2022 G-MAC Football All-Conference Awards
Hillsdale College sophomore and wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa had a season for the ages in 2022.
Now, as postseason awards begin to be handed out, he's starting to get the recognition that always follows the stellar numbers he put up this season.
TeSlaa was chosen as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's top offensive player in 2022 as the G-MAC announced its end-of-season awards on Friday afternoon. He's the first Charger to win the Offensive Player of the Year award in Hillsdale's six seasons in the G-MAC, and just the second player to win one of the three major conference awards along with Chance Stewart, who was named G-MAC MVP in 2018.
The sophomore was far and away the top receiving threat in the G-MAC in 2022, leading the conference in receptions (68), yards (1,325), touchdowns (13), yards per catch (19.5) and yards per game (120.5) -- virtually every meaningful statistical category for a wide receiver. His performance also put him on a short list of national leaders, as he finished the regular season third in the country at the NCAA DII level in receiving yards and receiving yards per game, tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns, and in the top 25 in receiving yards per catch.
Those performances came despite playing in a run-first offense with a 62% to 38% run play to pass play split, and also facing down double and triple coverages on nearly every play as the Chargers' most dangerous big play threat.
In historical context, TeSlaa season also stands up with the best to ever play at Hillsdale. His 1,325 receiving yards in 11 games are third all-time behind All-Americans Trey Brock (1,422, 2018) and Andre Holmes (1,368, 2010) for a single season in Charger history, with both players ahead of him setting their marks in 13 games thanks to postseason runs by the Chargers in those two years. He's also third all-time in single season receiving touchdowns with 13, and ninth in single season receptions with 68.
TeSlaa's monster season also opens the door for him to potentially challenge career records that looked unassailable. With two years of eligibility remaining, TeSlaa sits sixth in career receiving yardage (2,116) and seventh in career receiving touchdowns (21). In order to break Hillsdale's career receiving mark of 4,401 and career receiving touchdown mark of 40, both held by Brock (2015-18), TeSlaa will have to average 1,143 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns over his final two seasons -- a tough ask, but not impossible if he can stay healthy, based on his production this year.
Along with TeSlaa's major award, three other Chargers earned first team All-G-MAC honors.
Running back Michael Herzog completed a special campaign as one of three running backs to earn first-team honors. The senior led the Chargers and finished second in the G-MAC with 940 rushing yards while adding eight touchdowns on the ground as well. His 159 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in a 41-7 win over Northwood on Oct. 15 earned him G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors and were the most by a Hillsdale running back in a single game since David Graham's All-American campaign in 2019.
Making the honor especially meaningful for Herzog is his injury history. The senior from Windsor, Ontario missed all of the 2021 spring season and the fall 2021 campaign with a knee injury, forcing him to go two full years without seeing the field as he recovered. All that waiting and rehab paid off in a big way in 2022.
Also earning first team All-G-MAC honors was senior linebacker Kyle Kudla, a three-year starter and 2022 team captain for the Chargers. Kudla led Hillsdale and finished second in the G-MAC in total tackles with 97, while also chipping in 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception in a stellar final season at Hillsdale. His strong performance in a 17-10 win at Missouri S&T on Sept. 24 helped him earn G-MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in his career.
Rounding out Hillsdale's first team honors was senior Luke Keller. The starting quarterback for the Chargers and a 2022 captain, Keller received first team honors for his impressive special teams work as Hillsdale's punter in 2022. Although not his main job on the football field, Keller excelled in his role on special teams, leading the G-MAC in yards per punt (41.0) and in punts of over 50 yards (6) while putting nine punts inside the opposing team's 20. It's the second time in his career Keller has received All-G-MAC honors as a punter, as well as co-Freshman of the Year honors in 2019.
Hillsdale had one player earn second team All-G-MAC honors in junior tight end Michael Harding, who earned his third All-G-MAC honor this fall after two third-team appearances in prior seasons. A devastating blocker and critical leader for the Chargers on the line of scrimmage, Harding also continues to be one of the Chargers' top receiving threats over the middle, recording 21 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
Two Chargers brought home third team All-G-MAC honors, both in the trenches and both for the first time in their careers.
Sophomore offensive lineman Nick Affholter received recognition from the conference after a breakout year on the interior of the Chargers' offensive line. A consistent performer at the guard spot, Affholter moved inside to the center position mid-season after an injury to his twin brother, Benjamin Affholter, left the spot open and continued to perform at a high level, helping pave the way for 1,536 yards rushing and and 3,731 yards of total offense by the Chargers in 2022.
On the defensive line, senior Kendall Tobin also earned third team honors after a mid-season position switch. A defensive end for virtually his entire career at Hillsdale, Tobin moved inside to defensive tackle early in the season after injuries at the spot and continued to play a critical role in Hillsdale's defensive success, recording 26 tackles -- 6.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 2022 as a leader for the Chargers front seven.
Photo by Anthony Lupi