RELEASED:  Thursday, December 13, 2007

AFCA Tabs Beaver All-America

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior running back Justin Beaver has been named to the 2007 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division III All-America First Team.

The AFCA team is unique in that it only selects a first team, and just 11 players are named on offense, 11 on defense and three special teams.  Members of the AFCA select the team and selections are limited to one per institution.

Beaver, a native of Palmyra, Wis. (Palmyra-Eagle H.S.) was named to the AFCA All-America squad during the 2005 season.  He is the seventh individual in program history to claim All-America status from the organization.

Beaver recently was named the recipient of the Gagliardi Trophy, given to the outstanding player in Division III football.  He was also named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year this season.

Beaver has helped UW-Whitewater advance to the Stagg Bowl three consecutive years, earning numerous All-America honors each season.  He led all of collegiate football with 2,420 yards rushing in 2005, and has 2,206 this season.   Beaver is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 157.6 yards per game.  He owns the WIAC single season and career rushing records, as well as the NCAA Division III season mark (set in 2005). 

For his four-year career, Beaver has averaged 127.5 yards per game and 5.7 per attempt, totaling 6,335 yards, second on the NCAA Division III list for career rushing yards.

He has led the Warhawks to a 48-6 record in four years, including 41-3 over the last three seasons.  UW-Whitewater has captured three consecutive WIAC titles and won 21 straight league contests.