BABSON PARK, Fla. - Fifty-five players were named to the 2011 NAIA Football All-Independent Teams, with players honored from 10 different NAIA independent football programs who nominated athletes. Leading the way with 15 total selections was Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University, while four other programs had at least six players honored. The all-independent team is the only awards program which provides an opportunity for all coaches of the 2011 NAIA independent football programs to nominate and vote on an all-conference team.
 
Azusa Pacific University senior quarterback John van den Raadt was named the NAIA Independent Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, and senior linebacker Tommy Davidson from Southern Virginia University was named the NAIA Independent Defensive Player of the Year. The full 2011 NAIA Football All-Independent Teams are listed below.
 
NAIA Independent Offensive Player of the Year
John van den Raadt, QB, Senior, 6' 3”, 210 (Azusa Pacific University)
Hometown: Mira Loma, Calif.
 
Two-time NAIA Independent Offensive Player of the Year John van den Raadt was ranked in the NAIA's top-15 in total offense (6th; 3,075), scoring (7th; 98), rushing (7th; 1,200), and pass efficiency rating (15th; 140.7). He set school career records for total offense, passing yards, and passing completions, and he finished second all-time at Azusa Pacific in career rushing TDs and career passing TDs. Van den Raadt averaged 8.6 yards per carry, the highest per-rush average among all NAIA QBs and second only to his running back teammate Johnell Murphy among all NAIA rushers with at least 50 carries. He helped lead Azusa Pacific to a No. 8 final NAIA ranking, sending the Cougars to their eighth NAIA playoff appearance since 1998 with an 8-2 regular-season record. He completed 133-of-241 passes (.552) for 1,875 yards with 19 TDs and 7 interceptions, while posting 1,200 rushing yards (100.0 per game) on 140 attempts with 16 rushing TDs. He posted seven 100-yard rushing games and accounted for at least three TDs in eight of the Cougars' 12 games. He threw for TDs in 11 consecutive games, throwing for a season-high 221 yards with a season-high three TD passes in a 43-7 win over Chapman (Calif.) University.
 
NAIA Independent Defensive Player of the Year
Tommy Davidson, LB, Senior, 6' 2”, 205 (Southern Virginia University)
Hometown: Paradise, Calif.
Tommy Davidson registered 121 tackles (71 solo, 50 assisted), including 11.5 tackles for loss for Southern Virginia University. Davidson also had 2.0 sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He is a three-time NAIA all-independent honoree, earning first team recognition for the first time after picking up second team honors in 2009 and 2010. Davidson registered double-digit tackles in seven of Southern Virginia's nine countable games in 2011, including a season-high 21-tackle performance against Brevard (N.C.) College, and in eight of nine games he was credited with tackles for loss.
 
