Seniors Matthew Kickel and Quintarius Davis of the Aurora University football team received D3football.com All-American recognition when the organization released their 2024 Division III All-American Teams today.

Post season recognition continued to roll in for the AU senior offensive lineman Kickel as he has now secured places on all three major Division III Football All-American Teams. His Second-Tea, selection by D3football.com added to his selections by the Associated Press (AP) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Davis receives his first All-American selection with being named a Fourth-Team defensive back by D3football.com.

Kickel was earlier selected as the 2024 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year as both Davis and Kickel earned D3football.com All-Region and a First-Team All-Conference recognitions. 

In his career, Kickel is now a five-time All-American (2024 D3football.com, AP and AFCA and 2023 AP abd D3football.com), a two-time D3football.com All-Region performer and three-time NACC All-Conference selection while adding the NACC Offensive Lineman of the Year honor in 2024.

The unquestioned leader of the AU offensive line, Kickel paved the way for an Aurora offense that averaged 46.6 points per game, 464.3 yards per game with 294.4 yards passing and 169.9 on the ground in the season. Nationally in the regular season the AU offense ranked seventh in scoring, 16th in total offense, 16th in passing and 18th in first-downs gained.

Davis finished the 2024 season with six interceptions with three returned for touchdowns. He added eight pass break-ups, 39 tackles with 4.5 for loss and recovered two fumbles.

The 2024 Spartans finished the season with a 9-2 record, a perfect 8-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and a 2024 NCAA Division III playoff appearance. The champions of the NACC, the AU football team headed to the NCAA Division III Football Championship for the ninth time in program history and fifth consecutive season of the NCAA hosting the playoffs. 

The Spartans made the 2024 NCAA Division III playoffs, falling in the second round at Hope College 49-21.