Seven Football Players Earn All-America Honors From d2football.com

LIBERTY, Mo. - Seven football players from the South Atlantic Conference have been named to the 2010 D2Football.com All-America Football Team, as more All-American honors continue to come to some of the top football players in the South Atlantic Conference.

Newberry defensive back Ron Parker was named to the first team defense, while Lenoir-Rhyne offensive lineman Chandler Rearden and Tusculum kicker Gareth Rowlands were named to the second team offense.

Mars Hill running back Jonas Randolph and defensive lineman Maurice Harris along with Tusculum quarterback Bo Cordell and Carson-Newman's offensive lineman Michael Tribue were named honorable mention.

Ron Parker

Chandler Rearden

Gareth Rowlands

Jonas Randolph

Maurice Harris

Bo Cordell

Michael Tribue

Parker is one of the most honored players in Newberry College football history. He was named a first team All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, a second team All-American by Daktronics and a third team Little All-American by the Associated Press following his 2010 season. He earned preseason All-American honors from Lindy's, The Sporting News and Consensus Draft Services prior to the season. Parker led the South Atlantic Conference in interceptions and fumble recoveries and made 59 tackles. Parker finished the regular season ranked 14th nationally in interceptions with 0.56 per game, and was one of fewer than 20 players at all levels of collegiate football to record eight takeaways, snagging five interceptions and recovering three fumbles.

Rearden (Greenwood, S.C.) has now been chosen to five different All-America teams this year. The junior offensive tackle has been named to the All-America Second Team by Daktronics, the Associated Press, and Don Hansen as well. In December, the American Football Coaches Assocation (AFCA) named Rearden to its 2010 NCAA Division II All-America Team. Rearden, a first-team all-region pick by Daktronics, AFCA and Don Hansen, became the first player in Lenoir-Rhyne history to win the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2010. The Jacobs Blocking Trophy is given annually to the top offensive lineman in the South Atlantic Conference. Rearden, a two-time First-Team All-SAC honoree (2008 and 2010), helped the Bears lead NCAA Division II in rushing this year. L-R averaged 319.5 yards on the ground this past fall.

Rowlands is a two-time All-SAC First Team kicker who established school and league single-season records with his 111 points and 21 field goals made. Rowlands led the nation in field goals made per game (1.91) and was sixth in scoring (10.09 ppg). His 111 points were the most this season by a Division II kicker, while going 21-for-26 in field goal attempts. He was also one of the ten finalists for the Fred Mitchell Award, which honors the college division (FCS, DII, DIII, NAIA) placekicker of the year.

Randolph is a honorable mention pick after already being named an honorable mention All-American by Don Hansen, and was also named to the AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team and Daktronics All-Southeast Region team. Randolph was a First Team All-SAC player has led the conference in rushing the last two seasons and through three years, he has accumulated 37 rushing touchdowns to go along with 3,438 rushing yards and 222 points scored which are all Mars Hill College school career records.

Harris, another honorable mention member, was also named to the Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America second team defense, Don Hansen All-Super Region Two first team, 2010 Associated Press Little All-America Football third team, Daktronics All-America second team, and Daktronics All-Southeast Region and All-South Atlantic Conference first teams. He led the South Atlantic Conference in 2010 with 11 sacks.

Cordell, who made honorable mention, led all NCAA divisions in total offensive yards per game, passing yards per game, and completions per game. He was named the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and finished fourth in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the Division II National Player of the Year. Cordell passed for a school and SAC record 4,657 yards along with 38 touchdown passes. He also established school and SAC records with 394 completions, 605 pass attempts, and 70 total offensive attempts.

Tribue, helped paved the way for Carson-Newman to finish second in the nation in rushing yards at 311.2 yards per game. A First Team All-SAC performer, Tribue helped lead the Eagles to 8,137 yards rushing and 98 rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons.

Record-setting Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski and Northwest Missouri defensive back Ryan Jones highlight the 100 players named to the 2010 D2Football.com All-America Team.

A total of 61 institutions had players selected to the team, with National Champion Minnesota-Duluth and Northwest Missouri leading with five selections each. Central Missouri led the way with three first-team selections.

Czerniewski, the 2010 Harlon Hill winner, was chosen as the Offensive Player of the Year. Jones was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Bob Nielson, coach of National Champion Minnesota Duluth, is the Coach of the Year.

The D2Football.com All-America Team was selected by the website's staff 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.

2010 D2Football.com All-America Team