Keefe earns two more All-American awards

ORANGE, Calif. –Senior Dillon Keefe earned spots on the 2021 D3football.com All-American and Associated Press Little All-American First Team Friday, earning the distinction as one of the best linebackers in Division III. The end-of-the-year award from D3football.com marks his second consecutive First Team honor.

Keefe was named a D3football.com First Team All-American in 2019 and earned honors again in 2021 after another standout season. His career-best 11 sacks rank as the second-most in Chapman history and ranked 12th in Division III through the regular season.

The D3football.com All-American teams honors 11 offensive and 11 defensive players per team in addition to four special teamers.

A two-time SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year and 2017 SCIAC Newcomer of the Year, Keefe graduates as the most decorated player in Chapman history. He is the first Chapman player to earn D3football.com First Team All-American honors twice in his career as well as earn three major SCIAC awards.

He set the Chapman record this year and ended his career with 43 tackles for loss, including 13.5 in 2021. He is the first Chapman player to have back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks.

Keefe leaves Chapman as just the fourth Panther to amass over 200 career tackles. He began the season with a pick six, becoming the only player in Chapman history to return an interception and fumble for a touchdown in his career. He also has a rushing and passing touchdown in his career.

The Panthers ended the 2021 season with a 7-3 overall record.