WILLIAMSBURG — After establishing themselves among the nation’s elite players last season, William & Mary All-America standouts Nate Lynn and John Pius were selected to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000.
The list recognizes the nation’s top 1,000 all-star game eligible players who will be considered for the 2024 NFL Draft class.
Honored as an All-American by seven organizations last year, Pius was voted as the runner up for the 2022 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the national defensive player of the year in the FCS. Additionally, he was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year and the Virginia Defensive Player of the Year by VaSID.
En route to garnering the accolades, Pius ranked fourth nationally in sacks (11.5) and fifth in TFL (19). A two-time CAA Defensive Player of the Week, the Arlington, Va., native led W&M in tackles (72) and quarterback hurries (12).
One of the country’s top defensive ends throughout his career, Lynn earned postseason All-America honors following each of the last two seasons and finished ninth in the final voting for the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award. Few, if any, players have matched Lynn’s productivity during the last two seasons, totaling 20 sacks, 26.5 TFL and 10 forced fumbles.
Following their collegiate careers, Lynn and Pius will look to join an impressive list of former Tribe standouts who are currently on NFL rosters – DeAndre Houston-Carson (Chicago Bears), Bill Murray (New England Patriots), Luke Rhodes (Indianapolis Colts), Colby Sorsdal (Detroit Lions) and Andrew Trainer (Los Angeles Chargers).
Ranked among the top 10 nationally in multiple preseason polls, W&M is coming off a historic 2022 campaign in which it equaled a school record with 11 victories, advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals and won a share of the CAA title.
Led by 2022 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Finalist Mike London, the Tribe returns a host of talent on both sides of the ball this fall as it looks to defend its CAA title and make a return to the NCAA Playoffs. Tickets are on sale and available at TribeAthletics.com.
The Tribe will open its 2023 slate at Campbell on Thursday, Aug. 31, while its home opener at Zable Stadium against Wofford will be the following weekend (Sept. 9).
