SAN DIEGO - Seven members of the San Diego football team were named to an All-Pioneer Football League Team, the league announced Tuesday.
Offensive lineman
DJ Wright, defensive tackle
Will Buck, and defensive back
Michael Hawkins were named to the First Team.
Wide receiver
Vance Jefferson, tight end
Michael Gadinis, defensive lineman
Muhindo Kapapa, and linebacker
Kama Kamaka earned Second Team honors.
In addition, 12 scholar-athletes were named All-PFL Honorable mention, including linebacker
David Ambagtsheer, wide receiver
Christian Brown, wide receiver
Michael Carner, kicker
Brandon Eickert, snapper
Bryce Fledderman, fullback
Dominic Graziani, defensive lineman
Mykee Irving, cornerback
Cassius Johnson, center
Finley Lecky, safety
Hunter Nichols, running back
Terrence Smith, and cornerback
Amir Wallace.
Wright, a team captain and mainstay on the offensive line, played in 10 games this season. He was named to the All-PFL First Team as a sophomore, and earned a spot on Phil Steele's College Football Preseason All-PFL First Team ahead of last season.
Buck led the team with 10.0 sacks this season, and added 39 total tackles. He was named PFL Defensive Player of the Week after a three-sack effort against Valparaiso.
Hawkins is now a three-time All-PFL First Team honoree. He led the team with 75 total tackles, including 44 solo stops. Hawkins also intercepted two passes, broke up five passes, and grabbed a fumble recovery. In the win over Butler, he returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown.
Jefferson burst on to the scene as a freshman, and ended the season leading the team in catches (44) and receiving yards (498). Jefferson snagged three touchdown catches in 2021. He also rushed six times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Gadinis ended the season with 29 receptions, 264 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. His best game of the year came against Cal Poly, when he grabbed eight passes for 83 total yards. The redshirt senior tied the game late in the third quarter against Drake with a 10-yard touchdown catch.
Kapapa ranked second on the team with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. The redshirt senior also led the team with 13 quarterback hurries. Kapapa registered 42 total tackles and picked up a fumble recovery.
Kamaka played in all 11 games this season, compiling 49 total tackles, a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a pass break up, and a quarterback hurry. His biggest play of the year came against St. Thomas, when he ripped the ball out of the running back's arms, picked up the fumble, and took it back 38 yards for the game-tying touchdown late in the third. He is now a three-time All-PFL selection.
The Toreros finished the season on a seven-game winning streak, and secured a share of its PFL-record-tying 12
th regular season title.