Tusculum’s Judge, Presbyterian’s Canty and Gary Earn Football All-American Honors

PITTSBURG, Kan. --- Tusculum College defensive back Ra'Shun Judge has been named to the 2004 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America Honorable Mention team announced College officials Tuesday morning.

Judge, a senior from Hueytown, Tenn., earns his third All-American nod this season. He was also recognized by D2Football.com and CollegeSportsReport.com.

Judge made the most of his first and only season in Greeenville. The University of West Alabama transfer accounted for 52 tackles, including a team-best 11 for loss and five sacks, while earning NCAA All-Southeast Region Second Team and All-South Atlantic Conference accolades.

Judge, a 5-10, 175-pound cornerback, tallied 10 passes defended, including a pair of interceptions. One of those picks came against Lenoir-Rhyne College, resulting in a school-record 82-yard touchdown return. He also established a school record with five blocked kicks in 2004, including four in this year's season opener at Concord University.

Tusculum (6-4) finished tied for second in the South Atlantic Conference while posting its fifth consecutive winning season. The Pioneers won their last three games and four of its last five outings.

Tusculum College, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA, is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of eight colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Also, Presbyterian College football players Teddy Canty and Quasi Gary have been named to the 2004 Don Hansen's Football Gazette Honorable Mention All-American Team.

Canty, a 5-9, 257-pound senior defensive tackle from Lancaster, S.C., tallied 51 total stops to go along with six sacks and seven tackles for loss, 10 QB hurries, and two forced fumbles. His sack total was tied for first on the team. He finished tied for seventh in the SAC in sacks per game (0.55).

A preseason All-American selection, Canty was selected to play in the East Coast All-Star Game held in Petersburg, VA, earned second team All-SAC honors, first team All-Southeast region honors, and was a national finalist for the first annual Gene Upshaw Award given to the top NCAA Division II lineman in the county.

Gary, a 6-0, 176-pound junior strong safety from Kingstree, S.C., finished second on the team in total stops (86) and interceptions (5) while tallying 11 pass defenses, two recovered fumbles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He finished ranking ninth in the SAC in tackles per game (7.8), fourth in interceptions per game (0.45), and eighth in pass defenses.

He also earned first team All-SAC and All-Southeast Region honors and was selected special mention All-American by CollegeSportsReport.com.

The Blue Hose compiled a 6-5 overall record this fall including a 4-3 mark in the South Atlantic Conference regular season, good for a four-way tie for second place.