2017 G-MAC All-Conference Football Release
Completing its first season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference saw the Charger football team end up well-represented on the all-conference team.
A total of seven players earned First-Team accolades: senior offensive lineman Jake Bull, junior wide receiver Trey Brock, senior offensive lineman Danny Drummond, senior defensive lineman Jordon Harlamert, redshirt-freshman defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg, sophomore linebacker Nate Jones and junior defensive back Wyatt Batdorff.
Second-Team All-Great Midwest players were: sophomore tailback David Graham, senior offensive lineman Zach VanOrman, senior defensive lineman Matt Hall and senior defensive back Spencer Nehls.
The team's honorable mention all-conference representatives were: sophomore defensive back Jason McDonough, senior wide receiver Timmy Mills, redshirt-freshman kicker Joe Philipp, senior defensive lineman Casey Schukow, sophomore linebacker Dan Shanley and junior quarterback Chance Stewart.
Bull and Drummond completed a four-year run of starting together on the Charger offensive line by each being named two of the conference's best up front. They both started 43 straight games on the offensive line for Hillsdale, with Drummond splitting his career between center and guard, while Bull occupied the left tackle position all four years. Together, they were a big part of Hillsdale's offense averaging 185.7 rushing yards per game this season, an improvement of more than 60 yards per game over 2016.
Brock turned in another magnificent season for the Chargers in 2017, catching 74 passes for a conference-best 1,174 yards and 8 touchdowns. He had five 100-yard games, highlight by an NCAA Division II high of 302 yards against an Indianapolis team that finished the season 11-0.
Harlamert, a tough interior defensive lineman, enjoyed his best season in 2017, recording 25 total tackles and 4.5 tackles-for-loss. He had a monster game for Hillsdale in its 37-31 win at Alderson Broaddus, recording a career-high 10 total tackles with 2.5 sacks.
Harlamert's dominant play on the inside helped open up opportunities for VanValkenburg on the edge, and the talented Charger rookie took advantage, finishing the season with 32 total tackles and 4.5 sacks.
All three levels of Hillsdale's defense had a First-Team representative, with Jones taking the honors after an outstanding season at linebacker. He racked up 55 total tackles with 4 tackles-for-loss and 3 pass breakups. He garnered a number of "Big Stick" awards within the team for his hard-hitting at linebacker, all during his first season as a starter.
No one patrolled the defensive secondary on the Chargers like Batdorff, who led the team in total tackles for the second consecutive season with 87. He had 9 or more tackles six times. He broke up three passes and had an interception in the win at Alderson Broaddus Oct. 28.