Chapman University football standout Dillon Keefe from El Modena earns pre-season honors

Dillon Keefe (right) has earned a number of pre-season honors. (Photo courtesy Chapman University, Larry Newman)

Chapman University senior Dillon Keefe (El Modena High School) has been selected to be one of the best linebackers in the NCAA Division III.

A number of publications, including D3football.com and Lindy’s, made their annual preseason All-America picks despite football not being played this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. Keefe was a first team selection on both teams.

Keefe was a first team All-American for D3football.com after leading Chapman to the best season in program history in 2019. Last season, Keefe recorded 72 tackles, including 17 for a loss and 10 1/2 sacks. He forced two fumbles, recovered one for a touchdown and intercepted a pass, broke up nine more passes and blocked four kicks.

The Orange product out of El Modena High School made an immediate impact when he travelled down Chapman Avenue to Chapman’s campus from El Modena. He was the SCIAC Newcomer of the Year for the Panthers 2017 SCIAC championship team. He was the SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2019 title squad before being named an All-American.

As a team, Chapman made history last year with its third conference title and its first postseason victory. In the NCAA First Round triple overtime victory over Linfield, Keefe impacted all three aspects of the game with a fumble return for a touchdown, a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown in overtime and a blocked kick.

Lindy’s ranked Chapman as the No. 7 team in Division III entering the 2020 season. D3football.com had Chapman at No. 10 in its 2019 final poll – the highest ranking in Chapman football history.

The season was originally scheduled to begin this weekend. Chapman officials and officials with the SCIAC plan to discuss in the future whether football can be played in the spring.

—Courtesy Chapman sports information