WACO, Texas – Millsaps football junior punter
Ethan Klapatch added to his list of impressive accomplishments following the 2023 season. On Monday he was named to the 2023 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Coaches' All-American Team, garnering Second Team Specialist status.
Klapatch becomes the first Major to earn the recognition since
Liam Vincifora did so in 2019. It is the 15th time a Millsaps football player has been recognized by the AFCA as an All-American. A complete list along with other All-America distinctions is listed below. The Majors now boast 44 All-Americans throughout program history.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
Klapatch became the first punter to be named to the D3football.com Team of the Week in a calendar year four times after earning the plaudit on Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. He was also tabbed 2023 All-SAA First Team Defense and D3football.com All-Region 3 Third Team Defense.
The 2023 C Spire Conerly Trophy nominee ranks second in NCAA Division III with 45.8 average yards per punt and is currently 20th across all NCAA football classifications. His average would lead NCAA Division II, rank third in NCAA Division I FCS and 13th in NCAA Division I FBS.
Additionally, Klapatch stands 10th in DIII with 2,289 total punting yards off of 50 total boots. He has also totaled 857 yards on 15 kickoffs for a 57.1-yard average.
The Metairie, La., product was also twice named the SAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week this season.
Team Background: The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen.
From 1967 through 1971, two teams – University Division and College Division – were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II.
In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA.
In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. The AFCA began selecting an NAIA-only team in 2006. Also in 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively.
From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.
Selection Process: The AFCA's Division III All-America Selection Committee is made up of head coaches representing each conference 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 team is chosen.
The Award: Members of the AFCA Coaches' All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.
| MILLSAPS FOOTBALL ALL-AMERICANS |
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| KODAK AFCA ALL-AMERICANS |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Joseph W. Whitwell |
HM |
1959 |
| Michael Reams |
1st |
1973 |
| Ricky Haygood |
1st |
1975 |
| David Culpepper |
1st |
1978 |
| David Culpepper |
1st |
1979 |
| Edmond Donald |
1st |
1983 |
| Tommy Powell |
1st |
1985 |
| Darrin Estes |
2nd |
1987 |
| Sean Brewer |
1st |
1990 |
| Sean Brewer |
1st |
1991 |
| Sean Brewer |
1st |
1992 |
| Murray Meadows |
1st |
1992 |
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| AFCA ALL-AMERICANS (NO SPONSOR) |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Will Hawkins |
1st |
2010 |
| Liam Vincifora |
2nd |
2019 |
| Ethan Klapatch |
2nd |
2023 |
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| D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICANS |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Matt O'Bryant |
HM |
2002 |
| Matt O'Bryant |
2nd |
2003 |
| Chris Jackson |
1st |
2006 |
| Casey Younger |
HM |
2007 |
| Juan Joseph |
3rd |
2008 |
| John Shivers |
3rd |
2008 |
| Will Hawkins |
1st |
2009 |
| Will Hawkins |
3rd |
2010 |
| Liam Vincifora |
3rd |
2019 |
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| DON HANSEN FOOTBALL GAZETTE ALL-AMERICANS |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Sean Brewer |
1st |
1991 |
| Mitch Holloway |
1st |
1993 |
| Matt O'Bryant |
2nd |
2003 |
| Chris Jackson |
2nd |
2006 |
| Marcus Harris |
HM |
2006 |
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| USA TODAY ALL-AMERICANS |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Mitch Holloway |
1st |
1993 |
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| ALL-AMERICAN FOOTBALL TEAM SELECTED BY SIDs |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Sean Brewer |
3rd |
1990 |
| Sean Brewer |
1st |
1991 |
| Murray Meadows |
2nd |
1991 |
| Sean Brewer |
1st |
1992 |
| Kelvin Gladney |
1st |
1994 |
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| HEWLETT-PACKARD ALL-AMERICANS SELECTED BY SIDs |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Matt O'Bryant |
HM |
2001 |
| Matt O'Bryant |
2nd |
2002 |
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| ASSOCIATED PRESS LITTLE ALL-AMERICANS (D2/D3) |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Sean Brewer |
3rd |
1991 |
| Murray Meadows |
3rd |
1991 |
| Sean Brewer |
1st |
1992 |
| Will Hawkins |
3rd |
2010 |
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| D3PRODAY.COM ALL-AMERICANS |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Taylor Russolino |
HM |
2010 |
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| D3PROSCOUT.COM ALL-AMERICANS |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Taylor Russolino |
HM |
2010 |
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| BEYOND SPORTS NETWORK ALL-AMERICANS |
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| Student-Athlete |
Team |
Season |
| Zach Bell |
2nd |
2013 |
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps football program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
