WACO, Texas – Trine football's Marcus Winters (Jr., DB, Toledo, Ohio) was named a Second-Team All-American performer by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Tuesday for his efforts during the 2017 campaign.

The 2017 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year helped Trine go 10-0 during the regular season, which included an MIAA Championship with a perfect 6-0 record. The Thunder then advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship.

Winters' statistics for the season included six interceptions, part of Trine's team effort of 37 total turnovers, which ranks first in the NCAA. 

Along with his defensive efforts, Winters was also Trine's top punt returner, averaging 16.8 yards per return, including one return for a touchdown.

The AFCA's Division III All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's eight districts. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen.

From 1967 through 1971, two teams – University Division and College Division – were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II.

In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — Division I-A and Division I-AA.

In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. The AFCA began selecting an NAIA-only team in 2006. Also in 2006, the Division I-A and Division I-AA teams were renamed Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), respectively.

From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.

AFCA 2017 All-America Teams (pdf)

MIAA Student-Athletes Honored by AFCA

Trine - Marcus Winters (2nd) - Trine story link

Additional information provided by AFCA.

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