Six Empire 8 Players Named D3football.com All-American
The D3Football.com All-American list was released Friday evening, Dec. 16, and six Empire 8 players were honored.
The College at Brockport Jake O'Connell was named a First-Team Defensive back, while SUNY Cortland junior Dan Apply was a first team special teams selection.
Brockport's Adan Barrientos was placed on the Third-Team offensive line, while Joe Germinerio and Mark Sanchez were honorable mentions. Alfred University's A.J. LiCata was a third team honorable mention line backer.
O'Connell was named a pre-season All-American by D3Football.com prior to the 2017 season, and backed that up to the tune of seven interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. He also recorded 56 tackles, and broke up eight passes on his way to First Team All-Empire 8 and All-East Region selections.
Appley blocked four kicks this season, tied for the third-highest single-season total in school history. With his four blocks this fall, Appley is tied for third nationally in Division III and ranks first in the Empire 8. In addition to his play on special teams, Appley also started at defensive tackle for the Red Dragons this fall. He finished the season with 64 tackles and led Cortland with 7.5 sacks, 16 total tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries in 11 games.
Barrientos anchored an offensive line that helped the Golden Eagle offense break records for rushing yards, passing yards, total offense, and scoring in a single season. The line was honored by D3Football.com on the National Team of the Week during 2017. Barrientos was not only a First-Team All-Empire 8 selection, but was voted the top offensive linemen in the conference by seven of the eight voting coaches. He was also named to the First Team All-East Region.
Germinerio was both the Empire 8 and D3Football.com East Region Offensive Player of the Year, breaking the previous mark from a Golden Eagle quarterback for passing yards in a season. The sophomore has proved himself as a true dual threat in his two years as the signal caller, this season accounting for 40 total touchdowns (27 passing, 13 rushing).
Sanchez was also a key to that offensive line, capping off a fantastic career that saw him earn All-Conference honors in each of his four seasons. He was a part of a number of record setting offenses, including the 2017 squad that re-wrote the record books.
LiCata finished his year with 113 total tackles (58 solo; 55 assisted) and eight tackles for a loss, earning him Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year.