WACO, Texas - For the first time in program history, the Mercyhurst football team has an American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) First Team All-American.

Senior wide receiver Trevor Kennedy (Akron, Ohio / Firestone) was awarded the honor as announced on Tuesday morning by the AFCA. The AFCA's Division II All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.

Kennedy joins Edinboro's senior offensive lineman Rob Stoner and California's junior defensive back Rontez Miles as the only players from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference on the squad.

Kennedy, who was one of 22 nominees for the Harlon Hill Trophy, had a season to remember for the Lakers in 2011. He set Mercyhurst single-season records for receptions (88), receiving yards (1,389), receiving touchdowns (15), and all-purpose yards (2,232). He held the previous records for receptions (75) and touchdowns (11), which he set during last season PSAC Championship year. His receiving yard number broke Ed Bailey's 11-year record of 1,102, and his all-purpose yardage figure shattered Richard Stokes' record of 1,540 back in 2007. He led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in all four of those categories and also led the conference in touchdowns scored by any running back or wide receiver.

This season, he also broke the school's single-game record with four receiving touchdowns against Kutztown back on September 10. Kennedy also eclipsed school records this season in consecutive games with a touchdown catch with seven (previously held by Justin Siemon who had six in 1999) and most games catching a touchdown pass in a season with eight (previously held by Siemon in 1999, Bailey in 2000, and Josh Szeluga in 2007 who all had seven).

Earlier this postseason, Kennedy was named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, was a First Team All-PSAC West selection at both wide receiver and return specialist, was a Daktronics First Team All-Region selection at both wide receiver and return specialist, and was one of 22 nominees for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded to Division II's most outstanding player.

From an historical standpoint at the college, Kennedy is leaving his mark all over the record books. He finished second all-time in receptions with 194 (Ed Bailey had 201) and receiving yards with 2,758 (Bailey had 2,983). He tied Bailey's record with 28 career receiving touchdowns. He also finished second all-time in all-purpose yards with 4,249, but first all-time on a per-game basis, averaging 118 yards over 36 career games.

Kennedy was one of three players on this year's All-American team that received their respective school's first-ever honors. Joining Kennedy as their school's first-ever honorees are Tim Green of Lincoln and Tyler Steffan of Mary.

Click here for the complete release and the list of Division II All-Americans.