8 January 2001
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206
 
 

IWU's Heinzl Named D-III "Lineman of Year"

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan University senior Jeff Heinzl has been named Division III "Defensive Lineman of the Year" in the Football Gazette honors announced today.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive tackle from Palatine (Fremd HS) was also selected to the first team defense on the Football Gazette All-American squad, which is chosen by a panel of Division III sports information directors nationwide and Don Hansen, who has been publishing the Football Gazette since 1987.

Previously, Heinzl was named to the first team defense on the Hewlett-Packard All-American team and the D3football.com team, and the second team of the usafootball.com squad. He was chosen to the third team of The Associated Press' Little All-America squad, which is selected from players in Divisions II and III and the NAIA.

Heinzl, who was IWU's "Most Valuable Defensive Player" this fall, shared the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin "Defensive Player of the Year" award as he was instrumental in a helping IWU to a 9-1 record and a share of the league title with Millikin and Wheaton.

Heinzl made 16 1/2 sacks and had 66 total tackles this season. His finest day came in the regular-season finale, when he registered 4 1/2 sacks and 19 total tackles as the Titans upset previously unbeaten Millikin 10-8.