D3football.com Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior quarterback Aaron Syverson (Minnetonka, Minn.) was named the D3football.com Region 6 Offensive Player of the Year and seven other Johnnies were 2024 D3football.com All-Region 6 selections on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Syverson was joined on the first team by senior defensive lineman Zach Frank (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), senior guard Nick McKenzie (New London, Minn./New London-Spicer) and senior tackle Grant Peroutka (Rosemount, Minn.). Junior tight end Joey Gendreau (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka), senior linebacker Hayden Sanders (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) and junior wide receiver Dylan Wheeler (St. Paul, Minn./Mounds View) were named to the second team, while senior center Charlie Folkens (Rogers, Minn.) earned third-team honors.

All eight honorees earned All-MIAC distinction Nov. 25. The All-Region selection is the second-straight for both Frank and Syverson. Frank collected second-team honors, while Syverson was named to the third team in 2023.

The Johnnies have now had 71 All-Region honorees over the last 10 full seasons.

The 2024 D3football.com All-Americans are scheduled to be announced prior to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in January. 

Wheeler was named to the AFCA All-America first team, while Syverson received second-team honors last week (Dec. 3).

Syverson
A two-time (2023, 2024) Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist, Syverson ended the regular season as the NCAA Division III leader in completion percentage (.765); second in completions per game (26.7), passing yards per game (355.9), passing touchdowns (43), points responsible for per game (26.4) and total offense (355.0 ypg.); fifth in passing efficiency (200.5); and ninth in yards per pass attempt (10.2).

He finished 331 of 434 passing (.763) for 4,382 yards and 51 touchdowns (to four interceptions) in 12 games this season. Syverson passed for over 300 yards in 10 of the Johnnies' 12 games this fall, including four over 400, and for five or more touchdowns six times with eight games of four or more.

Syverson completed 77.1 percent (158-for-205) of his passes for 1,928 yards and 19 touchdowns (to two interceptions) in five games against nationally ranked teams this fall (then-No. 4/now No. 10 Wartburg; then-No. 24/now No. 21 Bethel, twice; No. 18 UW-La Crosse; and No. 6 Susquehanna).

He owns the program and MIAC records for pass attempts (1,418); pass completions (983), passing yards (12,888) and touchdown passes (147), as well as the SJU marks for completion percentage (.693), passing yards per game (314.3), total offense (12,961 yards) and 300-yard passing games (20). Syverson is third in SJU history in both passing efficiency (175.8) and quarterback wins as a starter (36-5 record)

Syverson was named the 2024 MIAC Offensive Player of the Year and collected his third All-MIAC honor after he played all eight conference games and led the MIAC in every passing statistic for the second-consecutive season: completions (213), attempts (286), completion percentage (.745), passing yards (2,953/369.1 ypg.), passing touchdowns (36) and pass-efficiency rating (199.95). He set MIAC records (conference games only) for passing yards per game (369.1), 300-yard passing games (7), consecutive 300-yard passing games (6) and 400-yard passing games (3).

Frank
A two-time (2023, 2024) All-MIAC selection, Frank led the team in sacks (9.0) and quarterback hurries (6), and was second in tackles for loss (11.5) this fall for a defense that ended the regular season as the NCAA Division III leader on fourth down (20 percent/5-for-25), third in sacks (4.10 spg.), sixth in the red zone (.565/13-for-23); eighth against the run (53.8 ypg.) and 19th in points allowed (13.0 ppg.). He has 23.0 tackles for loss, including 15.5 sacks, with 14 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles in 31 career games.

McKenzie, Peroutka and Folkens
Folkens, McKenzie and Peroutka started all 12 games on the line for an SJU offense that ended the regular season seventh in Division III in both first downs (259) and total offense (513.0 ypg.), and 14th in scoring (46.0 ppg.). The Johnnies led the MIAC in total offense (523.1 ypg.) for the sixth-consecutive season, and passing offense (384.8 ypg.) for the second-straight year in conference play. The 384.8 passing yards per game were a new program record, surpassing last year's 375.6 yards per MIAC game. 

Peroutka started the Johnnies' last 37 games on the offensive line, including each of the last 12 at right tackle. Folkens, meanwhile, started each of SJU's last 27 games at center and McKenzie the last 22 at left guard (25 overall).

Gendreau
Gendreau finished third on the team in catches (63), receiving yards (810) and receiving touchdowns (5). Among MIAC tight ends, Gendreau led the MIAC in receptions (43), tied for first with four receiving touchdowns and was second with 500 receiving yards in league play. He is currently fourth in program history, among tight ends, in receptions (92), fifth in receiving yards (1,176) and tied for seventh in receiving touchdowns (11).

Sanders
A two-time (2023, 2024) All-MIAC selection, Sanders started SJU's last 28 games at linebacker. He led the team in total tackles (77) and tackles for loss (12.5), was second in solo tackles (39) and third in sacks (5.5). Sanders ended his career with 212 career tackles (99 solo), including 25.0 for a loss, 8.0 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 43 games.

Wheeler
Wheeler ended the regular season second in Division III in receiving touchdowns (19), eighth in total touchdowns, 10th in receptions per game (7.5) and 16th in receiving yards (1,065). He recorded over 100 receiving yards in seven of his team's 12 games and led SJU in receptions (88) and receiving touchdowns (21). Wheeler finished second to senior wide receiver Marselio Mendez (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) with 1,164 receiving yards.

The 21 receiving touchdowns were second-most in program history, one behind the record of 22 set by Blake Elliott '03 in 2002, while the catches rank third and the yards rank 10th. Wheeler enters his senior season next fall fourth in program history in 100-yard receiving games (10), sixth in receiving touchdowns (31), eighth in receptions (149) and 12th in receiving yards (2,007).

He was a two-time MIAC Offensive Player of the Week and led the MIAC in scoring, both in touchdowns (16) and total points (96), while finishing fifth in receptions (54) and sixth in receiving yards (821) in eight conference games.

SJU (11-1, 8-0 MIAC) won its MIAC-record 37th conference championship and made its 33rd postseason appearance (29th in Division III) this fall. The 10-win season was the program's 26th.