Brock Sturges is the lone Grizzly to earn NJCAA All-American honors after being named to the first team list on Tuesday morning announced by the NCJAA National office.
Sturges, the 5-10, 210-pound freshman running back, from Allen, Texas and transfer from Arizona State, led the Grizzlies and the Jayhawk Conference in rushing with 1,089 yards on 210 attempts this season. He compiled nine rushing touchdowns and averaged 99 yards per game. His 1,089 yards from scrimmage placed him second in the nation behind Desean Phillips from North Dakota SCS. Sturges finished fifth in yards per game at 99.0 and tied for 12th in rushing touchdowns with nine.
During the 2019 season, Sturges also caught 13 passes for 154 yards and a score. In six conference games, Sturges had a conference-best 801 yards rushing for an average of 133.5 yards per game.
"I feel blessed," said Sturges on receiving the honor of All-American. "It's something that I set out to achieve and I can't thank. The big boys up front enough and everybody who helped me get here."
Named twice as the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week, Sturges' best game came in Week 4 against Coffeyville as he finished with a season-high 225 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Four times this season, Sturges amassed over 100 yards on the ground.
"His impact was huge on our offense this year," commented offensive coordinator Brice Vignery. "Especially after losing Grahm in game three, Brock just took over and was the guy that our offense and team could really look at in a time of need during a game."
Sturges, who played in just eleven of the Grizzlies thirteen games this season due to an injury sustained during the Iowa Western game, made his teammates feel his presence and leadership on the sideline.
"His presence on the field had a natural calming for the offense, he's such a gifted player that I couldn't be prouder of the success that he's had and is going to have," said Vignery.
Brock becomes the 118th NJCAA/JC Gridwire All-American (since 1980) in Butler football history joining an elite class of student athletes to come through the Butler football program.
"It is well deserved," mentioned Vignery. "He's worked so hard from the day he got here to become a leader of this team and he's a very selfless person and a natural leader. He's going to do great things at Texas State."
