Three members of the Wildcat football team have been recognized as Preseason All-Americans by D3Football.com, highlighted by a second-team selection for two-time All-American linebacker Blake Rybar.
 
He is joined on the second-team by fellow fifth-year senior and All-American punter Thomas Tabor. Senior cornerback Chance Sparks was named to the third team.
 
In addition to earning D3Football.com All-American status each of the last two seasons, Rybar is also the reigning back-to-back Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His standout season in 2023 led to additional All-America honors as a first-team selection by the American Football Coaches Association and second-team recognition by the Associated Press.
 
Rybar served as the anchor of a Linfield defense that led the NWC in total and scoring defense. He led the team with 51 tackles, including 6.5 for loss with 3.5 sacks in addition to an interception.
 
Tabor put his name among the best punters in Division-III last season, becoming the first Linfield specialist to earn All-American status since 2017. Named to the D3Football.com All-America Fourth Team, he also led the way for Linfield as the only First Team All-Region 6 honoree.
 
Tabor led the NWC in punting with 40.9 yards per punt, which was also good enough for 15^th in the country. His career mark of 42.51 yards per punt sits atop Linfield's record book as he enters his fifth-year season.
 
Sparks turned heads in 2023 as one of Linfield's starting cornerbacks, earning D3Football.com Second Team All-Region honors and First Team All-NWC recognition in his second season in the secondary after converting from wide receiver in 2022.
 
As a junior he tied for the conference lead in interceptions with five, all in the final four games of the season, and recorded an additional four pass breakups. He is one of just eight Linfield players in program history with multiple interception return touchdowns.
 
Linfield is one of just six programs in D-III to have at least three players named to D3Football.com's Preseason All-America team, and the only NWC program represented on the 2024 team. The Wildcats have had a preseason All-American in every season dating back to 2007.
 
The 'Cats are ranked as the No. 23 team in the nation in D3Football.com's preseason Top 25. They'll open the season Sept. 7 at Memorial Stadium against Denison University.
 
Season tickets can be bought in advance at GoLinfieldWildcats.com.