WACO, TX - Utica University football standout
John Stroughn (Baldwin, NY/Holy Trinity) has etched his name alongside of the finest players in the country as the defensive end has been named to the American Football Coaches Association Division III All-American Second Team, as announced by the AFCA on Monday.
Stroughn becomes Utica's third AFCA All-American, joining
Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon Verona Sherrill) (2022 First Team) and Thomas Woodburn (2015 First Team). He was previously named to the All-Empire 8 Defensive First Team as well as to the D3football.com All-Region 2 Defensive Second Team.
He was also one of two players from the Empire 8 to be named to an AFCA Division III All-American team this season.
Over 11 games played this past season, Stroughn has recorded 62 total tackles, 27 of which solo and 35 assisted. The graduate student also registered eight sacks which were the most in the Empire 8 this season along with his running mate on the d-line,
Doug Simmons (White Plains, NY/Archbishop Stepinac). It was the second All-Empire 8 honor of his career after earning second team honors in 2022.
This season the graduate student set single-season career bests with 62 total tackles, 15 tackles for a loss (fifth most in a single-season in program history), eight sacks (tied for sixth most in a single-season in program history) as well as with a pair of forced fumbles and passes defended each.
Stroughn's career thus far has been nothing short of productive. The Baldwin, NY native ranks first all-time in program history with 13 quarterback hurries, second all-time with 23 sacks, and third all-time with 37.5 tackles for loss. His 133 total tackles rank just outside of the program's top-10 all-time marks.
Prior to the season, Stroughn was named an Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team nominee for his work within the community as well as in the classroom.
Stroughn and the Pioneers finished their 2023 season by defeating Hobart College in the Clayton Chapman Bowl, 10-6, for the program's second ECAC Bowl victory. The team's nine wins were the second most in a single season in program history.
