University of Minnesota Duluth graduate tight end Sam Pitz was named a 2024 American Football Coaches Association Division II First Team All-American Wednesday.

The product of Appleton, Wis. was recently named to D2CCA Football's Super Region 4 First Team Offense. Prior to that, Pitz became a four-time NSIC First Team All-Conference selection last month after scoring two TDs and posting 360 receiving yards in 11 games this year. Pitz averaged 10.9 yards a catch and 32.7 yards per game in 2024.

Pitz was named a 2023 Don Hansen Football Gazette Honorable Mention All-American last season, and now becomes the first AFCA First Team All-American since Brent Laing earned the honor twice, most recently in 2022. Pitz is now the ninth AFCA First Team All-American selection in program history.

The Bulldogs went 7-4 this season and 6-4 in NSIC play. UMD led the NSIC in both scoring offense (34.3 points per game) and total offense (439.0 yards per game) this season.

AFCA Teams Background: The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams – University Division and College Division – were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III, respectively. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team. In 2016, the AFCA added a second team All-America. From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006. A third wide receiver was added in 2024.