WACO, Texas --- A total of three Minnesota State football players, including junior Shen Butler-Lawson, junior Maven Kretche and senior Trey Vaval have received AFCA All-American accolades for their efforts on the field this past season.

Butler-Lawson earned AFCA All-American First Team honors on offense, while Kretche garnered AFCA All-American Second Team honors on defense. Vaval claimed All-American Second Team honors as a return specialist.

A running back from Augusta, Ga., Shen Butler-Lawson led the Maverick rushing attack with 1,446 yards and 15 touchdowns. He tallied at least 100 rushing yards in six games during the season, including a career-high 221 yards against Sioux Falls. Earlier this season, he was named to the All-NSIC First Team and received D2CCA All-Super Region Four First Team honors.

A defensive lineman from Sun Prairie, Wis., Maven Kretche led the team in tackles for loss (13.0) and sacks (10.5) this season as he recorded 34 tackles. He recorded a season-best two sacks against both Southwest Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead. Kretche was named to the All-NSIC First Team this season and recently claimed D2CCA All-Super Region Four First Team honors.

A return specialist and defensive back from Blue Springs, Mo., Trey Vaval returned 22 punts for 265 yards this season. He also returned 15 kickoffs for 308 yards and a touchdown. Vaval ranks seventh in career punt returns with 45 and second in punt return yards with 704 at Minnesota State. He was named to the All-NSIC First Team as a defensive back and return specialist and was recently named to the D2CCA All-Super Region Four Second Team.

Minnesota State finished its 2023 season with a 9-3 record as it advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.