Junior Dalton Tjong named All-America by Associated Press
By Wes Mayberry
| 2023 AP All-America Team (.pdf) | Associated Press story |
ADA — Ohio Northern junior defensive back Dalton Tjong (Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth) was named Second Team All-America by the Associated Press.
Tjong was also named Fourth Team All-America and First Team All-Region by D3football.com and earned First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference recognition this season.
The ONU football program has now earned 14 AP All-America accolades among 12 different student-athletes. Tjong is ONU's first AP All-American since Brock Martin, who was named to the Second Team as an all-purpose player in 2019.
Tjong tied for second nationally in Division III in total tackles with 122 (50 solo, 72 assisted) this season after ranking 11th nationally with 110 tackles in 2022. The two-time All-OAC selection added 2.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions to his 2023 stat line. He posted seven games with double-digit tackles, including 21 against Alma (Mich.), which was two shy of the school's single-game record. He was also a two-time OAC Defensive Player of the Week.
In 29 career games at ONU, Tjong has 291 total tackles, which ranks seventh in program history, to go with 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and 12 pass breakups.
The Division III All-America Team is chosen by a panel of sports information directors who cover D-III football.
The Polar Bears closed the 2023 season by winning three of their final four games, finishing 4-6 overall and sixth in the OAC with a 4-5 mark.