NAPERVILLE, Ill. – North Park football saw five of their members named to the 2023 All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) team on Tuesday morning, representing the most Vikings on the all-conference list since the 2015 season. Junior linebacker Jaydin Miller was named to the first team while senior wide receiver AJ Harris, junior linebacker Juan Nieves, sophomore defensive end Jonathan Thomas, and junior defensive back Jason Adkinson garnered second-team honors. Additionally, senior tight end Joseph Kalas was North Park's representative for the CCIW's RESPECT Award.
Miller, a second-team All-CCIW selection in 2022, picks up first team honors after posting the second-most in-league tackles this season with 81. Miller, a two-time National Player of the Week this season, had 54 solo tackles and ranked in the league's top 15 in multiple defensive categories, including interceptions (3, t2), fumble recoveries (2, t2), forced fumbles, (2, t2), sacks (6.5, 5th), and TFL (10, t6). He ended his season by ripping the ball from a Wheaton ball carrier before returning it 38 yards, setting up North Park for an eventual score on the nation's 12th-ranked squad.
Harris earns his second All-CCIW honors of his career, having earned first-team recognition in 2021. This season, the Vikings' top target for the past three years was 15th in CCIW action with 446 yards on 43 catches. He tied for 13th with four receiving touchdowns and averaged 10.4 yards per catch. Harris also rushed for three touchdowns, including two at Augustana, and totaled 143 yards on the ground.
Nieves is now a three-time All-CCIW pick after earning second-team honors in '21 and first-team honors in '22. This season, the equally dangerous defender and return specialist had 46 tackles, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in CCIW action. He added 5 pass breakups, which tied for 11th-most in the league, a pair of quarterback hurries, and blocked a kick at Carthage. Additionally, he had a 90-yard kick return touchdown against Illinois Wesleyan on Oct. 14.
Thomas grabs the first all-conference honors of his career after tying for eighth in the league with 8.5 tackles for a loss of 44 total yards. Thomas continued to break through offensive lines by posting four sacks, including a sack fumble in the Vikings' final game of the season against Wheaton. In total, he had 30 tackles (16 solo), a quarterback hurry, pass breakup, and pinned his opponents back 61 yards via sacks and tackles for loss.
Adkinson is back on the All-CCIW team after his first-team honors in 2021. Adkinson totaled 35 tackles (31 solo) in the CCIW, including a career high eight at Carthage on Oct. 7. He had three CCIW pass breakups this season, recovered a pair of fumbles, and forced one. In that standout game at Carthage, he added a pair of pass breakups, totaling five in his 10 games played.
Finally, Kalas earned the CCIW's prestigious RESPECT Award for his leadership on and off the field, following Coach Kyle Rooker and the Vikings' mantra of doing things #TheRightWay.
RESPECT Award
At the conclusion of every sports season, each varsity program will recognize one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.
