COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University football team was ranked No. 13 in Lindy's Division III Preseason Top 25 poll on sale at newsstands now.

Individually, senior tight end Alex Larson (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) and senior defensive lineman Michael Wozniak (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) were named to Lindy's preseason All-America first team. SJU was the lone MIAC program in the poll. Bethel safety Nate Farm and St. Olaf punter Tyler Huettel joined the SJU duo on the magazine's All-America first team. Three others were named to the third team: Carleton linebacker Isaac Simons, Bethel offensive lineman Travis Sinclair and Augsburg wide receiver Dominic Smith. 

Wozniak was named to the D3football.com All-America first team, while Larson earned fourth-team honors last season.

The 6-foot-7 Larson played 11 of the 12 games and finished second on the team in receptions (33) and receiving touchdowns (8), and third in receiving yards (476) last fall for the Johnnies. The eight receiving touchdowns were the fourth-most by an SJU tight end.

Wozniak started all 12 games and finished with a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in two NCAA playoff games. He totaled 30 tackles (20 solo), five quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Wozniak returned to the field in 2021 after suffering a season-ending hand injury on the first defensive play of the 2019 season - a tackle for loss - at Wisconsin-Stout. 

SJU (11-1, 8-0 MIAC) won its MIAC-record 35th conference title and made its 31st postseason appearance (27th in Division III) last fall.

The Johnnies open the 2022 season with a pair of home non-conference games against Wisconsin-Whitewater (Sept. 3) and Wisconsin-River Falls (Sept. 10) in Clemens Stadium. Whitewater was ranked No. 4 by Lindy's, while River Falls was listed at No. 16.