BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Eight Mid-South Conference football student-athletes have been named to the 2025 American Football Coaches Association-NAIA All-America Teams, the two national organizations announced on Thursday.
Three players earn First Team All-American honors, four gathered second team honors, and one player picked up third team accolades.
The AFCA-NAIA Football All-American includes three players from Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), two players from Cumberland (Tenn.) and Georgetown (Ky.), and one from Cumberlands (Ky.).
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and is the only team chosen exclusively by NAIA football coaches.
The AFCA’s NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches 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.
Cumberland defensive back Cannon Johnson, Cumberlands linebacker Hunter Zirkle, and Lindsey Wilson running back Davontaye Saunders earned first-team honors. Cumberland offensive lineman Will Sanchez, Georgetown defensive back John Carter Myers and punter Drew Rader, and Lindsey Wilson offensive lineman Larry Montgomery were named to the second team. Lindsey Wilson wide receiver Khia Sherrard earned third-team honors.
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.
NAIA players who were selected to AFCA All-America teams were named to the AFCA College Division team from 1967-71. In 1972, the AFCA College Division was split to College I and College II. Players from NAIA Division I teams were placed in AFCA College I, while players from NAIA Division II were placed in AFCA College II. That process lasted until 1996, when College I and College II were renamed Division II and Division III. From 1996-2005, all NAIA players who were selected as AFCA All-Americans were placed on the AFCA Division II team. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.
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First Team
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Name
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School
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Pos.
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Cl.
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Hometown
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Davontaye Saunders
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Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
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RB
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Jr.
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Eminence, Ky.
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Hunter Zirkle
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Cumberlands (Ky.)
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LB
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So.
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Arcadia, Fla.
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Cannon Johnson
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Cumberland (Tenn.)
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DB
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Jr.
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Maryville, Tenn.
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Second Team
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Name
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School
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Pos.
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Cl.
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Hometown
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Larry Montgomery
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Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
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OL
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Sr.
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Louisville, Ky.
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Will Sanchez
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Cumberland (Tenn.)
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OL
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Sr.
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Morristown, Tenn.
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John Carter Myers
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Georgetown (Ky.)
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DB
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Sr.
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Glasgow, Ky.
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Drew Rader
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Georgetown (Ky.)
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P
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Sr.
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Wooster, Ohio
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Third Team
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Name
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School
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Pos.
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Cl.
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Hometown
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Khia Sherrard
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Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
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WR
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Gr.
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Elizabethtown, Ky.
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