2023 G-MAC All-Conference Football Teams
Two years ago, Michael Herzog had just finished his second season in a row at Hillsdale College without stepping on the football field as a consequence of a devastating injury.
Now, just two years later, he's the Most Valuable Player, not just of the Hillsdale College football team but also of the entire Great Midwest Athletic Conference after finishing his career in record-setting fashion.
The G-MAC announced its postseason football awards for the 2023 season on Thursday afternoon, and Herzog was honored as just the second Hillsdale player in G-MAC history and the first since quarterback Chance Stewart in 2018 to win G-MAC Player of the Year honors. The senior shared the award with another record-setting athlete, defensive end Eddie Miller-Garrett of Ohio Dominican.
Herzog put together a stellar campaign as a senior for the Chargers, breaking or tying five G-MAC records while also ranking among the top running backs in the country at the NCAA DII level throughout. He led the G-MAC in carries (230), rushing yards (1,333), rushing touchdowns (21), yards per game average (121.2), scoring (11.5 points per game), All-Purpose yards (172.2 per game), single game rushing attempts (28 against Michigan Tech) and single-game rushing touchdowns (five against Ohio Dominican), while ranking in the top 10 in the nation at the NCAA DII level in all of those categories, and in the top five in many of them.
In the process of his historic season, Herzog broke G-MAC records for single season rushing touchdowns, finishing with 21 to surpass Daouda Sylla of Findlay's old record of 19, and, with 126 total points scored, also broke the record for points in a single season of 114 held by Sylla and former Hillsdale great David Graham).
His epic game in Hillsdale's 35-17 win over Ohio Dominican to finish the 2023 season and cap Herzog's career will live in legends for years to come. Against a defense that was surrendering 88 yards on the ground on average entering the contest, Herzog rushed for 175 yards on 20 carries and five touchdowns, breaking the G-MAC record for rushing touchdowns in a single contest and tying the Hillsdale record for single game rushing touchdowns, held jointly by Gordon Piatt (1939), Nate Clark (1955) and Willis Miles (1982).
It's an impressive finish for a player who came to Hillsdale as a wide receiver before moving to tailback, and then missed both the spring 2021 Covid season and the fall 2021 campaign with a knee injury suffered in practice. The painful adversity didn't shake Herzog in the slightest, as he attacked rehab with ferocity and returned to the squad in 2022 to finish his career as one of the all-time great running backs in Hillsdale College history.
Five other Chargers earned All-Conference recognition as well in addition to Herzog. Junior defensive end Riley Tolsma earned first-team All-G-MAC honors. After being left off of the 2022 All-G-MAC squad despite strong numbers, Tolsma left no doubt with his disruptive play in 2023, recording a career-high 50 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 11 tackles for loss, while also forcing a safety against Northwood on Sept. 30 and blocking a field goal against Ohio Dominican on Nov. 11.
In conjunction with Herzog's rushing performance, Hillsdale had three offensive linemen receive All-G-MAC honors in 2023, the most for a Chargers team since 2017. Leading the way was junior center Nick Affholter, who received first-team All-G-MAC honors. This is Affholter's second All-G-MAC recognition after the Quincy, Michigan native received third-team All-G-MAC honors in 2022.
He was joined by two linemates who were recognized by the G-MAC for their play for the first time in their careers. Senior left tackle Ben Geno and junior left guard Eli Haidamous each earned second-team All-G-MAC honors. Together, Affholter, Geno and Haidamous were key players on a unit that paved the way for Herzog's record-setting campaign, and helped the Chargers finish second in the G-MAC in rushing yards per game (213.7) and third in total offense and scoring offense. The trio also worked together to help Hillsdale rack up three games of 300-plus yards rushing for the first time since Hillsdale's GLIAC-title-winning and playoff qualifying team in 2011.
Last, but certainly not least, Hillsdale sophomore wide receiver Sam Lee was rewarded for a breakout campaign in his second year with second-team All-G-MAC honors. A 6-foot-6, 240 pound athlete on the outside, Lee used his size and skill to his advantage to lead the Chargers in catches (39), and receiving yards (624) while adding three touchdown receptions. The sophomore finished the season with his best game, catching five passes for a career-high 151 yards in Hillsdale's 35-17 win over Ohio Dominican on Nov. 11.