SAC Players Receive All-America Football Honors

Four South Atlantic Conference football players have been named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette's 2005 NCAA Division II All-America team.

Those receiving First Team honors from the SAC are Presbyterian's Marcus Brisbone (First Team Offense) and Wingate's Kenwin Cummings (First Team Defense).

Brisbone, the 6-1, 271- pound senior offensive guard, averaged over 94 percent grade-outs per game and did not allow a single sack or pressure this past season. He has earned 2005 AFCA All-American, Don Hansen first team All-American, AP Little All-American and D2Football.com All-American second team, and CollegeSportsReport.com All-American third team honors, while also being selected as the South Atlantic Conference's Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, given annually to the league's top offensive lineman. In addition, he was a finalist for the 2005 Gene Upshaw Award as the NCAA Division II top lineman and participated in the 2005 Whataburger Cactus Bowl All-Star Game held January 6.

Cummings, the sophomore defensive end, completed the 2005 football season with 71 tackles, 16 ending up in a loss. He also recorded three forced fumbles, eight sacks, and one touchdown. The Bulldog defensive lineman finished the season ranked 20th in the NCAA Division II in tackles for loss per game (1.6), 32nd in pass sacks per game (0.7) and 36th in forced fumbles per game (0.3). In December, Cummings was named to the Daktronics All-Southeast Region football team, second team defense. The Daktronics All-Southeast Region teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Also, Cummings was a first team All-South Atlantic Conference pick.

Two more SAC players earned Third Team honors: Presbyterian's Antwan Thomas and Chad Burgess.

Thomas, the 5-10, 192-pound freshman linebacker from Hawkinsville, Ga., recorded a team best 100 stops, in which 47 of them were solo. He also recorded 21.0 tackles for a loss (-51), recovered three fumbles, two interceptions, one pass defense, two quarterback hurries, and 4.5 sacks (-32).

Burgess, the 5-10, 178-pound junior safety, recorded 79 total stops, which included 46 solo tackles and seven tackles for a loss (-17). Burgess had a team high three interceptions, where he returned one for 78 yards for a touchdown in a game against West Georgia. He also had eight pass defenses as well as four quarterback hurries.

Four other SAC football players were recognized as Honorable Mention. Carson-Newman's Deonte Bolden and Pat Egan as well as Presybyterian's Zack Ellis and Quasi Gary received these honors.

This marks the 18th year Don Hansen's Football Gazette's, a recognized authority on small college football, has selected an NCAA Division II All-America team. The national publication selected All-Region teams with the first-team and second-team All-Region players from each of the four geographic regions (Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest) making up the national ballot, which was voted upon by a 25-member national panel.

A total of 155 players earned some form of Football Gazette All-America honors. Players from 68 of the 150 football-playing schools in Division II earned Football Gazette All-America accolades.