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Zigler named MC’s first-ever first
team All-American
Release Date: January 18, 2006
 MONMOUTH,
Ill. — After a season that saw the Monmouth College football team
earn its first-ever national playoff berth, it should come as no
surprise that one of its star performers also made history.
Senior linebacker Justin Zigler was selected for a first team spot
on the 2005 NCAA Division III All-American Team compiled by Don
Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette. A few days earlier,
Zigler was named that publication’s West Region Linebacker of the
Year.
Although Monmouth has had its share of regional and honorable
mention All-Americans from various organizations through the years,
Zigler is believed to be the only Fighting Scot named to a first
team.
“I am very grateful to receive this honor,” said Zigler, who set the
Fighting Scots’ single-season record for tackles this fall with 115.
“I didn’t expect it at all.”
Zigler’s 361 career tackles are more than 100 higher than the
previous school record. He had 23.5 tackles for loss this fall,
including 5.5 sacks, and he picked off two passes, running one back
for a score. His tackles for loss average was ranked 22nd in the
final Division III statistics for the year, and he was also among
the leaders in total tackles (50th) and solo tackles (57th).
“First and foremost, I would not have accomplished this without my
friends and teammates pushing me and the coaches putting our defense
in the right place to be successful,” said Zigler. “My family also
deserves credit. I had great support from them at every game, and it
was always great to see them in the stands. I would like to thank my
father for never missing a game and always believing in me.”
“The progress that Justin made in his four years here was just
tremendous,” said Monmouth coach Steve Bell, who recalled a
190-pound Zigler getting roughed up a bit in his first game as a
freshman in 2002. “He ended up at 235 pounds, so he really
transformed his body type, and that’s a tribute to his work ethic,
which is unmatched. You just hope you can fill up a roster with
players willing to work as hard as he did in his career. When Zigs
stepped between the lines, he was all business.”
Junior Evan Haffner was on Football Gazette’s honorable mention
All-American list as a kick returner, thanks to his averages of 25.1
yards on kick returns and 12.4 yards on punt returns. Those averages
were ranked 30th and 28th, respectively, by the NCAA.
Previous honorable mention All-Americans at Monmouth have included
John Warfield, Dwayne Hughes, John Carlberg, Ed Simpson, Ed Smith,
Ron Baker, Dave Purlee, Charlie Corle and Ray Brooks.
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