GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Grove City College senior linebacker Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) earned D3football.com First Team Preseason All-America honors Monday afternoon in advance of the 2025 season.

Bladel earned D3football.com All-America recognition in 2024, as well as American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Associated Press Division III All-America status after his junior campaign.

He started all 11 games last year for Grove City, recording 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss. He forced three fumbles and had 40 total tackles. Bladel is Grove City's all-time leader in both sacks and tackles for loss as he owns 34 career sacks and 59 tackles for loss. His 12 forced fumbles are the most in program history.

Bladel helped Grove City lead NCAA Division III with a plus-21 turnover margin during the 2024 regular season. Grove City also ranked third in the country in rushing defense, allowing only 40.6 yards per game. The Wolverines' 10.9 points allowed per game ranked sixth in Division III.

Bladel is a three-time First Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference selection. The Wolverines have captured back-to-back conference titles, along with two berths in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Grove City is ranked No. 23 in both the D3football.com preseason Top 25 and the AFCA Division III preseason poll. The Wolverines visit No. 10 Cortland in the season opener September 6 at 12 p.m.