LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Nov. 17) – Junior defensive back Jermal Martin, Jr. (South Philadelphia, Pa./Academy Park) was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Defensive Athlete of the Year and junior quarterback Noah Mitchell (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) was chosen the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year on Wednesday afternoon, as the Vulcans featured 10 All-PSAC West honorees.

In addition to Martin and Mitchell, sophomore linebacker Noah Dillow (Alum Bank, Pa./Chestnut Ridge), junior defensive lineman Derick Korboi (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and junior center Bryce Perkins (Gettysburg, Pa./Delone Catholic) were tabbed to the All-PSAC West First-Team.

Martin becomes the second Cal U defensive back in the last three seasons to be chosen the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year, plus becomes the first cornerback in the Western Division to receive the award in two decades. He also received All-PSAC West First-Team laurels for the first time following a career year, as he established personal bests in tackles, TFL and sacks, plus matched his career high in interceptions. Martin tied for second in the PSAC with a team-leading four interceptions and was the lone player in the league to return multiple interceptions for a touchdown. The South Philadelphia native ranked third on the team with 51 tackles (27 solo), finished second on the team with 8.5 TFL and tied for the team lead with 4.0 sacks. Additionally, Martin returned a punt for a touchdown and scored a defensive PAT on blocked kick this fall.

Mitchell joins former quarterback Sam Mannery and former defensive back Rontez Miles as the only players in program history to be named both Freshman of the Year and Athlete of the Year in their careers. A native of Ohio, Mitchell earned All-PSAC West First-Team status for the first time in his career after garnering All-PSAC West Second-Team laurels in 2018. He ranked second in the league with a career-high 2,937 passing yards and a 64.4 completion percentage (251-of-390). Mitchell also tied for second in the league and matched his personal best with 25 passing touchdowns, plus ran for his third career score this season. The 6-foot-4 quarterback is tied for the school’s all-time record with 69 passing touchdowns and is less than 550 yards shy of breaking the career record for passing yards.

The 2019 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Dillow led the team and set career highs with 75 tackles (36 solo) and 9.5 TFL this year. He also finished the season with 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and five pass break-ups.

Korboi registered a career-high 6.0 TFL with 2.0 sacks and finished with 19 tackles (10 solo). He helped anchor a rushing defense that ranked among the top 10 in the county by allowing only 79.4 yards per game.

In his first year as a starter, Perkins received league accolades at center after previously playing fullback at Towson in 2018. He was a pivotal starter on an offense that averaged over 33 points and 300-plus passing yards per game this season.

The Cal U honorees on the All-PSAC West Second-Team included freshman kicker Anthony Beitko (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport), senior wide receiver Tyson Hill (New Kensington, Pa./Valley), junior wide receiver Derek Lockhart (Liberty, Pa./South Allegheny), redshirt freshman defensive back Dominic Solomon, Jr. (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) and sophomore linebacker Matt Tobey (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South).

Beitko becomes the program’s first freshman kicker in at least two decades to earn the conference laurel. He ranked second in the league with 86 total points on 16 field goals and 38 PAT attempts and led the league with a .941 field-goal percentage (16-of-17).

Hill received All-PSAC West honors for the third time in his career, as he garnered first-team status in both 2018 and 2019. He ranked second on the team with 682 receiving yards on 45 catches with one touchdown, which was the game-winning score in the Coal Bowl. Lockhart led the team and finished fourth in the PSAC with nine receiving touchdowns despite playing only seven games in his first year as a starter. He totaled 36 receptions for 630 yards, plus added a rushing touchdown this fall.

Solomon finished with 28 tackles (17 solo), two interceptions and six pass break-ups in his first year as a starter. Tobey ranked second on the team with 67 stops (25 solo) and added 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks and one interception while starting all 10 games.

Cal U closed the 2021 season with a 9-1 overall record and tied for first in the PSAC West standings with a 5-1 mark in divisional play. The Vulcans also were slotted No. 14 in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll of the regular season.