Tapia tapped as best returning punter in Division III

ORANGE, Calif. – Senior Owen Tapia was recognized as a First Team Preseason All-American by D3football.com. Chapman's record-setting punter was a Third Team All-American last season.

Tapia was called upon just 20 times to punt in 2022 but still averaged 46.5 yards per punt in those 20 tries. He rebroke his own record for the longest punt in Chapman history with an 80-yarder in the Panthers' win at Whittier.

In his three seasons, Tapia averages 42.5 yards per punt with 92 career punts. His current average ranks among the top-5 all-time in Division III.

Tapia is one of two SCIAC punters to be recognized as a D3football.com Preseason All-American with Redlands' Vicente Garcia also recognized on the Second Team.

Tapia is the second Panther in the last three years to be recognized on the Preseason All-America team, joining former linebacker and now assistant coach Dillon Keefe.

The Panthers kick off the season in the Pacific Northwest when they face Pacific on Sep. 2 at 7 p.m.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director