South Atlantic Conference places 18 on 2005 Daktronics All-Southeast Region Football Team

ROCK HILL, SC - Six South Atlantic Conference schools placed a total of 18 players on the 2005 Daktronics All-Southeast Region Football Teams announced today. The Daktronics All-Southeast Region teams are selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

SAC champion Presbyterian, along with SAC member Carson-Newman and North Alabama of the Gulf South Conference led the way with six selections each.

Catawba and Newberry each placed two on the team, while Mars Hill and Wingate each had one representative.

Four players were named to the first team, and will move on to the national All-America ballot. The All-America team will be released on December 15.

Presbyterian placed Marcus Brisbone and Quasi Gary on the first team. The Blue Hose placed four players on the second team led by senior Zach Ellis, junior Chad Burgess, sophomore Justin Durant, and redshirt freshman Antwan Thomas.

Brisbone, a 6-1, 271-pound offensive guard from Sumter, S.C., was named to the first team after earning first team All-South Atlantic Conference honors and was selected as the league's Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, given annually to the top offensive lineman. This season, Brisbone averaged over 94 percent grade-out per game, did not allow a sack or pressure, and never was graded with a "loaf" all season.

Gary, a 6-0, 181-pound cornerback from Kingstree, S.C., earned first team honors after being named to the first team All-SAC honors and was selected to participate in the Whataburger Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game this season. He tallied 64 total stops including 39 solo stops to go along with 8.0 tackles for loss (-15), four pass defenses, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. He finished the season ranking tied for first in the SAC in recovered fumbles while helping lead a Blue Hose defense that led the league in four defensive categories including total defense.

Ellis, a 6-1, 193-pound quarterback completed 244-of-404 passes for 2,679 yards and 28 TD's this season while compiling a 132.70 pass efficiency rating. He led the league in passing yards per game, pass efficiency, and was second in total offense per game en route to SAC Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-SAC honors. He was also selected to participate in the Whataburger Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game this season and was named SAC Offensive Player of the Week on four occasions. In addition, he ranked 32nd in the nation in pass efficiency and 43rd in total offense per game while directing the Blue Hose offense that led the league in scoring offense, and finished second in passing offense and third in total offense this season.

Burgess, a 5-10, 178-pound safety from Kingstree, S.C. earned second team honors for the second consecutive year after tallying 79 total stops including 46 solo tackles and seven tackles for loss (-17). He added a team-best three interceptions to go along with eight pass defenses, four quarterback hurries and returned one interception 78 yards for a touchdown versus West Georgia. Burgess earned first team All-SAC honors this season for his efforts.

Durant, a 6-1, 185-pound wideout from Florence, S.C., earned first team All-SAC honors this season after catching 59 passes for 710 yards and 10 TD's. He averaged 59.2 yards per reception, good for seventh in the SAC while his 4.91 receptions per game average ranked 2nd best in the league this season. He also tied for SAC lead in receiving TD's and finished eighth in scoring (5.5).

Thomas, a 5-10, 192-pound linebacker earned SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year honors and first team All-SAC honors after tallying a team-best 100 total stops including 47 solo tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss (-51), three recovered fumbles, two interceptions, one pass defense, two quarterback hurries, and 4.5 sacks (-32) this season. He earned SAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and national D2football.com Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this season. He ranks 44th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.4) while ranking fifth in the league in tackles per game, and tied for first in recovered fumbles.

Presbyterian College is coming off of their most successful seasons in program history after compiling a 10-2 overall record, winning the 2005 South Atlantic Conference championship with a perfect 7-0 mark, and earning a bid to the 2005 NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Blue Hose earned the top seed in the Southeast Region of the DII Playoffs and received a bye to the second round.

Catawba College defensive lineman Ron Ellington (Charlotte, NC) was a first team selection, while kicker Rush Rollins (Kannapolis, NC) earned second team honors.

Ellington, a sophomore from Independence High School, led the team with 10 sacks this season and totaled 18 stops for losses. He was credited with 50 total tackles and also added a forced fumble and a blocked point-after kick. He set a record with seven sacks in a win over Mars Hill.

Rollins, a senior from Brown High School, led the Tribe in scoring with 77 points. He converted on 15-of-18 field goals and was perfect on 32 point-after tries. He led the conference and ranks sixth in NCAA II in field goals made.

Carson-Newman linebacker Anthony Robinson, the SAC's Defensive Player of the Year, was named to the first team, while five other Eagles were named to the second team: Offensive linemen Pat Egan and Tee Campbell, safety Brandon Walden and Deonte Bolden, who made it as both a cornerback and all-purpose back.

Newberry junior wide receiver Tymere Zimmerman (Bennettsville, S.C.) and senior linebacker Terrance Leverett (Ware Shoals, S.C.) were named to the second team.

Leverett racked up his third straight 100+ tackle season. The 6-0 linebacker led the conference in tackles in both his sophomore and senior seasons.

Zimmerman was the conference's best in yards per game (67.6), receptions per game (6.56), and touchdowns (10).

Also making the second team were Mars Hill running back Antoine Jones and Wingate defensive lineman Kenwin Cummings.