CHICAGO, Ill. – North Park football saw two members honored on the 2023 All-Region 5 Team by D3football.com on Wednesday morning. Head Coach Kyle Rooker became the program's first-ever Region 5 Coach of the Year while junior linebacker Jaydin Miller was a second-team honoree.
Rooker, who just completed his fifth year at the helm of the North Park football team, guided the Vikings to a five-win season in 2023, their most since 1968. The Vikings' .500 record of 5-5 was the first time NPU had finished with an even record since 1972. North Park had conference wins over Millikin, Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, and Elmhurst and finished above the Titans in the CCIW standings for the first time in program history.
"Being recognized as the Region 5 Coach of the Year is beyond humbling," said Coach Rooker. "There are so many worthy and deserving coaches in Region 5, and to be recognized among them is special. 2023 was an important year for North Park Football as we continue to build our program and this award reflects the hard work of our coaching staff, players, and support staff. I am blessed to be surrounded by so many outstanding people and want to extend my sincere thanks to all of them."
Miller, a 2023 first-team All-CCIW selection at linebacker, earns the first All-Region 5 honors of his career after posting the second-most in-league tackles this season with 81. A two-time National Player of the Week this season, Miller 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). Overall, he had 89 tackles (60 solo), 10 TFL, 3 picks, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 pass breakups and a 62-yard pick six. 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.
Players were nominated for these awards by the Sports Information Directors at the various schools, and schools and conferences were contacted multiple times as the season wound down to remind them to make their players eligible. In total, 1,129 players were nominated.
All-Region teams are selected in balloting by sports information directors in each region and D3football.com staff. All players nominated for All-Region are eligible to be considered for the D3football.com All-America Team.
The 2023 D3football.com All-America team will be announced Friday, Dec. 15, at the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
