Anderson named to AFCA All-America Team

WACO, Texas –Olivet College senior punter Ryan Anderson has been named to the 2016 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team.Anderson is one of four players to earn this honor for a second consecutive year.

A two-time first-team All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association selection, Anderson had a 46.2 punting average to break the NCAA Division III single-season record. Of his 47 punts, 18 traveled more than 50 yards, with a long of 65 yards. In addition, 15 landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, nine were touchbacks for the opponents and six were fair caught. Anderson recorded nine punts against Albion College, which is the second-most in school history for a single-game. He was also the holder on PAT kick attempts and had 12 receptions for 129 yards.

Last week, Anderson was selected to the D3football.com All-North Region honors for a second straight year.

The AFCA's Division III All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine 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 Comets finished the 2016 season with a 9-2 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for only the second time in school history. With a perfect 6-0 record, Olivet won an outright MIAA title for the first time since 1974 and combined with last's year championship, the Comets captured back-to-back MIAA championships for the first time since 1913 and 1914. Overall, Olivet has won 12 league titles – 1895, 1901, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1974, 2007, 2015 and 2016.