BLUFFTON, Ohio - Ten Bluffton University football players were honored by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference for their work on the gridiron during the 2007 season. The honorees were selected by the Heartland Conference coaches following the completion of the regular season. Bluffton ended the year with a 1-9 record, including a 1-6 mark in the HCAC. 

Senior linebacker Sam McCullough (Bluffton/Bluffton) collected his third straight first team All-HCAC honor in 2007. He ended the season with a school-record 150 tackles, placing him atop the Heartland Conference in that category for the second time in his career. McCullough tallied a team-high 13.5 tackles for a loss, including six sacks. For the year, he recovered two fumbles and picked off two passes while also blocking a punt. McCullough was named HCAC Defensive Player of the Week three times during his senior season. He wrapped up his career at Bluffton with a school-record 458 stops, including 43 tackles-for-a-loss. McCullough forced seven fumbles, picked off five passes and tallied 180 solo tackles as a Beaver. His 15.0 tackles per game placed McCullough third nationally in NCAA Division III.

Junior defensive end Kyle Rode (Delphos/Jefferson) was named first team All-HCAC for the second consecutive season after earning honorable mention acclaim following his freshman campaign. Rode anchored the defensive line with 42 tackles, including 20 solos. The junior did much of his damage behind the line of scrimmage, racking up a team-high nine sacks. Rode broke up a pair of passes and came up with two huge interceptions, one for an 86-yard touchdown at Hanover and the other in Bluffton's 22-21 victory at Defiance.

Taylor Iceman (Lucas.Lucas) picked up first team All-HCAC honors for the first time in his career at Bluffton after being selected to the second team as a junior. He matched his 2006 tackle total and was second on the team with 84 stops, including 38 solos. Iceman ended the year with a team-high six interceptions, giving him 14 for his career, the fourth highest total ever at Bluffton. The senior safety posted 222 career tackles with 88 of those being solos.

Senior Erick Buddin (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) was tabbed a second team All-HCAC selection in 2007 for his work on the gridiron. Despite battling injuries throughout his senior campaign, Buddin ended the season with 39 tackles, including 26 solos, from his cornerback position as he was locked up with the best receivers in the Heartland Conference. Buddin wrapped up his career as a Beaver with 116 tackles, 10 breakups, four blocked kicks and two interceptions. He was an honorable mention All-HCAC selection in 2006.

Junior Mitch Agner (Leipsic/Leipsic) was named second team All-HCAC after taking over the defensive end spot vacated by 2006 All-HCAC honorable mention selection Tyler Schwab. Agner piled up 41 tackles, including 4.5 tackles-for-a-loss from his end position. He finished with six solo tackles and one sack.

Sophomore Jason Fisher (Rockford/Parkway) picked up his first All-HCAC honor for his play at left tackle. He opened holes for sophomore tailback Greg Mason (Cleveland/Collinwood) in his first season as a starter for the Beavers. Fisher was also named the Freshman Field Athlete of the Year in the spring following his performance at the 2007 Heartland Conference Track and Field Championships.

Junior Joel Sienicki (Goshen, Ind./Northridge) collected his first post-season honor as a Beaver. The standout tight end was named second team All-HCAC for his ability to catch passes as well as provide protection for the Bluffton passers. Sienicki led the Beavers with 33 receptions for 291 yards (9.9 yards per catch). He hauled in one touchdown and his longest reception of the season was 25 yards.