Judd Novak among five Golden Bears to earn All-America honors

Quarterback Judd Novak was among five Kutztown University players to earn All-America honors Wednesday as the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, and the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) each announced their teams.

Brandon Hile, a senior linebacker, and Ryan Schernecke, a redshirt senior offensive tackle, were named second-team picks by all three organizations.

Kutztown’s five All-Americans are a program single season record, surpassing the previous mark of four in 2011. The Golden Bears have had 28 first-, second- or third-team All-America selections since 1938.
Hile and Schernecke are KU’s first AFCA All-Americans since punter Dean Krcic in 2021, and the program’s first AP All-Americans since tight end Jack Pilkerton in 2019.

The five D2CCA selections are the Golden Bears’ first representatives on that organization’s teams since defensive back Brian Bingnear in 2007.

Novak, a redshirt junior quarterback from Manheim Central, redshirt senior offensive guard Billy Everitt of Abington and redshirt junior defensive end Freddie Retter of Quakertown) earned D2CCA second-team spots.

Hile, the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, was a D2CCA All-Super Region 1 first team selection. The Winfield native started all 15 games for the PSAC champion Golden Bears, leading the team with 66 tackles while also chipping in 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and an interception.

Hile produced 196 tackles, 16.5 TFL, and 7.5 sacks in 47 career games, helping KU to three straight conference titles and national semifinals appearances in 2023 and 2025.

Schernecke, from Hatboro, was a national finalist and finished fifth in voting for the Gene Upshaw Award, presented to Division II’s top lineman. Schernecke started all 15 games for the 14-1 Golden Bears, helping KU rank second in the nation in passing efficiency (173.7). He was a three-time All-PSAC East selection.

Novak triggered an offense that produced a program-record 645 points. The Harlon Hill Trophy national finalist completed 215-of-328 passes for 3,070 yards and 31 touchdowns. He did not throw his first interception until Saturday’s loss to Harding in a national semifinal.

Everitt joined Schernecke in anchoring Kutztown’s powerful offensive line. The guard from Abington made 42 consecutive starts over three seasons. Everitt played in 50 games during his career, logging 43 starts, and is a three-time All-PSAC East selection.

Retter battled through an early season injury and returned to elite form in the postseason where he registered sacks and tackles for loss in all three of Kutztown’s playoff victories. The Quakertown native finished the year with 25 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.