3. Ryan Aelker, Bluffton
If you look at Aelker’s bio, his favorite quote is “There’s always someone bigger, stronger and faster than you.” While that may be true, but there’s not many in D3 football better than him. The 6-foot-4, 230-lb. native of New Bavaria, Oh. has had a steady, successful career. Aelker, a senior, has 13 sacks for the second consecutive season, and has 32 sacks in his career. Aelker has 49 tackles in eight games this season, including 20 tackles for loss. His biggest game this season came in a 56-10 win over BR-222 Hanover on Oct. 3 when had eight tackles, along with 4.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.