2023 Heart North Football All-Conference Selections Announced
The Heart of America Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the 2023 Heart Football North Division All-Conference teams and postseason award winners.
The six Heart North head coaches selected the following postseason awards and 1st, 2nd and Honorable Mention All-Conference teams.
2023 Heart North Player of the Year – Jackson Waring – Grand View University
Waring led the Vikings to a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season and their fifth-straight Heart North Conference Championship. The junior quarterback threw for 31 touchdowns this year and ran in five touchdowns.
2023 Heart North Co-Offensive Player of the Year – Cade Ross – Graceland University
Ross, who was the 2022 Heart North Freshman of the Year, threw for 2,858 yards this season, on 226-412, for a completion percentage of 54.9-percent. He also threw 36 passing touchdowns and ran for 224 yards and five touchdowns.
2023 Heart North Co-Offensive Player of the Year – Jackson Waring – Grand View University
Waring finished the regular season with an impressive 67.7-completion percentage as he threw 147-217, for 2,423 yards. He also ran the ball 56 times for 310 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per rush.
2023 Heart North Defensive Player of the Year – Tristin Waugh – Grand View University
Waugh helped lead a Grand View defense that impressively shutout four teams year and ended the season as one of the top defenses in the NAIA. The senior linebacker led the Vikings with 41 total tackles in 2023.
He also had 14 sacks on the season and 20.5 tackles for loss. Waugh also forced two fumbles this season.
2023 Heart North Co-Freshman of the Year – Duke Mcclinton – Peru State
Defensive back Mcclinton, had six interceptions this season for the Bobcats and six pass breakups. He also forced two fumbles and had a fumble recovery. The freshman finished the season with 43 tackles, which was fourth on the team.
2023 Heart North Co-Freshman of the Year – Ryan Saddler – Grand View
Saddler, a freshman offensive lineman from Bettendorf, Iowa, was a key part in the Grand View offense that produced 2,466 total yards passing this season and 1,979 yards rushing. The Vikings averaged 44.4 points per game.
2023 Heart North Coach of the Year – Joe Woodley – Grand View
Coach Woodley and the Vikings enter the 2023 NAIA-Football Championship Series (FCS), as the No. 2 ranked team in the country. The Vikings won their 50th-straight Heart conference game last Saturday at Clarke and have won five-straight Heart North titles.
2023 Heart North Assistant of the Year – Derek Fulton – Grand View
Coach Fulton leads the offensive side of the ball for the Vikings coaching staff as the Offensive Coordinator. The Vikings had four players rush for over 200 yards this season and 22 total rushing touchdowns. Grand View also had six players with 10 or more receptions this year and 2,466 total receiving yards.
