Oskaloosa–Hea Tuifua (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Industrial Technology) ended his collegiate career with the best recognition a small-college lineman could receive as the AFCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America Teams were announced Tuesday.
William Penn’s senior center collected a First-Team nod and becomes the 22nd All-American in Head Coach Todd Hafner’s tenure and the 41st in program history. Tuifua was a Second-Team selection last year, joining an even more prestigious group as only the 10th individual at WPU to earn multiple All-American awards. He is the first since Steven Dawley (first team in 2008 and 2009) to earn at least two accolades from the AFCA.
Tuifua helped William Penn to a 7-4 record (3-2 Heart) and a nation’s-best 3,874 total rushing yards, good for 352.2 yards per game. Overall, the Statesmen averaged 448.1 total yards per contest, ranking them 13th in the NAIA. William Penn eclipsed the 500-yard mark on four occasions, including a high of 660 yards against Avila (Mo.).
The navy and gold were also 14th in the NAIA with 37.5 points per outing.
The American Football Coaches Association has selected an All-American team since 1945. In 2013, the NAIA Football Coaches Association and the National Administrative Council voted to have a second team also honored.
For the complete list of All-Americans, go to http://www.naia.org/
Story provided by Wade Steinlage
