WACO, Texas - The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced its 2023 Division III Coaches' All-America Team on Monday, Dec. 11, with
Alex Klecker representing UW-River Falls on the Second Team Offense.
Klecker, a senior offensive lineman from River Falls, Wis., started in all 10 games for the Falcons in 2023 and was an All-WIAC First Team honoree.
Among the UWRF offensive line, Klecker had the highest grade and was a catalyst in UWRF's WIAC-leading offense. The Falcons led the league with 61 touchdowns, 3,295 passing yards, and 29.8 first downs per game. Additionally, the Falcons owned the top offense in terms of total yards (527.1 yards per game), top passing offense (329.5 yards per game), and scoring offense (43.0 points per game).
"Alex is flat out one of the best players I have ever coached," said head coach
Matt Walker. "Not only is he highly skilled, but he was one of the hardest working, toughest, and committed players to walk through this program. It was clearly a delight to watch what he did on the field on Saturdays, and the ferocious intensity that he played with. But I also had the honor to see Alex's approach to the weight room, film room, and practice field on a daily basis and he did it with the same passion, focus, and drive that he did on Saturdays. He is the ultimate lead by example player. I am so proud of him and no one deserves this more than him."
A 2023 D3football.com Preseason All-American and Lindy's Sports Preseason All-Division III First Team honoree, Klecker earns his first career AFCA All-America accolade, which is nominated and voted on by Division III head coaches.
Klecker becomes the third Falcon in the last three seasons to receive AFCA All-America recognition, following
Michael Brown in 2022 and
Ben Beise in 2021.
UWRF turned in its third consecutive winning season this fall, going 7-3 overall and 4-3 during WIAC competition.