Five Liberty League Football players have been selected to the D3Football.com All-America teams. Three conference institutions were represented among the selections with a pair honored from Hobart College (2024 Liberty League Champions) and a pair recognized from the University of Rochester as well as one from Ithaca College.
Ithaca senior safety Jake Connolly and Rochester junior defensive back Jordy Tawa, also an AFCA and AP first team All-American, were named to the D3Football.com First Team. Both Hobart selections—senior linebacker Jaimen Bliss and junior punter Vicente Lyon (AP First Team All American) garnered third team accolades. Rochester sophomore Trey Johnson rounded out the league’s honorees and earned a spot on the fourth team for his efforts as a return specialist this season.
D3football.com All-America First Team
Jake Connolly – Ithaca
Connolly wrapped up his senior campaign leading the Bombers in tackles (86), and tackles for loss (5.5). He paced the team with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries while finishing second in pass breakups (6). Connolly also recorded one sack and one interception. Among league leaders, he was third in tackles while tying for second in fumbles recovered and fumble returns. Connolly had five games with 10-plus tackles this season. He ended his four-year career with the Bombers with 225 total tackles (101 solo, 124 assisted).
Jordy Tawa – Rochester
Tawa was a starter in all 11 games for the Yellowjackets this season, recording a team-high 13 pass breakups and seven interceptions. He also produced 42 tackles on the year, including 26 solo, as well as 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Tawa paced the Liberty League and tied for first in Division III in passes defended and interceptions. He recorded an interception in each of Rochester's first five contests this year, extended his career-long streak to six games (including a pick from the last game of the 2023 season), also tied for the longest interception streak in program history. Tawa’s seven interceptions tied for the sixth-most in a single season in program history, while his 20 passes defended rank second.
D3football.com All-America Third Team
Jaimen Bliss – Hobart
Bliss anchored a defense that was among the top 20 of Division III in scoring defense (4th), defensive touchdowns (T-6th), turnovers gained (T-7th) and passes intercepted (T-18th). Bliss led the Statesmen and was second in the league in tackles with 104 (40 solo, 64 assisted) in 11 games (9.4 per game). He finished the year with 13.5 tackles for loss (49 yards), 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. In four seasons and 43 games with the Statesmen, he amassed 267 career tackles (110 solo, 157 assisted), ranking him 8th on Hobart’s all-time tackles list.
Vicente Lyon – Hobart
Lyon closed out the year fourth nationally in punting average with a Hobart season record 43.6 yards per punt. Ten of his 38 punts this year pinned the opposition inside its own 20. Lyon had 10 punts that traveled 50 or more yards this season, including a Hobart record 86-yarder in a win over Ithaca. That punt is the longest in NCAA football this season.
D3football.com All-America Fourth Team
Trey Johnson – Rochester
Johnson posted 19 kickoff returns for 572 yards and two touchdowns this season. He also added 11 punt returns for 47 yards. Offensively, Johnson finished with 55 receptions for 567 yards and four touchdowns. He also helped the Yellowjackets in the ground game with nine rushes for 45 yards. Johnson became Rochester's all-time receptions leader, ending with 171 over his four-year career. Johnson's two kickoff return touchdowns tied him for third in Division III. He also ended the year seventh in kickoff return average (30.1). His combined kick return yardage of 619 yards was 31st in Division III. He was also among the top-100 in all-purpose (rushing, receiving, returns) yards per game at 111.91. He tied the school record in kick return touchdowns, matching the feat done by four other individuals in Rochester football history.