Hayes and Hering named preseason All-Americans

MINNEAPOLIS – Huntingdon seniors Trey Hayes and Chris Hering were recognized with the release of the D3football.com preseason All-America teams on Monday.

Hayes, a linebacker from Decatur, Ala., earned second-team honors and Hering, an offensive lineman from Navarre, Fla., earned third-team recognition. Hayes and Hering were both third-team All-South Region selections last fall.

The duo helped lead Huntingdon to a 9-2 record and a third straight appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs last season. The Hawks won their third straight USA South Athletic Conference title with a 7-0 conference record.

Hayes is a three-year starter and a two-time All-Region selection. Last season, he led a defense that allowed 10.7 points per game in the final six regular-season games. The 2017 Huntingdon defense allowed the second fewest passing yards per game (205) in program history and the fourth fewest yards of total offense per game (346.7) in Huntingdon history.

Hayes ended the season with 75 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries. With 222 career tackles, he is the Hawks' fifth all-time leading tackler. He is Huntingdon's career leader with seven fumble recoveries.

Hering is a two-year starter for the Hawks. Last season, he anchored an offensive line that helped Huntingdon average 35.3 points per game and 461.8 yards of offense per game.

Hering graded out at a team-high 91-percent on more than 700 plays in 2017 and was third on the team with 28 knockdown blocks. He graded at 94-percent in two games and had a season-high seven knockdown blocks against North Carolina Wesleyan.

Huntingdon starts preseason practice on Aug. 8 and will open the season at Guilford College on Sept. 1.

A total of four players from the USA South were named to the preseason All-America teams. In addition to Huntingdon's two selections, Averett kicker Cole Westberry was named first-team and Averett linebacker Dejon Brooks was named third-team.

To view the entire D3football.com preseason All-America teams, click here.