Newtown, Pa. (Football) - D3football.com released its 2026 Preseason All-America Teams, and the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) placed players from three different institutions on the list. Eastern's Jason Bateman earned First Team honors, Delaware Valley placed two selections in Joel Perez (First Team) and Thomas Arcaroli (Second Team), and King's had Xander Murray named to the Third Team.

The D3football.com Preseason All-America Team, now in its 24th year, honors returning players who project as some of the top performers in the country heading into the 2026 season.

Jason Bateman, Eastern — First Team, Linebacker (Senior)

Bateman enters his senior season as the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most decorated players in program history. A year ago, the Upper Darby, Pa., native led the Eagles with 97 tackles, including 13 for loss and six sacks, while tying for the national lead with seven forced fumbles. His signature moment came in Eastern's regular-season finale at Misericordia, where his strip-sack on the Cougars' final offensive play clinched the program's first MAC championship. Bateman was later named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, given annually to the top defensive player in Division II, Division III, and NAIA, and earned First-Team All-America recognition from both the AP and D3football.com as a junior. With Eastern coming off a MAC title and a trip to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, Bateman anchors a defense looking to build on one of the best seasons in the program's short varsity history.

Joel Perez, Delaware Valley — First Team, Returner (Sophomore)

Perez burst onto the scene as a first-year standout in 2025, leading the MAC in both kickoff return average (31.5) and punt return average (18.8) while being the only player in the conference with multiple return touchdowns. He broke DelVal's single-game kickoff return record twice in the same afternoon, taking two back for 95 and 96 yards in the Aggies' Homecoming win over Stevenson. Those performances earned him MAC Special Teams Player of the Week and D3football.com National Return Specialist of the Week honors, along with First Team All-MAC and All-Region 1 recognition as a true freshman. Heading into his sophomore season, Perez gives Delaware Valley one of the most explosive field-position weapons in Division III.

Thomas Arcaroli, Delaware Valley — Second Team, Defensive End (Senior)

Arcaroli's move from linebacker to the defensive line midseason in 2025 turned into one of the best position switches in the MAC, as the Lebanon, Pa., native led the Aggies and the conference outright in sacks while pacing the team with 13.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. His disruptive presence up front helped Delaware Valley finish atop the MAC in total offense on the other side of the ball and contributed to a defense that kept the Aggies in the thick of the conference race all season. Now entering his senior year with a full season at his new position under his belt, Arcaroli projects as one of the league's premier pass rushers.

Xander Murray, King's — Third Team, Defensive End (Senior)

Murray has steadily built his role in the King's front seven, and it showed in 2025 as he ranked fourth in the MAC with six sacks while forming a formidable line trio alongside Michael Richino and Khalil Holley — all three ranked among the conference's top sack leaders. The Waretown, N.J., native appeared in 11 games as a sophomore in 2024, recording 26 tackles for a Monarchs team that finished 10-2 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A King's College Academic Honor Roll member, Murray heads into his senior season as a proven, disruptive force for a Monarchs defense with championship aspirations.

For the full 2026 D3football.com Preseason All-America Team, visit d3football.com.