ALFRED, NY — Mike Raplee (Dundee, NY/Dundee), a senior defensive tackle on the Alfred University football team, has been named a First Team All-American.

Raplee earned First Team honors from D3football.com, a leading website covering Division III college football. A three-time D3football.com All-American – he earned honorable mention in 2010 and 2011 – Raplee becomes the first Saxon player ever to earn First Team honors from the website.

Raplee had previously been named a D3football.com First Team All-North selection; First Team regional all-stars are considered for All-American honors. Raplee also earned First Team North honors as a sophomore and junior.

The 2012 Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team Empire 8 all-star, Raplee anchored a Saxon defense that allowed only 118.8 yards rushing per game. He had a team-leading 72 tackles (20 ½ for loss) with 11 ½ sacks and two forced fumbles. In an Oct. 6 Homecoming win over Ithaca he tallied eight tackles, including 4 ½ sacks.

Raplee completed his AU career as a four-time Empire 8 all-star: he was an honorable mention selection as a freshman and was named to the First Team each of the last three years.

The Saxons finished the 2012 season with a 6-4 record (5-2 Empire 8), ending the campaign with a loss at Springfield in the ECAC Northeast Bowl.