Where the good news shines

Three organizations announced their Division II football All-America teams on Wednesday, and four different Colorado School of Mines football student-athletes were named to at least one team.

The AFCA included punter Blake Doud on their first team and receiver Max McLeod on their second team, while both the Associated Press and D2CCA had Doud and offensive tackle Nic Van de Graaf on their first team, plus receiver Flynn Schiele on the second team.

Doud, the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year, led NCAA Division II in punting at 46.6 yards per punt, and was a three-time RMAC Specialist of the Week this season.

McLeod finished his career fourth on the NCAA D-II all-time receiving yards list, compiling 4,688 yards and 54 touchdowns. He is Mines' all-time record holder in yards and second in Mines and RMAC history in TDs.

Van de Graaf earns his first All-America awards after finishing fourth in the Gene Upshaw Award voting for the nation's best senior lineman.

Schiele, a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee this year, earns his first career All-America nods after earning D2CCA First-Team All-Super Region 4 and First-Team All-RMAC honors this season.

("Colorado Sunshine" celebrates the good news in sports. Suggestions are encouraged through sports editor Paul Klee at [email protected].)