By: Dana Becker 

Messenger Sports Staff 

Future University of Illinois wide receiver Mario Sanders was tabbed as the ICCAC Offensive Player of the Year for the 2023 football campaign.

Sanders, a redshirt sophomore for Iowa Central, finished the regular season ranked in the Top-3 in the country in yards (926), yards per game (92.6) and touchdowns (12). He finished with five games of over 100 yards receiving, four games with multiple scores and had a season-high 13 catches vs. College of DuPage.

He was also a threat with his legs, rushing for 76 yards and a score while returning two kicks back for TDs.

Sanders was named to the all-conference team along with Michael Bartolotta, Jonathan Young, Dodge Sauser, Dan Knudsen, Kolben Miller, Elijah West, Jamal Spiyee and Ethan Bartlett.

All-region status went to Justin Silverstein, Jaylon Washington, Sanders, Bartolotta, Harold Trainer IV, Ethan John, Young, Sauser, Carter Gorder, Javier Mendez, Tyler Nordman, Isaiah Bruce, Malachi Byrd, Andre Porter, Knudsen, Miller, Branson Peters, Marlon Dawson, Ajai Russell, West, Spiyee, Stephan Saywahn and Aaron Warren.

The Tritons finished 6-4 overall and 1-1 in the ICCAC, placing second behind Iowa Western. Iowa Central will face No. 5 Snow College in the Game One Bowl on Sunday, Dec. 3 in Cedar Falls from the UNI-Dome.