The weekly "In the (D3FB) Huddle" podcast announced its national players of the year during its final episode of 2024 on Friday and Lake Forest College's A.J. Jackson was among the honorees.

Jackson was named Co-Special Team Player of the Year and his exploits as a kick returner, running back, and wide receiver throughout his career were highlighted by Frank Rossi and James Baker on Friday's episode. The graduate student tied for the national lead in scoring at 16.8 points per contest and ranked seventh in the country with 15.6 yards per punt return and fifth with 165.3 all-purpose yards per game in 2024. 

Jackson is the NCAA Division III record-holder with nine career punt return touchdowns and amassed 1,588 yards on punt returns, 1,062 on kickoff returns, 3,125 receiving, and 835 rushing for the Foresters. He is also the program's all-time leader with 72 total touchdowns and 434 points.

The latest honor adds to a long list for Jackson this season. He was a First Team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press, D3football.com, and the Walter Camp Foundation. Midwest Conference coaches voted him the MWC Offensive Skill MVP and he was a First Team All-MWC selection at running back and kick returner. Jackson was also a semifinalist for the 2024 Gagliardi Award.

Lake Forest played in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time in program history in 2024 and finished the season 10-1 overall. The team was also 9-0 in MWC play to claim its third conference title in the last four seasons.