WALTHAM, Mass. – After an outstanding 2017 season in which he tied for the most receiving touchdowns in Division II, Bentley University sophomore Austin Ryan (Foxborough/Foxborough HS) has received preseason All-America recognition from two publications.

Ryan was named to Lindy's Football Annual 2018 All-Division II first team and was also tabbed for the College Football America 2018 Yearbook Division II Starting Lineup.

The six-foot, 185-pounder reached the end zone on nearly a third of his receptions last fall while helping the Falcons to a 6-4 season. He pulled in 49 balls for 1,237 yards, averaging just over 25 yards per reception. In addition to tying for first in TD catches, Ryan was third in Division II in yards per reception, fifth in receiving yards, 16th in scoring and 31st in all-purpose running yards. No other 2017 freshman, regardless of division, had more than a dozen TD catches and his 1,237 yards also led the nation's freshmen.

Ryan's rookie season culminated with eight catches for a school-record 284 yards and four TDs in a 35-31 win over nationally-ranked Assumption. That came two weeks after he pulled in six balls for 209 yards and three TDs against Southern Connecticut State.

Honors for Ryan last season included Football Gazette Division II Freshman of the Year, Football Gazette Division II first-team All-America, D2CCA All-Super Region 1 second team, first-team All-Northeast-10, Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year and New England Division II-III All-New England.

Bentley returns to campus Aug. 5 and will kick off the season Aug. 30 at home against West Chester University.