Willy Warne and Dakota Smith of Linfield College have earned distinction with their inclusion on three separate preseason All-America teams.
 
The two Linfield College football players are preparing for the Wildcats' pursuit of a Northwest Conference-record 10th straight league championship.
 
Warne, a kicker, was named to the "starting lineup" of the 2018 College Football America Yearbook for NCAA Division III. He also drew a second team All-America nod from website D3football.com.
 
Smith, the Wildcats' starting offensive tackle, was appointed to the Street & Smith Yearbook's preseason NCAA Division III All-America team.
 
Coming off a 9-2 season in 2017, Linfield is ranked No. 5 in Top 25 polls released by both Street & Smith and D3football.com. Defending national champion Mount Union is rated No. 1 in both polls.
 
Correspondent M.D. Goens wrote in Street & Smith's annual season preview story that the Wildcats "have some major rebuilding to do on defense, where only safety Duke Mackle returns as a starter…The big threats on offense are quarterback Wyatt Smith, who started the final four games as a freshman last season, and tailback Chidubem Nnoli (1,051 rushing yards). All-America tackle Dakota Smith makes the offensive line formidable."
 
Linfield kicks off its season Sept. 8 in Helena, Montana, against NAIA member Carroll College. The Wildcats played their home opener the following Saturday when they host Redlands at 1:30 p.m.
 
STREET & SMITH TOP 25
1. Mount Union
2. Wisconsin-Oshkosh
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor
4. St. Thomas
5. Linfield
6. Wisconsin-Whitewater
7. North Central
8. Wesley
9. Washington & Jefferson
10. Delaware Valley
11. St. John's
12. John Carroll
13. Wheaton
14. Hardin-Simmons
15. Wartburg
16. Frostburg
17. Franklin & Marshall
18. Johns Hopkins
19. Washington & Lee
20. Rose-Hulman
21. Springfield
22. Trinity (Texas)
23. Alfred
24. Amherst
25. Cortland State
 
D3FOOTBALL.COM TOP 25
1. Mount Union
2. Mary Hardin-Baylor
3. St. Thomas
4. Wisconsin-Oshkosh
5. Linfield
6. Brockport
7. North Central
8. Frostburg
9. Wesley
10. Hardin-Simmons
11. St. John's
12. Wisconsin-Whitewater
13. Wartburg
14. Wittenberg
15. Washington & Jefferson
16. UW-Plattville
17. Delaware Valley
18. Wheaton
19. Johns Hopkins
20. Trine
21. Illinois Wesleyan
22. Berry
23. Case Western Reserve
24. Franklin & Marshall
25. RPI