Special teams stars garner All-Region honors

ORANGE, Calif. – The special teams of the Chapman University football team earned some more recognition from D3football.com with the announcement of its All-Region teams. Sophomore kick returner Nico Ragas and junior punter Elias Deeb were each selected to the All-West Region First Team.

Ragas wrote his name in the Chapman record books after a stellar season as the kick returner. He led the SCIAC and ranked second in NCAA Division III with two touchdown returns, breaking both the Chapman single-season and career record in the category. The Lakewood native returned a kick for 100 yards against Redlands, tying the longest kickoff return in program history.

Ragas averaged 31.9 yards per return to rank first in the SCIAC and sixth in the nation. This is the sophomore's first All-Region selection after earning a spot on the All-SCIAC First Team earlier this season.

Deeb has been a consistent weapon for the Panthers in the constant battle for field position since his arrival on campus. This is the punter's second All-Region First Team selection after earning the award in the 2016 season and going on to earn All-America Honorable Mention. Deeb was critical in reversing field position, pinning teams deep in their own territory game after game. He averaged 42 yards per punt, ranking first in the SCIAC and fourth in the nation.

The Newport Beach native helped the Panthers rank second in the nation with 37.56 net punting yards per game. He pinned opponents inside their own 20-yeard line 13 times this season and put just one punt in the end zone for a touchback.

Both Ragas and Deeb are slated to return to the field for the 2019 season.

Read the full D3football.com release.

By Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#Chaptown