BROOKFIELD, Ill. – For the first time since the 2019 season, the Don Hansen Football Committee announced a Division II All-America team, that included First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention. Offensive Lineman Brandon Nicholson and Linebacker Guam Lee took a spot on the Second Team. Defensive Lineman Noah Harris-Lyles and Defensive Back Antoine Holloway II earned Honorable Mention. (Release)

Nicholson adds this award to his impressive resume. After the 2021 fall season, he was recognized as a First Team All-American by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA), The Associated Press and D2Football.com. The Bedford High School product became the second player in program history to be named a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the top offensive lineman in NCAA Division II football. The Falcons' left tackle finished runner-up for the honor.

This is the third time in Nicholson's career that he was recognized as an All-American by the Don Hansen Football Committee. In his career, he was named D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Offensive First Team, twice, and Second Team, once, along with earning All-Mountain East Conference First Team status four times.

Lee becomes just the second player in program history (Jaleel McLaughlin) to be named All-American by five different outlets in one offseason. Since the end of the season last fall, the Farmington Hills, Mich. native has been named First Team All-American by the D2CCA, The Associated Press and earned Elite 100 First Team by D2Football.com, while also taking Second Team honors from the American Football Coaches Association.

He finishes his career as a four-time All-MEC First Team member, 2021 MEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time D2CCA All-Super Region 1 First Team award winner.

Harris-Lyles made an immediate impact when he transferred to South Euclid, and played the 2021 spring season and 2021 fall season with NDC. He earns All-America status for his work this past fall, along with taking D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Defensive Second Team earlier this offseason. The Venice Park, N.J. native also earned his second All-MEC First Team award last season.

As a sophomore, Holloway II made a lot of noise in his first season with NDC. Along with the Don Hansen award, he also grabbed Second Team All-America honors from the D2CCA. The native of Maple Heights, Ohio earned D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Defensive First Team and was given All-MEC First Team honors.

Notre Dame led the MEC with four representatives on the Don Hansen list. Concord's Tywan Pierce and Wheeling's Rich White III are both on the Second Team. Charleston's Tyreik McAllister and Frostburg State's Carl Igweh are listed as an Honorable Mention.