By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University defensive end Keaton Adams (Sr., Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) has been chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2021 football season in voting by the NWC head coaches. Offensive lineman Matthew Fick (Sr., C, Chandler, AZ/Corona Del Sol HS) was selected for Honorable Mention recognition. It was the first time Adams has been named All-NWC, while Fick was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC for the second time.

A total of 87 student-athletes were chosen for the 2021 All-NWC Football Team. Thirty players were named to the First Team, 30 players earned places on the Second Team, and 27 players received Honorable Mention.

Linfield University, which won the NWC title with a 7-0 record, swept the special individual awards. Senior quarterback Wyatt Smith was selected NWC Football Offensive Player of the Year and senior defensive lineman Travis Swanson was named NWC Defensive Player of the Year. Joel Valadez, a wide receiver for the Wildcats was chosen NWC Freshman of the Year. Linfield Head Coach Joseph Smith was voted NWC Football Coach of the Year.

Willamette averaged 18.7 points per game and scored a total of 27 touchdowns. The Bearcat defense accumulated 56 tackles for loss, including 21 quarterback sacks.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Keaton Adams (Sr., DE) was selected First Team All-NWC for the first time. He played in all 10 games this year and registered 51 total tackles, including 31 solo stops. He led Willamette with a school record 19.5 tackles for losses of 111 yards, including a team-high 11 quarterback sacks for 91 yards.

Adams recovered four fumbles, forced two fumbles, and blocked two kicks during the season. He returned a fumble 41 yards for a touchdown in Willamette's 48-35 non-conference win over the University of Puget Sound on Sept. 4.

While playing three seasons for the Bearcats, Adams has seen action in 27 games. He competed in nine games as a first-year member of the team in 2018, and then played in eight games in 2019. The Bearcats did not play any regular season games in 2020.

During his career, Adams has earned 124 total tackles with 78 unassisted tackles and 46 assists. He has recorded 38 tackles for losses of 193 yards and 19 quarterback sacks for 146 yards lost. He has provided WU with five fumble recoveries and has blocked four kicks.

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Matthew Fick (Jr., C) was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC for the second time after also receiving Honorable Mention status in 2019. This year, Fick competed in seven games and missed three games due to an injury. He helped the Bearcats gain 1,764 passing yards and 2,486 yards of total offense. Fick contributed to an offensive line that made it possible for Willamette to pick up 160 first downs, including 75 on passing plays and 62 on running plays. WU kept the ball for an average of 30:37 per game.

In four seasons at Willamette, Fick saw action in 31 games. His blocking was important for the Bearcats, as his efforts contributed to Willamette earning 3,022 total yards in 2017, plus 2,521 yards in 2018 and 3,074 yards in 2019.

Fick's leadership in the offensive line is a key reason Willamette has gained 11,103 yards of total offense, including 7,809 passing yards, since the start of the 2017 season. The Bearcats have scored 92 offensive touchdowns since Fick arrived on campus as a first-year player.