Linfield football has had at least one All-American in 15 straight seasons as graduate student center Matt Metcalf and junior linebacker Blake Rybar finished their 2022 campaigns among the best in Division III at their respective positions.
 
A Eugene native, Metcalf was selected as a First Team All-American by both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Associated Press (AP). He became a unanimous All-American when D3football.com named him a second-teamer on Friday.
 
Joining Metcalf on the D3football.com All-America Team, Rybar was tabbed as a Third Team honoree. The 2022 Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Rybar became the first Linfield linebacker to earn All-American status since Jason Farlow, the 2017 NWC Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Metcalf spearheaded an experienced group in the trenches. Linfield finished the season ranked No. 5 in Division III in scoring offense, averaging 44.7 points per game. The Wildcats also ranked eighth in the country with a .537 third down conversion percentage and allowed 24 sacks in 11 games.
 
Behind a veteran O-line, Linfield scored 66 touchdowns, 23 coming on the ground and 36 through the air. The 'Cats piled on 158.3 rushing yards and 277.3 passing yards per game, averaging 435.5 yards of total offense on the season.
 
Rybar captained the Linfield defense with 67 tackles, 48 solo. The Monroe, Washington, native racked up 13 tackles for loss, including 3 ½ sacks, while also contributing three pass breakups and a forced fumble. He was named the NWC Football Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week on three occasions.
 
With Metcalf and Rybar joining a long list of Linfield greats, Linfield football now has 155 All-Americans in the program's storied history. The Wildcats have had an All-American in every season dating back to 2007.