Newberry’s Patton, Thompson Named To D2Football.com Preseason All-America Team

NEWBERRY, S.C. - Newberry College's Antonio Patton and Temarcus Thompson have been named second team preseason All-Americans by D2Football.com, school officials announced this morning. This is the first All-American honor received by both players.

Patton, a junior cornerback from Woodruff, S.C., has been named to the All-American team as an all-purpose player for his spectacular returning ability. Patton finished atop the South Atlantic Conference in punt return average and returns two kicks for touchdowns in 2007. The 2008 season will also see him start at cornerback across from Newberry's other All-American.

Thompson, a senior cornerback from Greenville, S.C., was named to the second team at cornerback. Thompson was a co-conference champion in 2007, snagging four interceptions to go along w! ! ith 28 tackles, a fumble forced and a fumble recovery.

Antonio Patton

Temarcus Thompson

Patton and Thompson are the only South Atlantic Conference players on the All-American list and are two of 13 players named from the Southeast Region.

Saturday's game against defending national champions Valdosta State will now see a battle of All-Americans on the outside, as VSU wide receiver Cedric Jones was named a first-team All-American. Also named to the first team from the Blazers is defensive back Sherard Reynolds.

The D2Football.com All-America Team was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from coaches and sports information directors from around the country.

D2Football.com has named an All-America Team since its inception in 2000.

2008 D2Football.com Preseason All-Americans

FIRST TEAM
QB Mike Reilly Central Washington Univ.
RB Bernard Scott Abilene Christian Univ.
RB Joique Bell Wayne State (Mich.) Univ.
WR Cedric Jones Valdosta State Univ.
WR Johnny Knox Abilene Christian Univ.
TE Jared Bronson Central Washington Univ.
OL Reid Kirby Northwest Missouri St. Univ.
OL Roger Allen Missouri Western St. Univ.
OL Sam Collins Abilene Christian Univ.
OL Billy Eisenhardt Grand Valley St. Univ.
OL Jared Veldheer Hillsdale College

DL Brandon Swain West Texas A&M Univ.
DL Jake Visser Ferris State Univ.
DL Dan Skuta Grand Valley St. Univ.
DL Louis Ellis Shaw Univ.
LB Jeff Souder Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha
LB Jared Brock West Texas A&M Univ.
LB Tom Korte Hillsdale College
DB Darren Banks West Liberty St. College
DB Sherard Reynolds Valdosta State Univ.
DB Dre'Mail Hardin Stillman College
DB Devon Hughes Henderson State Univ.

AP Dawon Harvey Ashland Univ.
K Jared Keating Mesa State College
P Michael Podobnik Arkansas Tech Univ.

SECOND TEAM
QB David Knighton Harding Univ.
RB Brian McNeill Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha
RB Jerry Seymour Glenville State College
WR Johnny Spevak Central Washington Univ.
WR Mike Washington West Chester (Pa.) Univ.
TE Matt Patillo Hillsdale College
OL Louis West Henderson State Univ.
OL Mark Ellis Delta State Univ.
OL Ryan Delrosal Dixie State College
OL Jeremy Davis Northwest Missouri St. Univ.
OL Sam Allen Grand Valley St. Univ.

DL Randy Earl Minnesota State Univ.-Mankato
DL Darryl LaForest Bentley College
DL Sammie Lee Hill Stillman College
DL Andre Bernardi North Greenville Univ.
LB J.T. Gilmore Western Oregon Univ.
LB Darren Burns California (Pa.) Univ.
LB Terrence Jackson Indiana (Pa.) Univ.
DB Brandon Waymire Mesa State College
DB Terry McGhee Albany State Univ.
DB Tyler Reed Southwest Minnesota St. Univ.
DB Temarcus Thompson Newberry College

AP Antonio Patton Newberry College
K Jared Guberman Univ. of West Georgia
P Kurtis Fournier Saginaw Valley St. Univ.