Trio selected to D3football.com All-North Region teams

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Olivet College seniors Ryan Anderson, Justin Madar and Braden Black have been selected to the 2016 D3football.com All-North Region teams. Anderson is a first-team pick, while Madar is a second-team selection and Black is a third-team choice.

Anderson, a preseason D3football.com All-American, broke the NCAA Division III record with a 46.2 punting average. Eighteen of his 47 punts went for more than 50 yards, with a long of 65 yards. Fifteen landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, six were fair caught by the return man and nine went for touchbacks. Anderson also punted nine times against Albion College, which ties for the second-most punts in school history for a single-game. He also served as the holder on PAT kick attempts and caught 12 passes for 129 yards.

Anderson is now the first two-time first-team All-North Region selection in school history. Last month, he was named first-team All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). In two seasons at Olivet, Anderson posted a school-record 44.4 punting average. On 79 kicks, 24 landed inside the 20, 23 traveled more than 50 yards, with a long of 69 yards.

The MIAA's Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2016, Madar registered 47 total tackles. He led the defense with 18.5 tackles for loss (for minus 105 yards), including a single-season school record 10.5 quarterback sacks (for negative 85 yards). Madar's single-game high was six total tackles against St. John Fisher (N.Y.) College. He also recorded 2.5 quarterback sacks against Albion.

A three-time first-team All-MIAA selection, Madar recorded 156 total tackles in his career at Olivet. Fifty-two of the tackles were for lost yardage (for minus 243 yards). He tied the career record for quarterback sacks with 24.5 (for minus 169 yards).

The MIAA's Offensive Most Valuable Player in 2016, Black completed 170-of-272 passes (62.5 percent) for 2,198 yards and 19 touchdowns. He threw only eight interceptions and tossed a long pass of 83 yards. Black also had 97 carries for 202 yards and three touchdowns.

Black, now a three-time All-MIAA selection, ends his Olivet career as the all-time leader in every passing category, including attempts (1,202), completions (758), yards (9,476) and touchdowns (83). He is also the career leader in total offense (10,769) and touchdowns responsible for (110), and fourth in touchdowns scored (27). Black also holds the top four single-season marks in pass completions, yards and touchdowns.

The All-Region teams, selected in balloting by North Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 211 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 76 players were chosen. Players nominated for All-Region are eligible to be considered for D3football.com All-America honors, which will be announced the evening of Dec. 16, in D3football.com's pregame coverage for Stagg Bowl XLIV.

The three All-North Region selections match the school-record for most selections in one season. The 2007 and 2008 teams also had three honorees.