It’s been a good couple of weeks for Grand Island’s Brett Kern.

On Tuesday, the senior punter for the University of Toledo was named to the Associated Press’ All-America third team, behind Cincinnati junior Kevin Huber and Georgia Tech senior Durant Brooks.

“It feels really good, and it’s a blessing,” said Kern, who was recently named the M i d - American Conference’s

Special Teams Player of the Year after averaging 46.1 yards per punt to rank second in the nation behind Huber’s 46.9. “It’s all so surreal. I set a lot of goals at the beginning of the season and I’ve pretty much achieved them all.”

One of them was getting to play in an all-star game and that was realized when Kern was selected to play in the Hula Bowl on Jan. 12 in Honolulu.

Last week he got to travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., for the ESPNU College Football Awards at the Walt Disney World Resort. He finished third for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top punter.

Kern attended with his fiance Tiffany and his parents, Cal and Sherrie. Brooks won the Ray Guy Award.

“It’s a great honor when you consider there are only 28 college players here [in Florida],” Toledo coach Tom Amstutz said. “We are very proud of Brett and everything he has accomplished in his career as a Rocket.”

Kern said he recently hired Toronto-based Gil Scott to represent him.

“I’m hoping to get drafted and he’ll be a very big help getting my name out,” said Kern, who made the top three from a list of 56 punters who were nominated for the Ray Guy Award during preseason. “I’ve talked to scouts here and there and they’ve seen what I can do. Now they’ll be able to get to know me through my character and personality.”

The AP recognition is just the latest for Kern. He was the lone MAC player named firstteam All-America by Phil Steele Magazine, appeared on the second team selected by the Sporting News, and the third team picked by Rivals.com.

Meanwhile, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, a two-time Heisman Trophy runner- up, was one of four players voted to the AP All-America team for the second consecutive season.

Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis were the other two-time firstteam AP All-Americans.

Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow joined McFadden in the backfield along with Central Florida’s Kevin Smith, who leads the nation with 2,448 yards and 30 touchdowns.

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