Two members of the Liberty League Champion Hobart football team were named to the 2024 D3football.com All-America teams which were announced today. Senior linebacker Jaimen Bliss (Solvay/Syracuse, N.Y.) and junior punter Vicente Lyon (Yorktown/Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) represented the Statesmen on the third team.
D3football.com is the premier website for NCAA Division III football. Since 2000, 23 Statesmen have earned 29 D3football.com All-America nods.
The Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Bliss led a dominant Hobart defense with 104 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He finished the year seventh on the Statesmen season tackles list. Bliss was second in the Liberty League in both tackles and tackles for loss.
Hobart finished the season fifth in the nation in scoring defense, 6th in defensive touchdowns, seventh in turnovers gained, 11th in passing yards allowed, 18th in interceptions, 21st in red zone defense, and 23rd in total defense.
A two-time Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week, Bliss made 10 or more tackles in five games this season, including a career-high 15 stops in the NCAA playoff game at No. 6 Susquehanna. He also rang up 14 tackles, including two for loss, in Hobart’s win over Ithaca.
A three-time All-Liberty League selection, including first-team nods in 2023 and 2024, Bliss appeared in 43 career games, recording 267 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 10 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. He ranks eighth on the program’s career tackles list.
Lyon, who was also named to the 2024 AP All-America first team, ranked fourth in the nation in punting average at 43.6 yards. He launched an 86-yard punt against Ithaca, the longest punt in NCAA football this season and the longest in Hobart history. Lyon averaged a Hobart game-record 65.0 yards per punt against the Bombers. In fact, he averaged more than 50 yards per punt three times this year (at St. Lawrence, 51.0; vs. Rochester, 50.5).
Lyon was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week three times this season, just the second Statesman to accomplish that feat. He was also named the Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week three times.
A two-time All-Liberty League pick, including first team honors this year, Lyon has appeared in 20 games over two seasons for Hobart. He missed his sophomore season due to injury. He has punted 74 times for 3,007 yards, an average of 40.6 yards. Twenty-two of his punts have pinned the opposition inside its own 20 while 16 of his punts have traveled 50 or more yards.
Hobart went 9-2 this season, winning the Liberty League with a perfect 6-0 record. The Statesmen earned their 11th NCAA playoff bid, facing No. 6 Susquehanna in the second round. After a slow start, Hobart rallied but ultimately fell to the River Hawks 42-35.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
