GRAND FORKS, N.D.--University of North Dakota sophomore running back Ryan Chappell, senior wide receiver Weston Dressler and sophomore kicker Brandon Hellevang have been named to the 2007 Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-America team in a vote of the nation's sports information directors.
Chappell and Dressler were named to the first team, while Hellevang earned second team honors. It is the 10th career All-America honor for Dressler and the first each for Chappell and Hellevang.
Chappell, a native of Grand Forks, was named to the All-America team at the all-purpose position after setting a UND single-season record with 2,180 all-purpose yards. In 12 games this season, Chappell ran for 1,640 yards and 14 touchdowns, while adding 22 receptions for 370 yards and another three touchdowns.
Chappell ran for more than 100 yards in a game seven times in 2007, including a school-record 306 yards against Central Washington on Sep. 15. His 1,640 yards rank as the third-highest single-season rushing total in UND history.
Dressler, a native of Bismarck, N.D., was a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist in 2007 after catching 76 passes for a school-record 1,272 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ranked third nationally in receiving yards and sixth in receiving yards per game (106.4) while ranking 11th with 172 all-purpose yards per game.
Dressler graduates as the holder of 19 different school records, including career receptions (243), career receiving yards (3,382), career touchdown receptions (38) and career all-purpose yards (7,072).
Earlier this week Dressler was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' All-America first team.
Hellevang, a native of Fargo, N.D., converted 15-of-25 field goals (60 percent), including a 56-yard effort at Southern Utah on Sep. 8 that was the longest in the North Central Conference all season. Hellevang also converted a UND single-season record 58 extra points on 59 attempts and led all NCC kickers in scoring with 103 points. He also led the league in field goals made, field goal attempts, field goals per game (1.25), extra points made and extra points attempted.
UND went 10-2 in 2007, its final season of Division II football, and advanced to NCAA postseason for the fifth consecutive year.
###
