It’s finally time to release our SIS All-Conference teams. We used our all-encompassing player value stat, Total Points, along with other metrics and our scouting work as leading references in putting together our team of selections for 2023, plus some honorable mentions.

You can learn more about Total Points and the statistics referenced here.

These picks are meant to honor this season’s best-of-the-best of the Independents.

Offense

Sam Hartman made the most of his one season in South Bend and had more Passing Total Points than every other Independent QB COMBINED. Audric Estime was the leader by a substantial amount in Rushing Total Points, but Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams finished Top-30 in the FBS with his 1,153 rushing yards affording him a spot on the team.

Justin Joly and Mitchell Evans didn’t only lead all TEs in Receiving Total Points, but led all pass catchers among the Independent schools. Anthony Simpson led all Independent receivers in targets, yards, and first downs.

Each Independent school has at least 1 representative along the offensive line with Joe Alt and Conor Finucane leading the conference in back-to-back years in Blocking Total Points. All five linemen were also Top-5 in Blown Block Percentage, with all of them coming in under 1.2%.

Defense

Javontae Jean-Baptiste led all Independent pass rushers in Pass Rushing Total Points and pressures while coming in 4th for Run Defense Total Points. Billy Wooden led all Independents with 6 sacks from the DT position. Howard Cross III finished 2nd in total pressures and 5th in Run Defense Total Points among Independent defenders. Pryce Yates finished 4th in Pressures and Pass Rush Total Points to round out the defensive front.

Jackson Mitchell was Top-10 nationally in Run Defense Total Points. JD Bertrand finished as the top Independent LB with 25 Pressures and added four passes defensed in coverage on top of that.

Notre Dame is well represented on the back-end of the defense with Xavier Watts who was T-1st nationally with 7 INTs and 2nd in the nation in Coverage Total Points. Cam Hart was 2nd among Independent DBs in Coverage Total Points behind his teammate and Benjamin Morrison led all Independent players with 13 passes defensed.

Specialists

Spencer Shrader went a near perfect 61-of-62 in extra points and his 4 field goals made of 50+ yards was T-3rd nationally.

George Caratan had a strong leg and his punt average of 45 yards was Top-5 nationally for all punters with at least 60 punts.

Jadarian Prince was the only Independent return man with a kick return touchdown, and his kick return average of 26.2 was Top-20 in the FBS.

Honorable Mentions

TE was a very difficult selection, and as a result, Gino Campiotti earned an honorable mention because he finished 3rd among Independent TEs in both Receiving and Blocking Total Points. Offensive tackle was also a close decision as Chase Lundt finished 3rd among Independent offensive linemen in Total Points, but behind the two tackles who made the All-Conference team.

Jelani Stafford finished tops among Independent DTs in Run Defense Total Points and Jack Kiser finished 2nd among LBs. Bo-Nicolas Paul finished 3rd in the conference in Coverage Total Points among CBs.

Check out this year’s NFL Draft site to see how we feel some of these players project to the NFL.

Total Points, stats, and ranks as of 3/28/2023