THATCHER, Ariz. — Nate Hartung’s body still doesn’t feel right, but his play on the football field is just fine.

The 6-foot-2, 400-pound Butler graduate, the starting center for Eastern Arizona College the past two years, was named a first-team National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association All-American.

Hartung, 24, anchored an offensive line that led the NJCAA in rushing the past two seasons. The Gila Monsters rushed for 3,555 yards this year, averaging better than 6 yards per carry.

“He’s had injury and illness issues here, but that guy never missed a practice or a game for us,” Eastern Arizona coach John O’Mera said. “That No. 1 national rushing ranking? Nate Hartung had a whole lot to do with that.”

Hartung played on a broken ankle last year and had surgery after that season. He suffered through postsurgery complications and has been battling illness ever since.

“Man, I almost died from that thing,” Hartung said. “I need to get my body right. There’s been times I just haven’t felt good.

“I never let it affect my football. I’ve worked too hard and I still have goals. ... I’m not the only guy who’s gone through issues and answered the bell every day,” he added.

Hartung is part of a two-year class at Eastern Arizona that won 17 games, the most by any class in the program’s history. The Gila Monsters finished 9-3 this year and played in the Salt City Bowl Dec. 4 in Hutchinson, Kan., losing 42-21 to host Hutchinson.

“People will say it’s only junior college, but I got to play in a bowl game and after all I’ve been through, that felt pretty darn good,” Hartung said.

“Maybe I’ll get a chance to play in a couple more bowl games before I’m through. Who knows?”

Hartung became the third Eastern Arizona player in O’Mera’s six years at the helm to become a first-team All-American. The previous two, both defensive backs, landed scholarships at Nebraska and Mississippi.

Eastern Arizona’s right tackle already has earned a scholarship with Utah State. So has one of the Gila Monsters’ defensive ends. The team’s left guard got an offer from Auburn.

Hartung is still waiting.

“I’ve gotten phone calls, shaken a lot of hands, met some coaches, still no offers,” he said. “Fifty to 70 schools have film on me.

“I’ve had bad health three years in a row. An injury cost me at Brigham Young. Sure it gets frustrating. At times, it drives me nuts. But quitting is not a solution, so you just keep going,” he added.

Hartung is graduating from Eastern Arizona now. O’Mera said that doesn’t afford him much time.

“He’s a mid-year guy and he has to get going if he wants to be with a four-year school come January,” the coach said. “That’s a pretty short window.

“Some mid-major Division I schools and plenty of Division I-AA schools will offer him. It’s up to Nate how he wants to handle this, but I’m sure he’ll wind up playing football again for some school.”

Hartung is willing to play the waiting game for the right school.

“I still have my dream of playing major college football,” he said. “I’m willing to wait a semester to see if that can happen. I know I have smaller options, but I’m going to play all my cards before going that way.”

Hartung said he believes he needs to get his weight down to 350 or 360 to increase his chances of being offered a deal by major Division I programs.

“Some people have suggested 325, some 375,” he said. “If I sign on the dotted line sometime soon, the target weight will be dictated to me.”

Hartung promises only one thing at this point.

“I will play,” he said. “I just don’t know where yet.”