Football's Gerald Monroe Headlines AFCA/NAIA All-American Team

WACO, TEXAS — Graceland (Iowa) wide receiver Gerald Monroe headlines the 2024 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Teams announced today by the American Football Coaches Association.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.

Monroe earned his second AFCA All-America honor in 2024 by leading the NAIA in receiving yards per game (156.2) and receiving touchdowns (22). In 10 games, he caught 84 passes for 1,562 yards and averaged 18.6 yards per catch. Monroe set an NAIA single-game record with 387 receiving yards in the season opener against Doane (Neb.). He had 16 catches and five touchdowns in the game.

Graceland Head Coach Pat Ross praised Monroe's accomplishment: "This is a great honor for Gerald and our football program. He has proven over the last three years to be one of the best players in the country, so I'm glad his hard work and dedication paid off. In my 20-plus years of coaching, G is one of the best I've ever had, and that list includes several guys who have gone on and played in the NFL. Gerald's football career is long from over, so it will be fun to watch his career continue to blossom. I'm lucky and proud to have coached him the last few years."

Team Background

The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams – University Division and College Division – were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America.

From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. A third wide receiver was added to the team in 2024.

Selection Process

The AFCA's NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.

The Award

Members of the AFCA Coaches' All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.

AFCA NAIA Player Selection History

NAIA players who were selected to AFCA All-America teams were named to the AFCA College Division team from 1967-71. In 1972, the AFCA College Division was split to College I and College II. Players from NAIA Division I teams were placed in AFCA College I, while players from NAIA Division II were placed in AFCA College II. That process lasted until 1996, when College I and College II were renamed Division II and Division III. From 1996-2005, all NAIA players who were selected as AFCA All-Americans were placed on the AFCA Division II team. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.

For more information on the AFCA and its programs, visit www.afca.com and follow us on Twitter @WeAreAFCA.

2024 AFCA NAIA Coaches' All-America Team

First Team Offense

Defense

Special Teams

 Second Team Offense

 Second Team Defense

Second Team Special Teams

*-2023 AFCA All-American       ^-2022 AFCA All-American

For more information on the AFCA and its programs, visit www.afca.com and follow us on Twitter @WeAreAFCA.

-(AFCA)-