From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University senior cornerback Nick Kwon and junior center Gage Blair were each named to the D3football.com All-South Region Team for their performances during the 2016 campaign. Kwon was named to the All-Region Second Team, while Blair earned a third team honor.
Kwon and Blair become the 19th and 20th Spartans to earn All-Region selection from D3football.com since the awards were first presented in 2005. Kwon joins former Spartans Bobby Bott (2008 Second Team) and Mike Pelyak (2009 Third Team) as the only cornerbacks in program history to earn All-Region honors, while Blair become the second center in CWRU history to be named to the All-Region Team, along with Brandon Jeffries (2007 Second Team).
Kwon was named to the All-University Athletic Association and All-Presidents' Athletic Conference First Teams during the season, after finishing second on the squad with 66 total tackles during the season, and leading all Spartans with 48 solo tackles and eight pass breakups. He added three interceptions, two blocked kicks, a forced fumble, a sack and four total tackles for a loss in 2016. Kwon, who served as a team co-captain, led a CWRU defense that finished the year 34th in Division III team passing efficiency defense (104.33), 37th in scoring defense (18.7 points allowed per game) and 50th in total defense (320.7 yards allowed per game). In addition to his success on the field, Kwon was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team earlier this year.
Blair, a three-time All-UAA and All-PAC selection, earned a berth to both all-conference first teams this year. He anchored an offensive line that helped the team rush for a school-record 2,597 yards during the season, and the team ended the year ranked 14th among all NCAA Division III teams with 497.9 yards per game and 15th with 257.9 rushing yards per contest. In addition, he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on November 1st, helping the Spartans to collect 707 yards of total offense and 435 rushing yards in a 56-38 win at Washington (Mo.). Blair has played in all 30 games during his three-year career.
The Spartans finished the 2016 season with a 9-1 overall record, including a 7-1 mark in Presidents' Athletic Conference games and a 2-1 mark in the University Athletic Association.