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Holy Cross places 5 on 2023 Stats Perform FCS All-America Team

Five members of the Holy Cross football team earned 2023 Stats Perform FCS All-America honors, presented by FedEx Ground. Senior wide receiver Jalen Coker and fifth-year linebacker Jacob Dobbs each earned a spot on the first team, while senior quarterback Matthew Sluka and senior left tackle Luke Newman were named to the second team. Fifth-year right guard C.J. Hanson was selected to the third team.

Holy Cross' five selections were tied with defending national champion South Dakota State, UAlbany and North Dakota State for the most selections of any FCS program. 

This season, Coker had the most touchdown receptions in all of FCS during the regular season, with 15 on the year; his 1,040 receiving yards ranked fifth in the nation. He caught at least one touchdown in all but one game this season. He set a number of program records this year, with Coker's 15 touchdowns ranking as the most in single-season program history. In his Crusader career, Coker totaled 2,715 receiving yards and 31 touchdown receptions, both the most in school history. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, Coker finished in the top 10 for voting and also became a three-time All-Patriot League selection and two-time All-New England honoree. 

Dobbs, who became a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year this season, also became a four-time All-Patriot League honoree this season. Named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, Dobbs ranked as one of the most elite defensive players in the nation in 2023, totaling 123 tackles (63 solo), 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles and 14 quarterback hurries in nine games. He recorded double-digit tackles in every contest; his 13.7 tackles per game and 7.0 solo tackles per game both ranked as the second-best marks in the nation. 

Newman started all 11 games at left tackle for the Crusaders. He led one of the top offensive lines in all of FCS, with Holy Cross ranking in the top 10 nationally in rushing offense (third, 264.2 yards per game), total offense (fourth, 466.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (sixth, 36.9 points per game). He became a three-time All-Patriot League first team selection this fall; Newman has now earned All-America honors in back-to-back seasons.

Sluka, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award who finished fourth in voting, was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned a spot on the All-Patriot League squad for the third straight year. In 2023, he completed 122 of his 197 passes (62%) for 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 1,247 yards – third most in single-season program history, and most by a Division I quarterback this year – and nine touchdowns. He set a Division I single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback, tallying 330 yards on the ground against Lafayette on Oct. 21. In his Holy Cross career, in which he guided the Crusaders to four Patriot League titles as the starting quarterback, Sluka totaled 3,583 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns – both ranking second-most in program history. He additionally threw for 5,916 yards, ranking sixth in school history. His 59 career touchdown passes are fifth-most ever at Holy Cross. 

Hanson captained the Crusaders' elite offensive line, starting all 11 games at right guard. This year, Hanson earned All-Patriot League first team honors for the second straight year, in addition to All-New England accolades. He becomes a first-time All-America honoree.

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Players Mentioned

Jalen Coker

#80 Jalen Coker

WR
6' 3"
Senior
Jacob Dobbs

#27 Jacob Dobbs

LB
6' 0"
Fifth Year
C.J. Hanson

#69 C.J. Hanson

OL
6' 6"
Fifth Year
Luke Newman

#71 Luke Newman

OL
6' 4"
Senior
Matthew Sluka

#9 Matthew Sluka

QB
6' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Jalen Coker

#80 Jalen Coker

6' 3"
Senior
WR
Jacob Dobbs

#27 Jacob Dobbs

6' 0"
Fifth Year
LB
C.J. Hanson

#69 C.J. Hanson

6' 6"
Fifth Year
OL
Luke Newman

#71 Luke Newman

6' 4"
Senior
OL
Matthew Sluka

#9 Matthew Sluka

6' 3"
Senior
QB
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