SAC Places Four On Daktronics All-America Football Team
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Four South Atlantic Conference football players have been named to the 2009 DAKTRONICS Division II All-American football team.
Carson-Newman College offensive lineman Michael Tribue was named to the first team, while Carson-Newman running back Buck Wakefield, Mars Hill College running back Jonas Randolph and Newberry College safety Ron Parker were named to the second team.
Tribue, a 6-3, 235-pound senior, anchored the Carson-Newman offensive line that averaged 471.9 yards per game. He received the SAC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy award, presented to the league's top lineman each year.
Wakefield averaged 137.7 yards rushing per game and scored 21 touchdowns. After missing the first two games, the Eagles went 11-1 with Wakefield in the lineup.
|
Michael Tribue |
|
Buck Wakefield |
|
Jonas Randolph |
|
Ron Paker |
Randolph was also named South Atlantic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year earlier this month. Randolph led the league in rushing yards (1,804), all-purpose yards (1,879) and touchdowns (19).
Randolph rewrote the Mars Hill record books in 2009. He broke seven school records and twice tied one record. He set the school records for most single-season rushing yards (1,804), single-season rushing touchdowns (19), single-season all-purpose touchdowns (19), rushing attempts in a single season (312), rushing attempts in a single game (44 rushes vs. Catawba), most points scored in a single game (24 twice: vs. Newberry and Tusculum), and most points scored in a single season (114).
He also twice tied the school record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game (four vs. Newberry and Tusculum).
Parker, a junior safety from St. Helena Island, S.C., earns his first career All-American honor to cap a stellar season. Parker is the 2009 South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well as a first team all-SAC honoree and DAKTRONICS first team all-Super Region 2 selection.
He was Newberry's leading tackler and had the second most tackles in the conference at 8.3 stops per game. He led the SAC in interceptions with six picks and added seven pass breakups for a total of 13 passes defended, which was second most in the SAC. He tied for 11th in Division II in interceptions and tied for 68th in Division II in tackles per game. He also forced two fumbles and made 5.5 tackles for loss and was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception for game-winning touchdown at Wingate.
This is the 17th year the Daktronics All-America team has been selected by a vote of sports information directors from NCAA Division II football playing members. The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. Voting for the all-region and All-American teams is powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.
The team is headlined by Wayne State (Mich.) running back Joique Bell and North Alabama linebacker Michael Johnson who were voted the Ron Lenz Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Lenz, the retired sports information director at South Dakota State, was the first national coordinator of the program.
DAKTRONICS, Inc. Division II Football All-American Team
OFFENSE
TIGHT END
First Team
+Ryan Travis, 6-3, 245, Jr, West Liberty (W.Va.)
Second Team
Mike Higgins, 6-5, 241, Jr, Nebraska-Omaha
WIDE RECEIVER
First Team
Frantz Simeon, 5-10, 185, Sr, Arkansas Tech
+Jake Soy, 6-3, 210, So, Northwest Missouri
Second Team
Adam Saur, 6-3, 200, Sr, Colorado School of Mines
Kashit Walls, 6-3, 205, Jr, West Liberty (W.Va.)
OFFENSIVE LINE
First Team
Brett Grozinger, 6-4, 280, Jr, Northwest Missouri State
+Nick McDonald, 6-4, 311, Sr, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Michael Tribue, 6-3, 265, Sr, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
Tony Washington, 6-7, 305, Sr, Abilene Christian (Texas)
Calvin Wilson, 6-6, 365, Sr, North Alabama
Second Team
Cameron Bradfield, 6-5, 295, Jr, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Jack Hiett, 6-2, 255, Sr, Nebraska-Kearney
Ben Staggs, 6-4, 275, Sr, West Liberty (W.Va.)
Jared Veldheer, 6-9, 321, Sr, Hillsdale (Mich.)
J'Marcus Webb, 6-8, 325, Sr, West Texas A&M
Torrence Wright, 6-3, 280, Sr, Arkansas Tech
QUARTERBACK
First Team
+Nick Graziano, 6-1, 227, Sr, Arkansas Tech
Second Team
Zach Amedro, 6-0, 200, Jr, West Liberty (W.Va.)
RUNNING BACK
First Team
+Joique Bell, 6-1, 223, Sr, Wayne State (Mich.)
Isaac Odim, 6-0, 215, Jr, Minnesota-Duluth
Second Team
LaRon Council, 5-10, 210, Sr, Northwest Missouri State
Jonas Randolph, 5-10, 185, So, Mars Hill (N.C.)
Buck Wakefield, 5-9, 185, Sr, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
RETURN SPECIALIST
First Team
+Jerome Hewitt, 5-5, 170, Sr, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Second Team
Deante Steele, 5-9, 185, Jr, Shepherd (W.Va.)
PLACE KICKER
First Team
+Travis Atter, 5-7, 190, Sr, Chadron State (Neb.)
Second Team
Garrett Lindholm, 5-9, 190, Sr, Tarleton State (Texas)
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
First Team
Montrell Craft, 6-2, 275, Sr, North Alabama
+Cedric Thornton, 6-5, 266, Jr, Southern Arkansas
Danny Richard, 6-4, 255, Jr, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Second Team
Andre Bernard, 6-2, 260, Sr, North Greenville (S.C.)
Drew Berube, 6-4, 261, Sr, Hillsdale (Mich.)
William Green, 5-10, 290, Sr, Texas A&M-Commerce
Aston Whiteside, 6-2, 255, So, Abilene Christian (Texas)
LINEBACKER
First Team
Robbie Aurich, 5-11, 240, Jr, Minnesota-Duluth
+Matt Freed, 5-10, 210, Jr, East Stroudsburg (Pa.)
+Mike Johnson, 6-4, 255, Sr, North Alabama
Buddy Wood, 6-3, 214, Sr, Central Washington
Second Team
Jake Anderson, 6-2, 250, Sr, Bemidji State (Minn.)
Lardester Hicks-Green, 6-1, 235, Sr, Delta State (Miss.)
John Jacobs, 6-2, 230, Sr, Saginaw Valley State (Mich.)
Ryan Reeves, 6-3, 245, Sr, Wayne State (Mich.)
Zach Watkins, 6-0, 235, Sr, Washburn (Kan.)
CORNERBACK
First Team
Derrick Evans, 5-8, 180, Sr, West Liberty (W.Va.)
+Quintez Smith, 6-1, 187, Sr, Shaw (N.C.)
Second Team
Micah Hill, 5-10, 180, Sr, Midwestern State (Texas)
Terrence Johnson, 6-0, 190, Sr, California (Pa.)
Rodney Mitchell, 6-0, 180, Jr, Eastern New Mexico
SAFETY
First Team
Giorgio Durham, 6-0, 190, So, Central Oklahoma
+Josh Jones, 5-10, 185, Sr, Harding (Arkansas)
Second Team
Myles Burnsides, 5-11, 195, Sr, Northwest Missouri State
Ron Parker, 6-1, 210, Jr, Newberry (S.C.)
PUNTER
First Team
+Will Batson, 6-4, 205, Sr, North Alabama
Second Team
Brian Schmeidebusch, 6-4, 205, Fr, Findlay (Ohio)
+ indicates top vote getter at a position
RON LENZ OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Joique Bell, RB, 6-1, 223, Sr, Wayne State (Mich.)
RON LENZ DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Michael Johnson, LB, 6-4, 255, Sr, North Alabama