July 19, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan junior return specialist Eric Esch (Bloomington, Ill., HS) has been chosen to the first team of the preseason Division III All-American squads named by D3football.com.
Last season Esch finished second in the national Division III statistics with a 20.6 punt return average and brought back two for touchdowns. His 80-yard punt return for a TD against Chicago on Sept. 25 is tied for the third longest in school history.
Esch, who is also a defensive back for IWU, was a first team all-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin selection and was twice chosen as the CCIW “Special Teams Player of the Week."
He was a D3football.com first team All-American as a return specialist last season and was chosen to the second team of the Division III all-North Region squad by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette.
The Titans (3-7 in 2004) open their season at home Sept. 3 against Simpson.
