The 2023 Wartburg Knights football team represented Wartburg College as a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. The Knights, led by third-year head coach Chris Winter, played home games at Walston-Hoover Stadium in Waverly, Iowa. The Knights clinched their 19th conference championship on October 28, 2023, with a win over Central College and then capped of the regular season 10–0 following a win at Nebraska Wesleyan. Wartburg ended the season in the national semifinals for the second straight year, losing to North Central 34–27.
Senior linebacker Owen Grover was named the Cliff Harris Award winner, awarded to the defensive player of the year in division III. He was also named ARC Defensive player of the year and 1st team all-American along with 3 other teammates, including running back Hunter Clasen, who was also named ARC Offensive player of the year.
Schedule Wartburg's 2023 regular season scheduled consisted of five home and five away games. The Knights also hosted 4 postseason games.
Rankings
Roster
Awards and honors Individual awards Owen Grover William V. Campbell Trophy FinalistGagliardi Trophy FinalistARC Defensive Player of the YearCliff Harris AwardD3Football.com Defensive Player of the yearDIII Academic All-American of the YearD3football.com 1st team All-AmericanAFCA 1st team All-AmericanAP 1st team All-American Hunter Clasen ARC Offensive Player of the YearD3football.com 1st team All-AmericanAP 2nd team All-American Parker Rochford D3football.com 1st team All-AmericanAP 1st team All-American Riley Konrardy D3football.com 1st team All-American Jordan Downing D3football.com 3rd team All-AmericanAP 2nd team All-American Tucker Kinney D3football.com 4th team All-American Chris Winter ARC Coach of the yearAFCA Region 5 Coach of the yearReference:
All-ConferencePlayerPositionTeamYear Jordan Downing DL 1 SR Riley Konrardy DL 1 SR Owen Grover LB 1 SR Nate Link LB 1 SR Parker Rochford DB 1 JR Hunter Clasen RB 1 SR Tucker Kinney OT 1 SR Alex Lahmon OG 1 SR Justin Grieff DL 2 SR Preston Rochford LB 2 SR Drew Wyffels DB 2 SR Nile McLaughlin QB 2 SR Tom Butters TE 2 SR Ethan Stockwell OT 2 SR Cael O'Neill K 2 SR Jaxson Hoppes P HM SO Dylan Steen DB HM SRHM = Honorable mention. Reference:
References