Kansas City, MO – After emerging as one of the NAIA's most disruptive defensive playmakers this fall, Hunter Zirkle has been named a 2025 AFCA NAIA All-American First-Team linebacker, officials announced Thursday morning. The sophomore becomes Cumberlands' newest first-team selection after a breakout season that consistently put him among the nation's best at his position.
 
Zirkle's year was headlined by several historic accomplishments, including breaking the UC single-game forced fumbles record in the matchup at Campbellsville, where he recorded three forced fumbles. He led the NAIA in forced fumbles through the regular season and ranked inside the top ten nationally in both sacks and tackles for loss, establishing himself as one of the most complete edge threats in the country.
 
The Arcadia, FL native finished with 50 total tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss for 69 yards, and 10.0 sacks for 57 yards. He added 13 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and two blocked kicks. His 10.0 sacks and 16.0 tackles for loss both led the Mid-South Conference, and his two blocked kicks were also the most in the league.
 
He recorded three sacks in a game twice, against Campbellsville and Faulkner, and made at least one tackle for loss in all but two games. Zirkle and the Patriots defense combined for 26 sacks on the season, while holding their opponents to under 30% on third-down conversions.
 
Zirkle's selection places him among the premier defensive players in the NAIA and marks another standout campaign for the Patriots linebacker. He becomes the second Patriot in the last two years to earn a spot on the first team, as kicker/punter Job Matossian earned this distinction in 2024.
 
The AFCA's NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee.
 
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