Ferris State's Vander Laan Headlines AP Little All-America Squad As Nation's Top QB; VanderKlok A Second Team Choice
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Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University junior quarterback Jason Vander Laan (Frankfort, Ill./Chicago Christian) has received one of his most noteworthy awards yet as he was chosen today (Dec. 18) to the 2014 Associated Press Little All-America First Team.
Vander Laan headlined the 2014 AP Little All-America squad as the lone first-team quarterback in the country or otherwise chosen as the national organization's top quarterback among all NCAA Division II, III and NAIA schools.
Along with Vander Laan, senior offensive tackle Jacob VanderKlok (Caledonia/Grand Rapids South Christian) was named to the AP Little All-America Second Team. Previously, both were among four FSU standouts earning Daktronics All-America First Team recognition on Wednesday.
The Associated Press Little All-America team is distributed to national newspapers and media outlets across the country and features the top NCAA Division II, III and NAIA players in the country.
Vander Laan, one of two Harlon Hill finalists on the AP Little All-America First Team along with Lake Erie tailback Anthony Bilal, quarterbacked the Bulldogs to their first 11-0 season in the 106-year history of Ferris State football to earn top offensive honors.
The 6-2, 241-pounder from Frankfort, Ill. rushed for 1,466 yards with 20 touchdowns while completing 183-of-275 passes for 2,381 yards and 30 more scores. He ranked as the nation's top rushing quarterback at all levels and was tops in the country in passing efficiency (177.8) along with points responsible for this year (300) entering the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Since the season concluded, the three-year starter has achieved recognition from numerous sources. He was voted the Beyond Sports Network National Offensive Player of the Year and the GLIAC Player of the Year along with earning regional Offensive Player of the Year recognition from Daktronics, Beyond Sports Network (BSN) and Don Hansen's Football Gazette among other sources. He was also the only one of the nine Harlon Hill finalists named to the 2014 American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team and chosen as the 2014 Daktronics National Player of the Year.
VanderKlok helped spearhead a Bulldog offensive unit that led the nation in total offense, ranked second in scoring and fourth in rushing entering the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The senior helped the Bulldogs compile a school single-season record 559 points along with all-time bests of 3,866 rushing yards and 6,297 total yards this campaign. VanderKlok was previously also tabbed as a 2014 BSN All-American and the GLIAC's Offensive Lineman of the Year in addition to being a first-team all-region honoree by both Daktronics and BSN.
This year, the duo helped lead the Bulldogs to the school's first GLIAC Championship in 15 years, first outright league crown in 18 years and first NCAA Division II Playoff appearance since 1996. FSU's 11-1 overall record under 2014 GLIAC and AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Tony Annese was the school's best in 19 seasons.
The 2014 Harlon Hill Award, which is presented to Division II's top player, will be presented in a live webcast announcement on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. (ET). FSU will hold a special "Harlon Hill Watch" gathering at Buffalo Wild Wings at 8 Ionia Avenue NW in downtown Grand Rapids starting at 1 p.m. (ET) and leading up to the live webcast in which the winner will be announced.