WACO, Texas - The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) have officially announced their 2025 AFCA NAIA All-American honors. Carroll College had a pair of standouts recognized as Carson Ochoa was named First Team tight end and defensive back Braeden Orlandi was named second team All-American.

Following one of the most prolific seasons by a tight end in Carroll program history, Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-SR) was named a First Team AFCA NAIA All-American for the first time in his career. The six-foot, three-inch tight end was a dynamic difference-maker all season long for the Fighting Saints, posting numbers rivaled only by former Frontier Conference MVP and six-year NFL veteran Casey FitzSimmons.

Ochoa was far and away the most productive tight end in the entire nation, leading all NAIA tight ends in nearly every measurable statistic.

The Carroll passing attack was as strong as it has been in over a decade, thanks in large parts to the efforts of Ochoa. He led the Saints in total receptions (64), receiving yards (861 yards), and receiving touchdowns (11 TD). Ochoa's 11 touchdowns on the year were the most by a tight end in program history, and his 861 receiving yards this season were the most by any Saint since the 2019 season (Shane Sipes - 972 yards). His four-touchdown performance against Southern Oregon tied the program record for single-game TD receptions (Scott Davis, Kevin McCutcheon, Sipes).

In total, Ochoa finished his outstanding Carroll career with 169 catches for 2,065 yards and 21 touchdown receptions.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back Braeden Orlandi (Valley Springs, Calif. / R-SO) was named a Second Team AFCA NAIA All-American for the first time in his career. The six-foot, one-inch safety was a key component to the Fighting Saints' Top-20 defense all season long.

Orlandi's monster season saw him become the first Saint since 2013 to record 100 or more tackles in a season (Sean Blomquist - 124.0), finishing the year with 136.0 total tackles. The 136 tackles was just 10 shy of matching the program record of 146, held by Joe Horne and Gary Cooper. All said and done, the redshirt-sophomore led the entire NAIA in tackles, and was second in the nation in tackles per game (11.3).

He rounded out the impressive campaign with 6.5 tackles-for-loss for 33 yards, including a half sack, five pass break ups, a pair of interceptions for 49 yards, and one forced fumble.

The two 2025 AFCA Honors add to Carroll's NAIA-record list of top honors, as Ochoa and Orlandi become the 72nd and 73rd All-Time NAIA All-Americans.

To view the full AFCA release, click HERE. 

To view the full NAIA release, click HERE

Team 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 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 to the team in 2024. 

Selection Process: The AFCA's NAIA All-America Selection Committee is made up of two head coaches from each of the AFCA's seven districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.

The Award: Members of the AFCA Coaches' All-America First Team will receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team, while members of the Second Team will receive a certificate.

AFCA NAIA Player Selection History: NAIA players who were selected to AFCA All-America teams were named to the AFCA College Division team from 1967-71. In 1972, the AFCA College Division was split to College I and College II. Players from NAIA Division I teams were placed in AFCA College I, while players from NAIA Division II were placed in AFCA College II. That process lasted until 1996, when College I and College II were renamed Division II and Division III. From 1996-2005, all NAIA players who were selected as AFCA All-Americans were placed on the AFCA Division II team. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.
 

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