Boyd Jr., Lindberg, Pingel named to Associated Press All-America teams

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Associated Press released its 2023 All-America list for NAIA football last week, naming Riley Lindberg and Lonell Boyd Jr. to their respective first teams, while Isaac Pingel was named a second team All-American.

Boyd Jr., who has already been named All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and Great Plains Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, had 58 tackles and 42 assisted tackles on the season to average 8.3 tackles per game. He had nine tackles for losses of 17 yards, two forced fumbles, and five interceptions returned for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Lindberg, named an NAIA third-team All-American, was a leader on an offensive line that allowed just 17 sacks on the season, despite 347 passing attempts. Morningside rushed for 136 first downs, passed for 132, and totaled 2,456 rushing yards on 473 attempts for 31 rushing scores and 23 passing touchdowns.

Pingel, who like Lindberg was named to the NAIA's third All-America team, totaled 113 tackles with 65 solo tackles and 48 assists. He had 11.5 tackles for losses, including six sacks, for a total of 44 yards, forced one fumble, and returned one interception 53 yards for a touchdown.