SIOUX FALLS – Dennis Gardeck of the No. 18 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (9-3) has been selected to the American Football Coaches Association DII All-American Team, according to an announcement today by the AFCA.

Gardeck, who was named to the second team at linebacker, becomes USF's 10th (nine players) AFCA All-American. It is Gardeck's first All-American honor. The school's first AFCA All-American was offensive lineman Vinnie Olson in 2004 when the AFCA had a combined DII-NAIA squad.

For the fourth straight year, USF has had a student-athlete named to the AFCA All American Team. A year ago Max Mickey, who set USF's season rushing mark with 1,764 yards, was selected a second team running back. Two years ago, Solomon St. Pierre, who set school and NSIC records with 22 career interceptions, was named for a second straight year (2014, 2015) to the AFCA team. Gardeck, Mickey and St. Pierre (twice, 2014, 2015) represent the Cougars as DII selections on the AFCA Team.

 

USF's other first-team All-Americans included wide receiver Dustan Hovorka in 2006; quarterback Chad Cavender in 2007; offensive lineman T.J. Wendt in 2008; quarterback Lorenzo Brown in 2009 and wide receiver Jon Ryan in 2010. In total, the Cougars have had 42 first-team All-Americans (NAIA, NCAA DII) with kicker Brian Hansen the first in 1982. USF has had a combined 73 first or second team All-Americans plus another 28 named honorable mention All-American.

"Dennis (Gardeck) was an outstanding leader, who helped lead USF to the playoffs for a third straight year," 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. "A constant presence on our defense, he was part of a defense that ranked in the top five 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.
 
The AFCA, which has selected an All-America team since 1945, currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are chosen by the coaches. The AFCA DII All-American Selection Committee is comprised of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts.

Gardeck, a 6-0, 230 linebacker from Lake in the Hills, lll., had a dominating season on one of the nation's best defenses. He was also named recently to the NCAA DII Conference Commissioner's Association's (CCA) Super Region Four First Team at linebacker. In addition, he 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-league, recording 14 sacks for -75 yards, a total which ranked second nationally. In sacks per game, he ranked sixth in DII at 1.8 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 12th 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 still ranks as the top 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.