WACO, Texas -- The Montana Tech football program's celebration of the winningest season in program history continued Thursday morning with the inclusion of two Orediggers on the American Football Coaches Association's NAIA All-America teams, the AFCA announced.
Wide receiver Levi Torgerson landed first-team All-America honors, while linebacker Tel Arthur won second-team accolades for the Frontier Conference East Division champions.
"I am extremely proud of Levi and Tel for being named AFCA All-Americans!" Orediggers head coach Kyle Samson said. "This is a huge award, and they are both deserving of this honor. They both had incredible years for us and were great leaders on and off the field.
"It's pretty awesome for two Montana kids to to be named All-America today," Samson added, "representing Butte, America and their hometowns of Great Falls and Frenchtown. They best thing about this is that they are All-Americans on the football field but even better people off the field!"
Torgerson, a senior from Great Falls, rewrote the receiving and returning record book in Montana Tech's championship season. He led the NAIA in receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,370), both Oredigger single-season records. Torgerson also set Tech's single-season records for all-purpose yards (2,446) and receiving touchdowns (14) and single-game records for receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and longest punt return. He was the Frontier East's player of the year and a first-team honoree at both receiver and specialist.
Arthur, a senior from Missoula, held down the middle linebacker position for the Oredigger defense, making 105 tackles with 7.5 of them for a loss of yardage, including two sacks. The Frenchtown High graduate ranked seventh in the NAIA in tackles on his way to Frontier East defensive player of the year honors. Arthur made double-digit tackles in four games, all against ranked opponents, including 21 in the Orediggers' NAIA quartefinal game against College of Idaho.
Montana Tech enjoyed an incredible 2025 season under the duo's leadership, posting a perfect 11-0 record in the regular season en route to the Frontier Conference East Division championship. The Orediggers were the No. 3 seed in the NAIA Football Championship Series, reaching the quarterfinal round.
The pair's recognition marks the first time since 2016 that Montana Tech saw multiple players earn AFCA All-America awards.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Montana Tech's AFCA All-Americans
(Parentheses denote team honored, if available)
1969 - Dan Gilman
1970 - Don Heater (2nd)
1971 - Don Heater
1973 - Jim Persons
1979 - Wade Bristol (2nd)
1983 - Jerry Ogrin (2nd)
1990 - Jeff Muralt
1992 - Evan Lowe
1993 - Evan Lowe
1994 - Chuck Forgey, Shaun Smith, Mike Turcotte
1995 - Paul Hladky, Jake Petersen (2nd), Ty Starkel (2nd)
1996 - Guy Hall, Paul Hladky, Brian Larson, Mike Schumaker
1997 - Blaine Hardy, Paul Hladky, Mark Jensen (2nd), Dustin Sersland
1998 - Blaine Hardy (2nd)
1999 - Travis Hettick (2nd)
2001 - Jay LeProwse
2005 - Adam Cotton, Chad Erwin
2006 - J.J. Perino
2007 - J.J. Perino
2009 - Stephan Burns
2014 - David Meis (2nd)
2015 - Nolan Saraceni (1st)
2016 - Nolan Saraceni (1st), Gunnar Kayser (2nd)
2023 - Andrew Almos (1st)
2024 - Brandon Spencer (2nd)
2025 – Levi Torgerson (1st), Tel Arthur (2nd)
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com.
Visit Montana Tech athletics' home online, GoDiggers.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news and coverage of the Orediggers. Give Montana Tech athletics a like on Facebook, and follow the Orediggers on X and Instagram at @DiggerAthletics.
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