BROOKFIELD, IL – Historic seasons by key elements of the nation's best passing attack earned a trio of University of Mary scholar-athletes All-American honors. The Marauders Danny Kittner was named to the 2021 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America first team, Luke Little received second team honors and Logan Nelson was an honorable mention selection.
 
Behind record-breaking seasons from all three players, the Marauders led NCAA Division II teams with 356.6 yards passing per game. Kittner led the nation in catches and receiving yards, Little paced the country in touchdown receptions and Nelson was in the top three in touchdown passes, passing yards and total offense.
 
Kittner shattered UMary and Northern Sun single season records for catches and receiving yards, hauling in 128 passes for 1,723 yards to lead NCAA Division II in both categories. His 18 touchdown catches ranked third. The junior wide receiver tied the NSIC single game record for receptions (19) and set single game UMary records for catches, receiving yards (284) and all purpose yards (378) while tying the school mark for receiving touchdowns in a game (4). His 19 catches are also the 12th best single game total in NCAA Division II history.
 
Over the course of 11 games, Kittner eclipsed 100 yards receiving nine times and surpassed 200 yards three times. He caught at least one touchdown pass in nine games and scored multiple touchdowns five times.
 
Kittner's marks also are among the best all-time in NCAA Division II football. He ranks 3rd for most catches in a single season, 5th in receiving yards, 5th in catches per game at 11.6, and is 6th in receiving yards per game at 156.6.
 
The native of Gilbert, AZ, also led NCAA Division II in all purpose yards with 204.6 per game. Not to be forgotten is that Kittner, who holds for extra points and field goals, scored a 2-point conversion this season, recovered an onside kick and completed two passes in four attempts for 73 yards.
 
Little wrapped up his Marauders career in spectacular fashion. The senior wide receiver set a new team record with 20 touchdown catches, a total that leads players in all divisions of NCAA football. He finished 2021 with 82 catches for 1,282 yards.
 
On top of leading the nation in touchdown receptions, the Bismarck, ND, native concluded the regular season 5^th in NCAA Division II in receiving yards/game (114.7), 6th in NCAA Division II in receiving yards, 7th in receptions, 7th in receptions per game (7.5), 7^th in total touchdowns, 7^th in total points scored and 8^th in scoring/game (10.9 points/game).
 
The NSIC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in a win over Minot State in the Battle for the Big Lake, Little scored a touchdown in 10 out of 11 games and caught multiple touchdowns in a game eight times. He also cleared the century mark in yardage seven times.
 
A two-time All-Northern Sun selection (2018, 2021), Little caught 155 passes for 2,403 yards and 30 touchdowns in his Marauders career. He ranks 2nd all-time at UMary in touchdown receptions, 3rd in total touchdowns, 6th in catches and 6th in receiving yards.
 
Nelson broke all the single season passing records at UMary and set a new yardage mark for the Northern Sun while directing the best aerial attack in NCAA Division II. The All-NSIC North Division 1st team quarterback torched opposing defenses for 41 touchdowns and 3,732 yards through the air, completing 65% of his passes (283-of-436) while throwing just six interceptions. He is now the Marauders single season record holder in attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns.
 
The junior from Billings, MT, earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing a school record-tying six touchdown passes in a UMary road win over Northern State University. Nelson also tossed six scoring strikes in the season finale at conference champion Bemidji State. Nelson passed for at least 300 yards seven times and cracked 400 yards three times. He tossed at least one touchdown pass in all 11 games, two or more ten times and four or more in seven games. Additionally Nelson ran for three touchdowns.
 
In the final NCAA statistics, Nelson finished the regular season leading NCAA Division II in passing yards per game (337.5). He was second in points responsible for per game (24.0), third in total offense (338.8), passing yards (3,712) and passing touchdowns (41), fifth in points responsible for (264), 6th in in completions per game (25.8), 10th in passing efficiency (163.7) and 12th in completion percentage (64.8%).
 
The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.
 
The Marauders have two of the four Northern Sun first and second team Don Hansen All-America selections.  
 
2021 Danny Kittner post-season honors:

• Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America 1^st team
• D2Football.com Elite 100 1^st team
• The College Football Network 2021 TCFBN All-American D-2 1^st Team
• Associate Press All-America 1^st team
• AFCA All-American 1^st team
• D2CCA All-American 1^st team
• D2CCA Super Region 4 Offensive Player of the Year
• D2CCA Super Region 4 1^st team
• Northern Sun Offensive Player of the Year
• All-Northern Sun North Division 1^st team

 
2021 Luke Little post-season honors:

• Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America 2^nd team
• D2Football.com Elite 100 squad
• The College Football Network 2021 TCFBN All-American D-2 2^nd Team
• D2CCCA All-Super Region 4 2^nd
• All-Northern Sun North Division first team

 
2021 Logan Nelson post-season honors:

• Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America honorable mention team
• D2Football.com Elite 100 squad
• D2CCA All-Region 4 1^st team
• All-Northern Sun North Division 1st team

 
ALL-TIME UNIVERSITY OF MARY FOOTBALL ALL-AMERICAN SELECTIONS
 
NAIA ALL-AMERICAN
1990 Toby Schweitzer (1st team)
1991 Jason Arenz (Honorable Mention), Mike Jaskolski (HM)
1992 Jason Arenz (1st)
1993 Bobby Wagner (2nd team), Jason Aman (HM), Robin Hoe (HM),Todd Lambrecht (HM)
1994 Zach Reitzell (HM)
1995 Steve Clooten (1st), Bryon Hoff (HM), Jeremy Polson (HM)
1996 Neil MacDannald (HM), James Schoales (HM)
1998 Eric Volk (1st)
1999 Eric Volk (1st), David St. Clair (2nd), Seth Maier (HM), Quintin Cradle (HM), Kyle Sires (HM)
2000 Jason Buono (1st), Kyle Sires (HM), A.J. Street (HM)
2001 Brian Fettig (1st), Nikia Parson (1st)
2003 Jake Pfau (1st), Justin Lang (2nd)
2004 Jake Pfau (1st), Matt Gwash (HM)
 
DON HANSEN'S ALL-AMERICAN
1997 Tony D'Amico (1st), Brent Johnson (3rd)
1998 Brent Walker (1st), Tony D'Amico (2nd), Brent Johnson (3rd)
1999 Quentin Cradle (1st), David St. Clair (1st), Eric Volk (1st), Kyle Sires (2nd), Jason Davis (HM), Seth Maier (HM)
2000 A.J. Street (2nd)
2001 Brian Fettig (3rd), Nikia Parson (HM)
2002 Noah Krob (1st), Mickey Mahlmeister (HM)
2013 Troy Guptill (HM), Grant Singer (HM)
2014 Alby Pope, Grant Singer
2021 Danny Kittner (1^st team), Luke Little (2^nd), Logan Nelson (HM)
 
AFCA NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
2011 Tyler Steffan
2013 Grant Singer
2014 Grant Singer
2021 Danny Kittner
 
AP LITTLE ALL-AMERICAN
2014 Grant Singer (2nd team)
2021 Danny Kittner (1st team)
 
D2FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
2011 Tyler Steffan (HM)
2013 Grant Singer (HM)
2014 Grant Singer
 
D2FOOTBALL.COM ELITE 100 TEAM
2021 Danny Kittner (1st team), Luke Little (Squad), Logan Nelson (Squad)
 
BSN D2 ALL-AMERICAN
2013 Grant Singer (HM)
 
D2CCA ALL AMERICA TEAM
2021 Danny Kittner
 
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NETWORK TCFBN ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
2021 Danny Kittner (1st team), Luke Little (2nd team)
 
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