WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary standout defensive end Nate Lynn added another preseason All-America honor to his long list of accolades on Monday, as he garnered first-team distinction by Stats Perform.
Chosen as a preseason All-American by Athlon Sports earlier this summer, the 2022 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Defensive Player of the Year returns after a record-breaking campaign last fall.
In 2021, Lynn garnered postseason All-America accolades by five organizations and placed ninth in the final voting for the 2021 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).
A NFL prospect, the Charlotte, N.C., native was recently selected to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, which recognizes the nation’s top 1,000 all-start game eligible players who will be considered for the 2023 NFL Draft class.
In addition to his impressive sack total and ability to create turnovers, Lynn recorded 52 tackles and a pair of pass breakups last season 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. He was also chosen as the 2021 VaSID (Virginia Sports Information Directors) Defensive Player of the Year.
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.
