| |
FVSU's Wimbush and FSU's Williams named AFCA All-Americans
December 10, 2004
WACO, TEX. - Fort Valley State running back Derrick Wimbush and Fayetteville State defensive back Walt Williams have been named Division II All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team is made up of players from
NCAA Division II and NAIA institutions.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects
teams in all four of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that
they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the
best - the coaches themselves.
THE OFFENSE
Quarterback Chad Friehauf of Colorado School of Mines is the signal-caller
on the 2004 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team. A finalist for the
Harlon Hill Trophy, he set NCAA Division II records for total offense (4,319)
and passing yards (3,746) and scored at least three touchdowns, passing and
running, in every game during the 2004 season.
Friehauf's receiving corps on this year's team features Jamaica Rector of
Northwest Missouri State, Chris Samp of Winona State and Leonard Weaver of
Carson-Newman.
Rector is one of two repeat All-Americans from last season. He finished eighth
in the nation in receptions per game with 7.3, and averaged 100.3 yards per
contest. Samp finished second in the nation with 132.1 yards receiving per
game and scored 21 touchdowns. Weaver is the tightend on this year's squad.
He averaged 21.9 yards per catch and scored eight touchdowns.
Shippensburg's John Kuhn and Fort Valley State's Derrick Wimbush are the runningbacks
on this year's team. Kuhn ranked 17th in the nation in rushing yards per game
with 124.6 and totaled 1,371 yards with 14 touchdowns. Wimbush set the Fort
Valley State record for most 200-yard rushing games in a season (four) and
most rushing touchdowns in a season (22).
The offensive line features Joe Berger of Michigan Tech, Jahri Evans of Bloomsburg,
Nathan Baker of Pittsburg State, Todd Herremans of Saginaw Valley and Vinnie
Olson of Sioux Falls.
Berger is the first player in Michigan Tech history to make the Coaches' All-America
Team. He didn't allow a sack this season and averaged six pancake blocks per
game. Evans anchored an offensive line that helped Bloomsburg lead the PSAC
in rushing at 299.4 yards per game. Baker was a vital part of the Pittsburg
State offense that led the nation in total offense (648.1) and rushing offense
(374.3). Herremans was GLIAC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year with fellow All-America
team member, Joe Berger. He anchored an offensive line that helped Saginaw
Valley average 423.1 yards of total offense. Olson earned first team All-GPAC
honors on a team that was ranked No. 1 for most of the season in NAIA.
THE DEFENSE
The defense is led by Ferris State linebacker Kevin Myers, a repeat All-American
from last year. Myers totaled 133 tackles and finished 10th in the nation
in solo tackles with 6.5 per game. Joining Myers at linebacker are Joe Gangemi
of C.W. Post, Jeff Howard of Eastern New Mexico and Digger Anderson of North
Dakota.
Gangemi led the Northeast-10 Conference with 102 total tackles and recorded
14 tackles for a loss. Howard recorded 115 total tackles and led the Lone Star
Conference with 6.1 solo tackles per game. Anderson recorded 85 tackles, 10.5
for a loss and three sacks.
Leading the way on the defensive line is Keyonta Marshall from Grand Valley
State. Marshall ranked 30th in the nation with 1.6 tackles for a loss and totaled
25 on the year with six sacks. East Central's Justin Brown was the LSC North
Division Defensive Lineman of the Year while recording 72 tackles and 12 sacks.
Northwood's Chris Wilson led the team with seven sacks and 13 tackles for a
loss while earning first team All-GLIAC honors. Ken Triplett of North Alabama
rounds out this year's defensive line. He recorded 44 total tackles, 12 tackles
for a loss and four sacks.
The secondary is led by Fayetteville State's Walt Williams. Williams earned
CIAA All-Conference honors by recording 16 passes defended, seven interceptions
and 33 total tackles. Central Methodist's Bubba Stutzer had nine passes defended
including five interceptions and recorded 100 total tackles. Lindenwood's DeDe
Dorsey rounds out the secondary. Dorsey recorded 37 total tackles, four pass
breakups and two interceptions on the way to First Team All-Heart of America
Athletic Conference honors.
THE SPECIALISTS
Danieal Manning of Abilene Christian is the return specialist on the AFCA Division
II Coaches' All-America Team. As a sophomore, Manning finished second in
the nation in punt returns, averaging 22 yards per return, and sixth in kickoff
returns with a 29.2 yard average.
Valdosta State's Will Rhody led the Gulf South Conference in scoring with
90 points, converted 36 of 37 PATs and set an NCAA Division II record by recording
18 straight field goals. Adam State's Jeff Williams led NCAA Division II in
punting with an average of 48 yards per kick and had a long of 73 yards.
