Presbyterian College football capped one of the greatest seasons in its 113-year history with a flurry of postseason honors, including a school-record 11 All-Conference selections, five All-Academic picks, a Freshman All-American, and two Pioneer Football League major awards.
The accolades follow a transformational 10-win campaign—the program’s third ever—and a rise to No. 16 in the American Football Coaches Association Poll, the Blue Hose’s highest national standing since joining Division I.
A season that rewrote the record books
Presbyterian shattered multiple milestones in 2025. The Blue Hose went undefeated at home for the first time since 1998, amassed an 11-game winning streak, and produced more all-conference selections than any team in school history.
This was a banner year for Presbyterian College football. The national attention our student-athletes and coaches received speaks not only to their success on the field, but to the culture they’ve built—one rooted in perseverance, academic excellence, and genuine love for this program. What they accomplished this season elevated PC on the national stage, and we could not be prouder.”
Dee Nichols, Athletic Director
Six players earned spots on the All-Pioneer Football League’s First Team: quarterback Collin Hurst, wide receiver Cincere Gill, tight end Nathan Levicki, defensive lineman Carter Szydlowski, linebacker Boyce Bankhead, and defensive back Caleb Francis. Five more earned Second Team recognition: running back Justin Montgomery, all-purpose back Zach Switzer, offensive lineman JT Hill, defensive lineman Robert Porter, and freshman defensive back Camron Barber. The 11 honorees surpassed the previous school record of 10 set in 1987.
Rookie punt returner Darriel Harper added national recognition by being named a Freshman All-American by Sports Illustrated’s FCS Football Central, one of only five PFL players selected. Together, the awards marked Presbyterian’s decisive arrival on the national FCS stage.
Hurst makes history
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Collin Hurst earned the conference’s highest offensive honor for the second straight year, becoming the first player in PFL history to win the Offensive Freshman of the Year followed by the Offensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. He is also a top-30 finalist for the Walter Payton Award, the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
But Hurst emphasized that his award reflects team success more than personal achievement.
“Individual awards are cool, but everything I earned came because of our coaches, my teammates, and a senior group that refused to let this season be anything less than special,” Hurst said. “Quarterbacks get a lot of the glory, but this was a team award from top to bottom.”
He noted that the team’s confidence took root early, long before outside observers took notice.
“It wasn’t a surprise to us,” he said. “When those first big wins came, they opened eyes nationally, but inside our walls, we already believed.”
Englehart named Coach of the Year
Fourth-year head coach Steve Englehart was voted PFL Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year, while also being named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the national FCS Coach of the Year. Like his quarterback, Englehart pointed away from himself when discussing the honor.
“Awards like this belong to the players,” he said. “Great teams are led by players, not coaches, and this senior class used the scars of the past to build a culture that refused to lose. It’s the team that is being recognized for what they have done on the field in between the white lines. It’s all of those guys doing the work, and that’s really what the award comes down to.”
Englehart added that the team’s commitment over the summer was the clearest early sign of what was to come.
“Nearly our entire roster came back in July for voluntary workouts,” he said. “That kind of commitment told us everything. It wasn’t just about talent—it was about a team that wanted to play for one another.”
The result was the strongest season Presbyterian has produced since joining Division I 18 years ago.
All-Academic honors highlight senior leadership
Presbyterian’s academic success matched its on-field performance. Three players—Hurst, Levicki, and Szydlowski—earned First Team All-Academic honors, while defensive back Zeb Stroup and kicker Peter Lipscombe received Second Team recognition. Except for Hurst, all honorees were seniors, underscoring the leadership and maturity that drove the season’s breakthrough.
‘A banner year’
PC Athletic Director Dee Nichols said the team’s achievements reflect the very best of the college’s student-athletes.
“This was a banner year for Presbyterian College football,” Nichols said. “The national attention our student-athletes and coaches received speaks not only to their success on the field, but to the culture they’ve built—one rooted in perseverance, academic excellence, and genuine love for this program. What they accomplished this season elevated PC on the national stage, and we could not be prouder.”
Foundation for the future
Both Hurst and Englehart emphasized that this season represents the beginning of a new era rather than the conclusion of one. Hurst said he plans to refine his footwork, mechanics, and command of the offense in the offseason, despite his record-setting year. Englehart added that the leadership and continuity developed over the past four years provide a strong blueprint for sustained success. As Presbyterian looks toward 2026, the Blue Hose carry more than awards—they carry proof that their long rebuild has blossomed into one of the most compelling stories in FCS football.
