Eberle Selected As First All-America Placekicker In W&J Football History
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College junior placekicker Eric Eberle (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) was selected as a Beyond Sports Network Second Team Division III All-American on Wednesday.
Eberle is the first kicker to garner All-American honors in W&J football history. In the past month, he earned First Team All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference and D3Football.com Third Team All-South Region honors.
Eberle connected on 11-of-14 field goals, including his final seven attempts, and 31-of-32 extra-point tries. He drilled a 44-yard field goal at Thiel, the longest by a Presidents’ kicker since Mike Evan ‘97 during the 1995 season. Overall, Eberle was 3-of-3 from 40 yards or longer. He tied for 20th in NCAA Division III in field goals per game (1.0) and was the first W&J kicker since current Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (2003) to make 11 field goals in a season.
A total of 22 of Eberle’s 61 punts landed inside the 20-yard line, while seven of his boots sailed over 50 yards. Eberle was third in the PAC with a net average of 37.0 yards per punt. He also served as the team’s kickoff specialist and sent five kicks for touchbacks.
He has connected on 95 percent (53-56) of his extra-point attempts and 75 percent (15-20) of his field-goal tries during 32 career games. He will enter his senior year with a streak of 29 consecutive made extra points. Ravenstahl owns that record with 45 during the 2001 season.
W&J completed its season with an 8-3 (7-1 PAC) record after claiming its 23rd PAC championship and reaching the NCAA playoffs for the 22nd time.
