D3football.com released its 2020 Preseason All-America Teams on Thursday and Lake Forest College's A.J. Jackson was a first team selection as a kick returner.
Jackson, a sophomore, led the nation last season with 939 combined kick return yards, including a school record 449 yards on punt returns. He was also first in the country with 22.5 yards per return on punts and seventh with 28.8 on kickoff returns. His three punt return touchdowns tied for the national lead and he also reached the end zone once on a kickoff return, once rushing, and eight times as a receiver.
He earned First Team All-Midwest Conference North Division honors as a wide receiver and returner and was also named the division's Newcomer of the Year. In addition, Jackson was the only freshman to garner First Team All-American honors from D3football.com.
Jackson is the first Forester to receive Preseason All-American accolades from D3football.com since Joey Valdivia in 2017. He was also named to the Division III Starting Lineup by College Football American 2020 Yearbook in July.