WACO, Texas - On Thursday, December 11, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced its 2025 NAIA All-America teams. The Marian football team was represented on both the First and Second Team All-America lineups, with Reece Byerly being named to the First Team, while Keagan La Belle was named to the Second Team.

Reece Byerly had a dominant season for the Knights in his third year in the program, leading Marian's offensive line as the lone player to start in all 12 games. Stepping in as the team's starting left tackle in his first season seeing snaps for the Knights, Byerly helped pave the way for Keagan La Belle's scoring record, and aided Marian's offense in rushing for 220.0 yards per game. The left tackle was named as a member of the MSFA Midwest League First Team, and earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors this season. Marian had the sixth-most rushing yards in single season history in 2025 behind the work of Byerly and the other four members of the offensive line.

Keagan La Belle ended his career as Marian's third all-time leading rusher, and was named to the AFCA NAIA All-America Second Team. The senior's first-career AFCA All-America nod, La Belle had a career-year in 2025, rushing for 1296 yards and 22 touchdowns on 241 carries, while catching eight passes out of the backfield for 73 yards and two scores. La Belle set Marian's single season rushing touchdown record, breaking the mark held by Tevin Lake and Charles Salary in the team's win over St. Francis (Ill.) on November 1. A native of McCordsville, La Belle finished his Marian career second all-time in rushing touchdowns, third all-time in rushing yards, fifth all-time in total scoring, fifth all-time in all-purpose yardage, and 10th all-time in total offense. The senior was named the MVP of the MSFA Midwest League, and was a First Team all-conference selection this year. 

Marian was the lone school in the MSFA Midwest League to receive an NAIA First Team All-America honor, and was one of three schools in total from the MSFA to receive a first team honoree, joining Indiana Wesleyan and Taylor from the Mideast League. Marian and Indiana Wesleyan were the only schools to receive both First- and Second-Team All-America honors, and in total, five schools from the MSFA earned AFCA All-American honors. St. Francis (Ill.) and Siena Heights each received one second-team honor. 

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Selection Process: The AFCA's NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.

The Award: Members of the AFCA Coaches' All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.

AFCA NAIA Player Selection History: NAIA players who were selected to AFCA All-America teams were named to the AFCA College Division team from 1967-71. In 1972, the AFCA College Division was split to College I and College II. Players from NAIA Division I teams were placed in AFCA College I, while players from NAIA Division II were placed in AFCA College II. That process lasted until 1996, when College I and College II were renamed Division II and Division III. From 1996-2005, all NAIA players who were selected as AFCA All-Americans were placed on the AFCA Division II team. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.

For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com.