Blazek Tabbed D3Football.com First Team All-American

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior Justin Blazek of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team has been named to the 2023 D3Football.com All-America First Team, it was announced on Friday evening.

Blazek, who was recently tabbed AFCA First Team All-America, earns All-America honors from D3Football.com for the second straight year after being named Third Team in 2022. He becomes the first player in program history to earn All-America recognition from D3Football.com twice in his career and is the first since 2014 to finish First Team.

The list of postseason awards continues to grow for Blazek following his impressive season. The senior picked up All-Region Defensive Player of the Year and WIAC Defensive Player of the Year while also finishing as a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy and finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.

The senior defensive end paced the WIAC with 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss while starting all 11 games for the Pioneers. The Naperville, Illinois native finished with 60 total tackles (35 solo, 25 assist), including a season-high 10 stops against UW-La Crosse on October 14. Blazek recorded at least half a sack in seven games and had seven sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in the final six contests. He forced four turnovers on the season with two forced fumbles and two interceptions while adding six pass breakups. The Pioneers found other ways to get him on the field as well, with Blazek scoring four rushing touchdowns and throwing for another in goal line situations.

The full D3Football.com All-America teams can be found HERE.