WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary All-America defensive end
Nate Lynn was selected as the 2021 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Defensive Player of the Year.
In addition to Lynn's honor, five additional Tribe football standouts garnered all-state honors.
Lynn and safety
Gage Herdman earned first-team distinction, while running back
Bronson Yoder, offensive lineman
Andrew Trainer, defensive lineman
Will Kiely and cornerback
Ryan Poole garnered second-team accolades.
Chosen as an All-American by five organizations this season, Lynn was honored as the state's top defensive player after a tremendous 2021 campaign. Lynn, who was one of 25 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS National Defensive Player of the Year) and placed ninth in the final vote, finished the regular season ranked third nationally in sacks per game (1.2), tied for fifth in sacks (12) and tied for second in forced fumbles (6). Additionally, his 12 sacks, which he totaled in just 10 games, tied W&M's single-season record set by former All-Americans Adrian Tracy (2009, 14 games) and Luke Cullinane (1996, 12 games).
In addition to his impressive sack total and ability to create turnovers, Lynn recorded 52 tackles and a pair of pass breakups this season en route to earning All-CAA First Team accolades and being selected as the Touchdown Club of Richmond Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year, which honors the top defensive lineman in Virginia.
Honored as an all-conference selection by Phil Steele, Herdman emerged as one of the CAA's top safeties this season after ranking tied for 17th nationally in interceptions (4) and sixth in interception return yards (111). The Leesburg, Va., native also totaled 52 tackles and a 78-yard pick-six.
An All-CAA honoree, Yoder successfully transitioned to running back this season after playing safety last spring and led the team with 622 rushing yards on 114 carries with four touchdowns. Despite logging more than 11 carries in just three contests, he posted a pair of 100-yard efforts and ranked fifth in the CAA in rushing yards per game (69.2) and second in yards per carry (5.46). Highlighting his season was a 106-yard rushing performance in the win at Villanova and a 134-yard effort against Richmond. One of the league's top all-around players, he ranked fourth in the league in all-purpose yards per contest (111.8).
Trainer, a Phil Steele All-American and two-time All-CAA selection, posted another tremendously productive year for the Tribe at left tackle. W&M led the CAA and ranked 16th nationally with 205.5 rushing yards per game at the conclusion of the regular season, while it tied for the league's top rushing touchdowns total (19). Additionally, the Tribe averaged 5.0 yards per carry – nearly matching the program's single-season record (5.1) set in 1990. The offensive line was equally as effective in pass protection, as it ranked tied for eighth nationally in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.0) and 10th in fewest sacks allowed (11).
Kiely, a two-time all-conference selection, earned all-state distinction after another outstanding campaign in which he ranked tied for seventh in the CAA in sacks (7). A disruptive force, his season totals also included 35 tackles, 11.0 TFL and a PBU. In addition to recording at least one sack in six contests, his best effort came in the win against Lafayette when he posted a pair of sacks with 4.0 TFL. The Downingtown, Pa., native finished his career ranked second in school history with 36.5 TFL.
Poole emerged as one of the league's top cornerbacks this fall and ranked tied for seventh nationally in passes defended (14 PBU, INT). Additionally, he ranked tied for fourth in the conference in forced fumbles (3) and was second on the team in tackles (59). He also totaled 2.5 TFL, a fumble recovery and half sack.
