overall record. Furthermore, they finished fifth in the Empire 8 with a record of 2-4. Two wins in conference is the most since the Pioneers went 3-3 in the E8 in 2005.

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