MINNEAPOLIS -- D3football.com has announced its 2026 Preseason All-America Team, with the Baldwin Wallace University football team represented by two student-athletes. Senior linebacker Nolan Hartsel was named First Team Defense, while senior running back George Linberger earned Third Team Offense.

Nolan Hartsel - First Team Defense
Hartsel returns for the Yellow Jackets after putting together one of the top defensive seasons in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) in 2025. The senior led the OAC with a career-high 96 tackles while adding six tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.

Hartsel earned D3football.com All-American Second Team and All-Region 4 First Team honors following the season, along with being named the OAC Gene Slaughter Most Outstanding Linebacker and earning First Team All-OAC honors. He was also named the OAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 20 and the Yellow Jacket Men's Athlete of the Week on Nov. 10. Hartsel recorded a career-high 19 tackles in games against Rose-Hulman on Oct. 25 and Ohio Northern on Nov. 8.

The Lodi, Ohio native also excelled in the classroom, earning First Team College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American honors, along with CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-OAC recognition.

George Linberger - Third Team Offense
Linberger enters the 2026 season following a breakout junior campaign. The senior rushed for a career-high 1,133 yards on 187 attempts while scoring 14 touchdowns. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry and 113.3 rushing yards per game, while finishing third in the OAC in both rushing yards and attempts. His 14 rushing touchdowns ranked second in the conference.

The Barberton, Ohio native earned D3football.com All-Region 4 Second Team and First Team All-OAC honors in 2025. He was also named the 47th Lee Tressel Shrine Classic Player of the Game and earned CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-OAC honors.

The Yellow Jackets finished the 2025 season with an 8-2 overall record and a 6-2 mark in OAC play, with Hartsel and Linberger playing key roles in BW's third-place conference finish.

The Yellow Jackets open the 2026 season on Sept. 12 against Bethany College at George Finnie Stadium and begin OAC play on Sept. 26 against Capital University.