Once again, Benedictine University football players are being recognized.
 
A month after senior defensive end Ben Lockton was named to the “D3football.com” preseason All-American team, he and senior running back John Borsellino were named to the “D3 Senior Classic” preseason All-American team.
 
Borsellino earned first-team honors after having an outstanding season last year, where he totaled 1,361 rushing yards on 234 carries and scored 22 touchdowns (17 rushing, four receiving, one kickoff return), all Benedictine football records. He earns this latest honor after being named Northern Athletics Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2011, First team all-NAC at both running back and returner and NAC player of the week four times (three offensive, one special teams).
 
Lockton joins Borsellino on the “D3 Senior Classic” preseason All-American team as an Honorable Mention. After tallying 87 tackles, 25 tackles for loss (first in the NAC and in the top five of all of Division III) and 5.5 sacks (first in the NAC) last season, he was named NAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-NAC first team honors. He also was NAC Defensive Player of the Week one time last season, when he totaled eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack against Concordia-Wisconsin on Oct. 15.
 
Both Borsellino and Lockton expressed great gratitude towards their teammates for helping them achieve this and all of the other honors.
 
“It's a tremendous honor not only for me, but for our football team,” said Borsellino. “It speaks highly of what our program has grown to be. Without my teammates, none of my achievements would have been possible.”
 
“I feel honored. I have to thank my family, friends, and teammates, because none of this would have been possible without them,” Lockton said. “I am really looking forward to see what the upcoming season has to offer and to push myself to my fullest capabilities.”
 
The “D3 Senior Classic” All-American Team is presented by the Collegiate Development Football League (CDFL), which sponsors collegiate all-star games such as the “FCS Senior Scout Bowl” and “D2 NAIA Senior Showcase” to showcase elite senior football players.  Since the game's inception in 2009, at least one of the game's participants received an NFL contract each year, with four from 2011's game.
 
This season's contest will take place on Friday, Dec. 7 in Salem, Virginia.