(Pella, IA) Central Dutch football player Gavin Smith is coming off his best season in Pella and was named to the AP All-American 2nd Team. The junior from Audubon led the team in pass breakups this season with 11 and interceptions with three, including one pick-six. Smith started in all 10 games this season for the Dutch and added 27.0 total tackles and one tackle for loss for the Central defense. He also averaged 1.3 passes defended per game, ranking 29th in the country in NCAA Div. III.
After being named second-team all-American and first-team all-conference defensive back, Smith credited the trust in his team for his best season.
Smith was one of nine Dutch players to be named to the first-team all-conference squad and one of four on the defensive side of the ball. Smith was coming off a sophomore season in which he started nine games and received the Lankelma-Menning Award for most outstanding underclassman.
As a sophomore, Smith had a pair of interceptions and 12 pass breakups and received American Rivers Academic All-Conference. Smith also posted 42 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Smith hopes that these honors will help set an example and raise expectations for the defense.
Despite Smith’s individual success, the Dutch have yet to make the playoffs during his tenure on the team. Central finished 8-2 in back-to-back seasons with close losses to Wartburg and Coe College in both years.
Despite posting a record of 6-2 in conference play and finishing third, Central’s 15 selections for the all-conference team were more than the league champions Wartburg and runners-up Coe College.
