Led by reigning Harlon Hill recipient John Matocha, 19 players from five schools that earned All-Colorado recognition last season by the Colorado Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame return for the 2023 season.

Back at Mines for his fourth season, Matocha led the Golden 11 to a 13-3 record last season where the Orediggers lost the championship game in NCAA Division II at McKinney, Texas against Ferris State. The Orediggers posted opening post-season wins over CSU Pueblo, Minnesota State, Angelo State and Shepherd in the playoffs.

The Colorado NFF offensive player of the year, Matocha produced one of the top offensive seasons in NCAA Division II history in 2022 with 4,778 passing yards and 52 touchdowns. He led the NCAA Division II in passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass efficiency (178.8), and points responsible for (342).

A 5-11, 180 quarterback from Magnolia, Texas, Matocha generated the third-most total yards (5,221) in a season in D-II history, adding 443 rushing yards and five ground touchdowns to his season. In the 2022 playoffs, he produced 23 total TDs (19 passing, 4 rushing), more than double the next-best player in D-II.

Matocha set the Mines single-season record for passing yardage and threw the second-most touchdowns ever in a Mines season. He has crossed 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns for his career during the season and ended the season with 10,708 yards and 119 passing touchdowns.

A Mines graduate in May with a degree in computer science, Matocha passed for 300+ yards 11 times in 16 games and 350+ four times, including a career-high 384 vs. New Mexico Highlands, 377 vs. Black Hills State, and 371 vs. Shepherd in the national semifinals.

Matocha also ranks among the state of Colorado's all-time football performers. He is third in passing yards, second in touchdown passes and second in total offense yards among Colorado’s all-time collegiate performers. He also ranks high on the single-season charts for passing yards (first) and touchdown passes (second). YOUTUBE VIDEO

Colorado’s All-Time Career Passers - Yards

1.     13,466, Justin Dvorak, Colorado Mines, 2013-2016 (44 games)

2.     11,742, Andrew Webb, Fort Lewis, 2000-2003 (44 games)

3.     10,714, John Matocha, Colorado Mines, 2019-2022 (42 games)

Colorado’s All-Time Career Passers - TD Passes

1.     134, Justin Dvorak, Colorado Mines, 2013-2016 (44 games)

2.     119, John Matocha, Colorado Mines, 2019-2022 (42 games)

Colorado’s All-Time Career Total Offense - Yards

1.     14,608, Justin Dvorak, Colorado Mines, 2013-2016 (44 games)

2.     12,252, John Matocha, Colorado Mines, 2019-2022 (42 games)

Colorado’s All-Time Single-season - Passing Yards

1.     4,778, John Matocha, Colo. Mines, 2022 (16 games)

Colorado’s All-Time Single-season - TD Passes

1.     53, Justin Dvorak, Colorado Mines, 2016 (13 games)

2.     52, John Matocha, Colorado Mines, 2022 (16 games)

Other All-Colorado NFF picks returning this season from Mines are wide receiver Max McLeod (first team), offensive tackles Levi Johnson (first) and Nic Van de Graaf (second, defensive lineman Zach Hester (first, and linebackers Adrian Moreno (second) and Nolan Reeve (second).

Air Force All-Colorado NFF selections returning are kicker Matthew Dapore (first), and defensive backs Camby Goff (second) and Trey Taylor (second). All-Colorado punter Ben Sargent (first) returns for Colorado Mesa.

All-Colorado performers returning at Colorado State for the 2023 season are wide receiver Tory Horton (first), offensive lineman Jacob Gardner (second), defensive back Jack Howell (first) and defensive lineman Mohamed Kamara (second) on the 2023 Ram roster.

CSU Pueblo has three returning All-Colorado performers led by wide receiver and kick returner Andrew Cook, who was the state's top special teamer in 2022 while being a second-team wide receiver after catching 12 touchdowns to set a school record. Other top Pack players returning are defensive backs Daniel Bone (first) and Eli Pittman (first).

With the massive makeover in Boulder, All-Colorado pick Trevor Woods (second) returns as a defensive back for the Buffs. Here are 2022 statistics for the top returning collegiate players competing for Colorado colleges and universities.

Big Sky Coaches

1. Montana State (10), 120

2. UC Davis (1), 96

3. Sacramento State (1), 94

4. Weber State, 91

5. Idaho, 89

6. Montana, 84

7. Eastern Washington, 52

8. Portland State, 45

9. Northern Arizona, 44

10. Northern Colorado, 37

11. Cal Poly, 25

12. Idaho State, 15

Big Sky Media

1. Montana State (26), 447

2. Idaho (8), 410

3. Montana (2), 359

4. Sacramento State (3), 334

5. UC Davis, 330

6. Weber State, 320

7. Eastern Washington, 216

8. Northern Arizona,178

9. Portland State – 167

10. Northern Colorado, 109

11. Cal Poly, 103

12. Idaho State, 69

Big Sky All-Conference Team

LB: David Hoage, UNC

DB: Jordan Knapke, UNC

UNC coach Ed Lamb at Big Sky Media Day - YOUTUBE

Mountain West Media

1. Boise State (28), 433

2. Air Force (2), 364

3. Fresno State (5), 351

4. San Diego State (1), 338

5. San José State, 293

6. Wyoming, 281

7. Colorado State, 201

8. Utah State, 194

9. UNLV (1), 177

10. Hawai’i, 102

11. Nevada, 92

12. New Mexico, 60

Mountain West All-Conference

RB - John Lee Eldridge III, AFA

OL - Thor Paglialong, Air Force

DL - Payton Zdroik, Air Force

DB - Trey Taylor, Air Force

WR/PR - Tory Horton, CSU

DB - Jack Howell, CSU

YOUTUBE INTERVIEWS with Troy Calhoun and Jay Norvell.

Returning RMAC 1st-teamers

QB - John Matocha, Mines

OL - Levi Johnson, Mines

CB - Eli Pittman, CSU Pueblo

S - Daniel Bone, CSU Pueblo

ILB - Adrian Moreno, Mines

P - Cole Riters, Western Colo.

KR - Victory David, Western Co.

Pac-12 Media

1. USC (25), 413

2. Washington (4), 367

3. Utah (6), 359

4. Oregon (1), 344

5. Oregon State, 309

6. UCLA, 248

7. Washington State, 186

8. Arizona, 176

9. California, 132

10. Arizona State, 122

11. Colorado, 98

12. Stanford, 54

PAC-12 Media All-Conference

DB/ST - Travis Hunter, Colorado

Deion Sanders video at CU Media Day

2023 RMAC Coaches

1. Colorado Mines (9), 81

2. CSU Pueblo, 71

3. Western Colorado (1), 62

4. South Dakota Mines, 53

5. Black Hills State, 49

6. Colorado Mesa, 48

7. Chadron State, 33

8. New Mexico Highlands, 23

9. Adams State, 21

10. Fort Lewis, 9

RMAC MEDIA DAY VIDEO