D3Football.com All-America release

LANCASTER, Pa. – Following his fourth-team All-America honors during the 2022 season, the national media is expecting another huge season from the Diplomats' corner back as he was named a second-team preseason All-America honors by that same organization.

Gerhart broke onto the national scene last year when he led all of Division III with eight interceptions during the 2022 season. In doing so, he became the Diplomats' first All-American since Jordan Zackery was named to the All-America team as a returner following the 2013 season. Gerhart is the first F&M defensive back since Vince Harper to take home the nation's highest athletic honor.

Gerhart was also a first-team All-Centennial Conference and second-team All-Region II selection as he helped the Diplomats lead all Division III teams with 19 interceptions throughout the regular season. Gerhart's eight INTs were the most for a Franklin & Marshall player since the late 1980s when John Rogers (11 in 1987) and Andrew Zuch (11 in 1988) set and tied the school record in consecutive seasons.

Gerhart picked off at least one pass in six of F&M's games, highlighted by a three-interception afternoon against Susquehanna where he also returned one of those for a touchdown before being named Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week and was additionally honored on the D3football.com Team of the Week. Gerhart's work against the opposing receivers also featured five pass break ups and 28 tackles (22 solo).

After finishing with a 6-4 record for the team's seventh consecutive winning season last fall, the Diplomats open their 2023 season at Lebanon Valley on Friday, September 1 at 7 p.m. The 2023 home opener is set for Friday, September 8 at 7 p.m. against The College of New Jersey and will be followed by a postgame firework display to celebrate the start of a new academic year