BROOKFIELD, Ill. - The Don Hansen Football Committee has released the 2024 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America team. Sophomore wide receiver Cam Abshire (Roanoke, Va.) and junior defensive back Shawn Collins (Salem, Va.) have both been chosen as Honorable Mentions. Additionally, D2 Football has announced the Elite 100 Team for the 2024 Division II Football season with Abshire also receiving a nod to the Offensive "Squad".
Abshire had a standout year on the gridiron as he caught 51 passes for a league-high 13 receiving touchdowns and 1,057 yards on his way to being named the SAC Statistical Champion in receiving yards per game (97.0). He finished the season ranked tied for sixth in the nation in receiving touchdowns, 10th in total receiving yards and 11th in receiving yards per game. His touchdowns and total receiving yardage marks both placed him second all-time in program history for single-season achievements. Abshire eclipsed the 100-yard mark in receiving on five separate occasions and scored at least one touchdown in eight of the Wasps' 11 contests for the season. He went for a career-high eight catches for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the season finale victory over Newberry.
Collins finished with 38 tackles, six interceptions, eight additional break-ups and a blocked kick. His six interceptions ranked tied for third in the nation. Collins came up huge as he blocked a potential game-winning field goal to clinch a 23-21 victory over Tusculum University. He posted six tackles, one interception and a season-high four pass break-ups in a win against Bluefield State University and followed up with a season-high eight tackles, 1.5 for loss, in the win over No. 17 Carson-Newman. Collins rounded out his season with a pair of interceptions in the season finale victory against Newberry.
The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.
The Elite 100 Team was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from numerous sitting head coaches as well as professional football scouting veteran Josh Buchanan.
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