It was announced last week that seven members of the University of Redlands football team landed on the 2016 All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Teams for their contributions during the Bulldogs' undefeated run to the program's 30th conference championship.  Headlining the honorees, junior linebacker Mitch Shepherd (Seattle, WA) was named the SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year while also landing on the First Team.  In addition, junior defensive lineman Tristan Corwin (Wildomar, CA), senior defensive back Connor Hoffman (Tustin, CA), and junior offensive lineman Matt Schallert (Canyon Lake, CA) joined him on the First Team.  Sophomore offensive lineman Tommy Garcia (La Mirada, CA), junior wide receiver Cole Blackburn (Sammamish, WA), and junior defensive back Dustin Nascimento (Aiea, HI) represented the Maroon and Gray on the Second Team.

Shepherd becomes a three-time All-SCIAC honoree with his second-consecutive First-Team nod following an exemplary season with the Bulldogs.  With tenacity and power, this team captain racked up 38 tackles, including 22 solo hits, to average 5.4 tackles per conference game.  He also recorded two sacks en route to five tackles for a loss of 18 yards.  Finally, this versatile and defensive savvy played hauled in one interception and defended three passes during the Bulldogs' 7-0 SCIAC season.

While competing in five conference games, Corwin collects back-to-back First-Team awards as a vital part of the Maroon and Gray's successful defensive line.  He tallied 18 total tackles, with an equal split in solo and assisted hits.  He also tallied 5.5 tackles for a loss of 42 yards, including four sacks of SCIAC quarterbacks.  Finally, this dedicated member of the squad was credited with forcing one fumble against conference foes.

In addition, Hoffman earns his second First-Team honor after leading a stingy secondary that was key to the Bulldogs' success in 2016.  In seven conference games, he recorded 40 tackles, including 27 solo hits, for an average of 5.7 per game.  He hauled in two interceptions and recorded eight pass break-ups against SCIAC foes.  He pulled out all the stops in the team's 34-30 win over Cal Lutheran University to secure sole possession of the conference title by defending five Kingsmen passes.

Rounding out the First team, Schallert earns his second such accolade.  While competing in all seven SCIAC games as a steady and strong component to the Bulldogs' offensive line, he helped the team to record a near 50-50 split in rushing and passing yards throughout their undefeated run.  In addition, his abilities allowed Redlands to average 41.9 points against conference foes, which included 17 touchdowns through the air and 17 on the ground in a balanced attack.

While representing Redlands on the Second Team with his inaugural All-SCIAC award, Garcia played a major role in the team's 67% fourth-down conversion rate and 79% showing in the red zone as a stalwart at center.  He contributed to the offensive plays with his consistency and poise, leading to more than 3,300 yards of total offense and 34 total touchdowns against SCIAC foes. 

With his second-consecutive All-Conference honor, Blackburn served as the team's top receiver by hauling in 36 catches for 437 yards, including a long of 45 yards, in SCIAC competition.  He broke into the end zone for two touchdowns this season.  His breakout game came against the University of La Verne on October 8 when he posted a career-high 147 yards on just nine receptions for an average of 16.3 yards per catch. 

Finally, Nascimento made quite an impression in his first year with the Bulldogs by recording 39 tackles in SCIAC action during the team's championship run.  He tallied 22 solo tackles while grabbing one interception and recording four pass break-ups.

For a complete list of the All-SCIAC honorees, please visit the SCIAC website.