GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Grove City College junior linebacker Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) earned D3football.com Preseason All-America recognition Thursday afternoon. Bladel, a D3football.com Third Team All-American in 2023, received First Team preseason recognition. 

Bladel led NCAA Division III with 17 quarterback sacks last season, including 15 in the regular season. His 24.5 tackles for loss ranked second in Division III. Bladel set Grove City single-season records in both statistical categories in 2023.

The 2023 Presidents' Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Bladel tallied 56 total tackles, forced four fumbles, broke up seven passes and blocked two kicks in 2023. He closed the season with two sacks November 25 at national champion Cortland in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

Bladel earned the conference's Newcomer of the Year award in 2022 and has twice earned First Team All-PAC honors. He ranks second all-time at Grove City with 23.5 career sacks. Bladel's 36.5 career tackles for loss are fourth-most on Grove City's career list.

Grove City has been selected first in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, released Tuesday afternoon at the conference's Media Day in Latrobe, Pa. Grove City received 29 of 42 first-place votes. The Wolverines went 10-0 in the regular season last year and finished 11-1 after advancing to the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

The Wolverines report to preseason camp Tuesday, August 13. The season opener will be Saturday, September 7 at 1 p.m., when the Wolverines host Geneva at Robert E. Thorn Field.