2004 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team
Offense
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| WR |
Jamaica Rector* |
5-10 |
182 |
Sr. |
Northwest Mo. St. |
Mel Tjeerdsma |
Celeste, Texas (Celeste) |
| WR |
Chris Samp |
6-3 |
215 |
Sr. |
Winona St. |
Tom Sawyer |
Algoma, Wis. (Green Bay Preble) |
| TE |
Leonard Weaver |
6-1 |
240 |
Sr. |
Carson-Newman |
Ken Sparks |
Melbourne, Fla. (Satellite) |
| OL |
Joe Berger |
6-5 |
290 |
Sr. |
Michigan Tech |
Bernie Anderson |
Newaygo, Mich. (Newaygo) |
| OL |
Jahri Evans |
6-4 |
340 |
Jr. |
Bloomsburg |
Danny Hale |
Philadelphia, Pa. (Frankford) |
| OL |
Nathan Baker |
6-4 |
313 |
Sr. |
Pittsburg St. |
Chuck Broyles |
Parsons, Kan. (Parsons) |
| OL |
Todd Herremans |
6-7 |
315 |
Sr. |
Saginaw Valley St. |
Randy Awrey |
Ravenna, Mich. (Ravenna) |
| OL |
Vinnie Olson |
6-5 |
335 |
Sr. |
Sioux Falls |
Bob Young |
Pierre, S.D. (Pierre) |
| QB |
Chad Friehauf |
6-7 |
205 |
Sr. |
Colorado Mines |
Bob Stitt |
Brush, Colo. (Brush) |
| RB |
John Kuhn |
6-1 |
250 |
Sr. |
Shippensburg |
Rocky Rees |
York, Pa. (Dover) |
| RB |
Derrick Wimbush |
6-2 |
220 |
Sr. |
Fort Valley St. |
John Morgan |
Mauk, Ga. (Taylor County) |
Defense
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| DL |
Keyonta Marshall |
6-1 |
290 |
Sr. |
Grand Valley St. |
Chuck Martin |
Saginaw, Mich. (Saginaw) |
| DL |
Justin Brown |
6-2 |
260 |
Sr. |
East Central |
Tim McCarty |
Fletcher, Okla. (Elgin) |
| DL |
Chris Wilson |
6-3 |
245 |
Sr. |
Northwood |
Pat Riepma |
Flint, Mich. (Northern) |
| DL |
Ken Triplett |
6-1 |
240 |
Sr. |
North Alabama |
Mark Hudspeth |
Louisville, Miss. (Louisville) |
| LB |
Joe Gangemi |
5-11 |
235 |
Sr. |
C.W. Post |
Bryan Collins |
Elmsford, N.Y. (Iona Prep) |
| LB |
Kevin Myers* |
5-11 |
210 |
Sr. |
Ferris St. |
Jeff Pierce |
Midland, Mich. (Midland) |
| LB |
Jeff Howard |
6-2 |
220 |
Sr. |
Eastern New Mexico |
Bud Elliot |
Portales, N.M. (Portales) |
| LB |
Digger Anderson |
6-0 |
236 |
Jr. |
North Dakota |
Dale Lennon |
Coon Rapids, Minn. (Coon Rapids) |
| DB |
Walt Williams |
6-0 |
175 |
Sr. |
Fayetteville St. |
Ken Phillips |
Miami, Fla. (Miami Beach) |
| DB |
Bubba Stutzer |
6-2 |
205 |
Sr. |
Central Methodist |
Merle Masonholder |
Independence, Mo. (William Chrisman) |
| DB |
DeDe Dorsey |
6-0 |
193 |
Jr. |
Lindenwood |
Patrick Ross |
Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow) |
Specialists
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| P |
Jeff Williams |
6-4 |
215 |
Jr. |
Adams St. |
Wayne McGinn |
Mead, Colo. (Skyline) |
| PK |
Will Rhody |
6-1 |
186 |
Sr. |
Valdosta St. |
Chris Hatcher |
Jupiter, Fla. (Benjamin) |
| RS |
Danieal Manning |
5-11 |
205 |
So. |
Abilene Christian |
Gary Gaines |
Corsicana, Tex. (Corsicana) |
*-2003 AFCA All-American
Class Distinction: This year's AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team
is made up of 20 seniors, four juniors and one sophomore.
Team Background
The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945.
The four teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player
squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through
1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In
1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979,
the University Division was split into two teams - Division I-A and Division
I-AA. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II
and Division III respectively. From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11
defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to
the team. In 1997 a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player
team.
Selection Process
The AFCA's Division II All-America Selection Committee is made up of three
head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine districts, one of whom serves as
a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman
of the selection committee.
The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in
their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district
chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
The Award
Members of the AFCA Coaches' All-America Team receive a plaque commemorating
their selection to the team.
|