2011 NAIA Football All-Independent First Team
^signifies 2010 NAIA All-Independent first team selection
#signifies 2010 NAIA All-Independent second team selection
Position Player Year School Hometown
QB ^ John van den Raadt Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Mira Loma, Calif.
RB ^ Johnell Murphy Junior Azusa Pacific Univ. Elk Grove, Calif.
RB A.J. Pfeifer Senior Valley City State Univ. Buffalo, N.D.
FB Joshua Morgan Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Pacoima, Calif.
OL ^ Joe Bolognesi Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Riverside, Calif.
OL Adam Cook Senior Webber International Univ. Perry, Fla.
OL ^ Kamalu Kaina Senior Menlo Coll. Lahaina, Hawai'i
OL Luke Marquardt Junior Azusa Pacific Univ. Sammamish, Wash.
OL Matt Rogers Senior Southern Oregon Univ. Dunsmuir, Calif.
WR Robert Adan Junior Menlo Coll. Pittsburg, Calif.
WR Matt Davis Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Acampo, Calif.
WR LeTheo Proctor Senior Valley City State Univ. Anchorage, Alaska
TE Ken Eliacin Junior Valley City State Univ. Miami, Fla.
DL Daniel Breaux Freshman Southern Oregon Univ. Greenfield, Calif
DL ^ Jake Jones Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Imperial, Calif.
DL Jordan Maher Senior Valley City State Univ. Bowman, N.D.
DL ^ Chris Tosello Senior Menlo Coll. La Cañada, Calif.
LB Sean Barber Sophomore Azusa Pacific Univ. Edgewood, Wash.
LB # Tommy Davidson Senior Southern Virginia Univ. Paradise, Calif.
LB Michael Springer Senior Southern Oregon Univ. El Dorado, Calif.
LB Jake Thurston Sophomore Valley City State Univ. Bottineau, N.D.
DB Anthony Bendana Senior Menlo Coll. El Dorado Hills, Calif.
DB Spencer Danielson Junior Azusa Pacific Univ. Solana Beach, Calif.
DB Cody Kilthau Senior Valley City State Univ. Mililani, Hawai'i
DB Bryce Logan Senior Dakota State Univ. Frankfort, S.D.
PK # Tyler Crowley Senior Southern Oregon Univ. Palo Cedro, Calif.
P # Tyler Crowley Senior Southern Oregon Univ. Palo Cedro, Calif.
KR Justin Jones Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Sacramento, Calif.
PR ^ Ricky Carlson Senior Webber International Univ. Inverness, Fla.
PAGE 1: NAIA Independent Offensive & Defensive Players of the Year
PAGE 2: NAIA Football All-Independent First Team
PAGE 3: NAIA Football All-Independent Second Team Page 3 of 3
 
2011 NAIA Football All-Independent Second Team
^signifies 2010 NAIA All-Independent first team selection
#signifies 2010 NAIA All-Independent second team selection
Position Player Year School Hometown
QB Tommy Zinke Junior Valley City State Univ. Rolla, N.D.
RB Phillip Teamer Junior Edward Waters Coll. Jacksonville, Fla.
RB Jerry Washington Freshman Southern Virginia Univ. Gloucester, Va.
FB Anthony Wallace Junior Edward Waters Coll. Arcadia, Fla.
OL Major Hopp Senior Valley City State Univ. Milica, Minn.
OL Willie Hubbard Senior Edward Waters Coll. Houston, Texas
OL Michael Kapperman Sophomore Dakota State Univ. Hartford, S.D.
OL # Graham Paterson Junior Azusa Pacific Univ. Cupertino, Calif.
OL Zach Urrutia Senior Southern Oregon Univ. Maxwell, Calif.
WR Patrick Donahue Junior Southern Oregon Univ. Los Angeles, Calif.
WR Mike Olson Junior Southern Oregon Univ. Colfax, Calif.
WR Deshawn Weaver Freshman Robert Morris Univ. Frederick, Md.
TE Tyson Hetzer Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Redding, Calif.
DL Jamael Autry Junior Webber International Univ. Fernondina Beach, Calif.
DL Luke Herndon Junior Southern Virginia Univ. Mechanicsville, Va.
DL Telvis Jones Senior Southern Oregon Univ. Antioch, Calif.
DL Jimmy Young Junior Azusa Pacific Univ. Garden Grove, Calif.
LB Justin Akau Senior Southern Oregon Univ. Makawao, Hawai'i
LB Jerel Hafner Senior Dickinson State Univ. Ludlow, S.D.
LB Kory Johnson Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Brea, Calif.
LB Nate Keller Junior Webber International Univ. Orlando, Fla.
DB Austin Cantrell Senior Southern Oregon Univ. Redding, Calif.
DB ^ Ricky Carlson Senior Webber International Univ. Inverness, Fla.
DB Tony Goodman Junior Edward Waters Coll. Jacksonville, Fla.
DB Paul Royster Senior Azusa Pacific Univ. Los Angeles, Calif.
PK Jerry Martin Sophomore Edward Waters Coll. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
P Adam Riley Senior Webber International Univ. Orlando, Fla.
KR Patrick Donahue Junior Southern Oregon Univ. Los Angeles, Calif.
PR Tony Goodman Junior Edward Waters Coll. Jacksonville, Fla.