After breaking two records, sophomore kick returner and all-purpose back Davey Jergens earned first team Iowa Conference honors as a return specialist. 

Jergens led Simpson in return yards as a freshman last season and capped off that year with a career-long 74-yard return against Luther.

Needless to say he picked up where he left off in 2015. 

In a week one 28-21 over UW-River Falls Jergens did more than just return. The sophomore generated 177 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, earning the Iowa Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor. 

During the Wartburg game on Nov. 7 of this season, Jergens broke Simpson’s records for most returns in a game, seven, and most return yards in a game, 184. 

A sprinter on the track team, Jergens is able to hit lanes hard and get to top speed quickly.

“Davey’s vision and his speed make him a good returner. He sees what’s going to be there before it’s there. He sets up his blocks really well too,” quarterback Caleb Frye said. 

With a good return, teams are energized and given confidence by one of the most exciting plays in a game.

“When there’s a good return I get excited. Everyone gets pumped. We love it,” Frye said.

Often just the threat of a long return ushers kickers to pooch kickoffs, giving an offense less field they have to traverse. 

 “It’s a really big adrenaline rush, it’s really exciting. You come off the field knowing you’ve helped the team out and given them good position.” Jergens said

First-team and second-team honorees in the special team category have one kicking, punting and return specialist. Jergens beat out Central’s Taylor Cox, the second-team honoree as a return specialist. 

“It’s a really good feeling. It’s crazy, to know that you’re the best out of the whole entire conference is just, I dunno, overwhelming,” Jergens said. 

He almost had another record under his name, but missed the average return yards per game by two yards. The current holder of that record is coach Mike Kuhn. 

Jergens finished the season with 28 kick returns for 694 yards at an average of 24.8 per return. In a 31-24 loss to Dubuque, Jergens had a season-long return of 54 yards. He also turned returns of 44, 42 and 41 yards. 

His 694 return yards was most in the conference as was his 24.8 yards per return average. Jergens tied with Loras’ Danny Willis for a conference-most 28 returns.

As a running back, Jergens accounted for 10.6% of Simpson’s rushing yards (203) while running for two scores and receiving on one.