DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University football had four players earn a spot on the 2023 D3football.com All-Region 3 Team, which was announced on Wednesday. Fifth-year defensive end Jahlin Russell headlined the group as a D3football All-Region First Team selection.

In addition to Russell, sophomore P.J. Hopper earned All-Region Second Team honors as a special teams contributor, while junior receiver Shawn Watlington and senior center Matthew Isom were named to the All-Region Third Team.

Russell, a native of Richmond, Virginia, has earned several major honors this season, including being named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being named the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Defensive Lineman of the Year. He also earned All-ODAC First Team honors. Russell became the first Averett football player to earn a major conference award from the ODAC since Averett joined the league before the 2022 season. Russell put together a record-breaking year in which he set the program's single-season mark with 12 sacks. Russell, who twice earned ODAC Defensive Player of the Week and once was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week, finished with 85 total tackles (36 solo) with three forced fumbles and 11 quarterback hurries. In 10 starts, his sack total led the ODAC in addition to tackles for loss yards, and he was second in fumbles forced. He finished his career with 17 sacks, one shy of the program record.

Hopper, a defensive back, kick returner and special teams contributor, earned All-Region Second Team for his contributions to special teams outside of his return statistics. Hopper earned D3football.com Team of the Week recognition on Oct. 17 after blocking a pair of field goal attempts against Hampden-Sydney College.

Watlington, a native of Danville, Virginia, earned All-ODAC Second Team honors this season after he broke Averett's single-season receiving touchdown record with 14 in 10 games. He caught 45 passes for 771 yards — both team highs. He finished with 17.13 yards per catch with a long of 59 yards.

Isom, a native of Waxhaw, North Carolina, started all 10 games on the offensive line at center. An All-ODAC Third Team selection, Isom was a key member of the offensive line that allowed only two sacks all season, which led the nation in all three divisions — Division I, II and III. He blocked for an offense that averaged 27.1 points per game in 2023 while averaging 155.3 rushing yards a game and 210.9 passing yards a game for 366.2 yards of offense per game within the ODAC.

The teams, selected in balloting by Region 3 sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 151 nominations by full Division III member schools. A total of 77 players were chosen from region 3. Players nominated for All-Region are eligible to be considered for D3football.com All-America honors, which will be announced the evening of Dec. 15, in D3football.com's pregame coverage for Stagg Bowl 50.

View the full D3football.com All-Region 3 Team