SIOUX FALLS – Standout senior linebacker Dennis Gardeck of the No. 18 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (9-3) has been selected to the first-team defense on the NCAA DII Conference Commissioner's Association (D2 CCA) All-American Football Team.

Gardeck, a 6-0, 230 linebacker from Lake in the Hills, lll., has earned his second All-American honor in 2017 after being named to the second team defense on the American Football Coaches Association DII All-American Team on Dec. 5. It is the first time that Gardeck has been named first team All-American.
 

"We are proud of Dennis (Gardeck) for being an outstanding leader on the field and succeeding in the classroom," said USF Head Football Coach Jon Anderson, whose team had their season end in a heartbreaking 24-20 first round NCAA DII playoff loss at No. 5 Midwestern State. "He had an outstanding season and was part of a defense that ranked in the top three nationally all year. He simply made plays all season. I find it remarkable that he was able to get 14 sacks and 21 TFLs from his linebacker spot. As good a football player as Dennis has been for four years, he is an even better person," added Anderson, who team finished with at least nine wins for the fourth straight year.
 
Gardeck had a dominating season on one of the nation's best defenses. Aside from the All-American honors, he was also named recently to the NCAA DII Conference Commissioner's Association's (CCA) Super Region Four First Team at linebacker. In addition, the senior was a nominee for the Harlon Hill Award (top player in DII) and is a candidate for the  Cliff Harris Award (national defensive player of the year).
 
A graduate transfer from West Virginia State where he was a three-time All-Mountain East performer, Gardeck had an impact on a USF defense that ranked second in total defense by allowing a program-DII best 244.3 yards per game. With Gardeck's contributions, the Cougars led the NSIC and ranked third nationally in rushing defense at 67.8 yards per game.  USF was also second in scoring defense at 12.5 points per game, allowing just 123 total points, a program DII-best at USF. The defense allowed opponents to rush over 200 yards once and held nine opponents to under 100 yards. With Gardeck's 14 sacks, USF had the seventh most sacks nationally with 40 and ranked eighth in first downs allowed with 158.

Gardeck, who is in the Master of Business Administration program at USF, earned his fourth all-conference selection (three-time Mountain East honoree) and was named the NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2017. He was named first-team All-NSIC, recording 14 sacks for -75 yards, a total which ranked second nationally. In sacks per game, he ranked fifth in DII at 1.17 per game.  Gardeck, who had a sack in the playoff game, had 13 solo sacks also second nationally. Including the 1.5 TFLs in the playoff loss to No. 5 Midwestern State, he averaged 1.8 tackles for loss per game, which ranked 13th nationally. Overall, his 21.0 tackles for losses of 97 yards was the fifth most in NCAA DII.
 
In 2017, the senior linebacker recorded a team-best 75 tackles, including two double digit tackle games and nine in the playoff loss.  Gardeck led the NSIC in sacks and TFLs while also recovering a fumble, forced two fumbles and recorded a safety to clinch the 21-14 "Key to the City" game over city rival Augustana at Bob Young Field.   
 
In his first game at USF, he put together a memorable performance, registering a program-DII best five sacks in a 26-7 win over Minnesota-Duluth on the road on August 31. The five-sack performance by Gardeck against UMD was the single best individual sack performance in DII this year.   Six times he had seven tackles or more, while recording a tackle for loss in 10 of USF's 12 games. He had two or more TFLs six times. Gardeck had a sack in eight games with two or more sacks four times.
 
Gardeck finished his career with 345 career tackles, 57.5 tackles for loss, 32 sacks, nine forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.