Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior quarterback Aaron Syverson (Minnetonka, Minn.) and junior wide receiver Dylan Wheeler (St. Paul, Minn./Mounds View) were named Associated Press All-Americans on Thursday, Dec. 19.

Wheeler was named to the AP All-America first team, while Syverson earned second-team honors. The duo received the same distinctions Dec. 3 by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

SJU has had 115 football student-athletes earn All-America honors a total of 151 times in the program's 113-season history.

Wheeler was named to the D3football.com All-Region 6 second team Dec. 11 and ended the regular season second in NCAA 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.

Syverson was named the D3football.com Region 6 Offensive Player of the Year last week (Dec. 11) and a Gagliardi Trophy semifinalist for the second-straight season. He ended the regular season as the 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).

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.