WILLIAMSBURG — After a breakout season last fall in which he established himself among the nation’s elite players, senior defensive end Nate Lynn was named to the 2022 Athlon Sports FCS Preseason All-America Team.
Honored as an All-American by five organizations last year, Lynn placed ninth in the final voting for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS National Defensive Player of the Year) after ranking third nationally in sacks per game (1.2) and first in forced fumbles per game (0.6). Additionally, his 12 sacks, which he totaled in just 10 games, tied W&M’s single-season record set by former All-Americans Adrian Tracy (2009, 14 games) and Luke Cullinane (1996, 12 games).
In addition to his impressive sack total and ability to create turnovers, Lynn recorded 52 tackles and a pair of pass breakups en route to earning All-CAA First Team accolades and being selected as the Touchdown Club of Richmond Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year, which honors the top defensive lineman in Virginia. His long list of accolades also included being chosen as the VaSID (Virginia Sports Information Directors) Defensive Player of the Year.
Lynn will help lead a talented defensive unit that returns 10 players who earned at least five starts last season. The impressive group ranked 12th nationally in rushing defense (107.5) and posted 29 sacks last fall.
Ranked 23rd nationally in the Athlon Sports Preseason Poll, W&M is coming off a successful 2021 campaign in which it totaled the program’s most wins since 2015 and garnered a national ranking multiple weeks.
The Tribe will open its 2022 slate at Charlotte on Friday, Sept. 2, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
