AP All-American Teams

Wichita Falls, Texas----The Wingate University Bulldogs lead every team in Division II with five student-athletes earning All-American honors from the Associated Press. The Bulldogs have a nation's-best three first team selections in Ethan Evans, Davon Gilmore and Tre Morrison, with DJ Horne and Evan Surgeon picking up second team accolades.

The group helped lead the Bulldogs to a historic season, winning a program-record 11 games. Wingate advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time in program history. The 'Dogs led the nation in tackles for loss and third down defense, ranking second in total defense and sacks and third in scoring defense and red zone defense.

Evans earns All-American honors for the second time today. He was also named a first team All-American by the D2CCA. The first team All-SAC and All-Region punter finished second in the nation with a 45.7 average on 77 punts. Evans put 39 of those 77 punts inside the 20, with 30 of them going for at least 50 yards. He added 44 touchbacks on 67 kickoffs, converted 43-of-44 PATs and connected on 10 field goals including two of over 40 yards. Evans was named the D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week twice in 2022.

Morrison is an All-American for the second time today and third time this week. He was named a second team All-American by the AFCA and D2CCA. The first team All-SAC and All-Region honoree piled up 21 pass break-ups and five interceptions on the season, leading the nation in passes defended. He had seven more pass break-ups than any player in the nation, while ranking 10th nationally in interceptions. He had at least one break-up or interception in every game this season.

Gilmore picks up his second All-American honor of the day, earning second team accolades from the D2CCA. He adds this recognition to first team All-SAC and All-Region accolades. The linebacker filled up the stat sheet in 2022, registering a team-best 95 tackles with 20.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, seven pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a pair of QB hurries. Gilmore had multiple TFLs seven times in 2022, notching four TFLs in wins over Limestone and Virginia Union.

Horne picks up his second All-American nod of the day to go along with second team honors from the D2CCA, adding this to a huge final season with the Bulldogs. He was named the SAC Piedmont Defensive Player of the Year, while also being named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Southeast Region by the D2CCA. He piled up 50 tackles on the year with 20 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, adding 13 QB hurries and a forced fumble. Horne ranked in the top 15 in the nation in total sacks and tackles for loss.

Surgeon is an All-American for the first time in his career. He also hauled in huge awards in his final season at Wingate, taking home the Jacob's Blocking Trophy, going to the top offensive lineman in the South Atlantic Conference. The first team All-SAC honoree also picked up All-Region accolades from the D2CCA. He started every game on the offensive line for the 'Dogs this season, helping Wingate boast one of the most balances offenses in the conference with 180 passing yards and 157 rushing yards per contest.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. 

Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.