Eight Selected to AP Team
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OGDEN, Utah (Dec. 15, 2010) - Eight Big Sky Conference players have been selected to the Associated Press Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team, including six to the first team.
Eastern Washington running back Taiwan Jones and Eagle linebacker J.C. Sherritt were tabbed to the first team, along with Montana State kicker Jason Cunningham, Bobcat offensive tackle Mike Person, Idaho State punter David Harrington and Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson.
Sacramento State defensive end Zack Nash and Idaho State all-purpose player Tavoy Moore were tabbed to the second team.
The Big Sky’s six first-team selections was double the amount of any other conference. The Southern Conference and Colonial Athletic Conference both placed three on the first team.
Sherritt, a 5-foot-10, 220-pound senior from Pullman, Wash., was selected as the Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP and is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award. Sherritt enters Friday’s semifinal game against Villanova with 150 total tackles – 13.5 for loss – three sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. Sherritt ranks second in Big Sky history with 406 career tackles.
Sherritt has also been named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Jones, a 6-1, 200-pound junior from Antioch, Calif., ranks second in the nation in rushing and scoring offense. He has rushed for 1,742 yards with an amazing 7.9 yards per carry average. Jones has 2,421 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. Jones was named to the AFCA All-America Team. Jones and Montana State QB Denarius McGhee were named Co-Offensive Big Sky MVP.
Johnson, a 6-3, 197-pound junior from Stockton, Calif., 44 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Johnson returned two interceptions for touchdowns and anchored a defense that ranked third in the nation against the pass. He was a first team All-Conference selection, and named to the AFCA and Walter Camp All-America teams.
Person, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound senior from Glendive, Mont., started 45 games during his career. Montana State’s offense finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring, passing and total yards. Person was a first-team All-Conference selection, and was also named to the AFCS and Walter Camp All-America teams.
Harrington, a 6-3, 185-pound junior from Marina, Calif., leads the nation in punting with an average of 44.3 yards per punt. He punted 69 times with 13 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Harrington was named to the Walter Camp All-America team.
Cunningham, a 6-1, 175-pound junior from Amarillo, Texas, made 20-of-24 field goals this season, and averaged 8.8 points per game. Cunningham ranks second in the nation in field goals per game at 1.67. Cunningham is Montana State’s first All-America first team place kicker since Jan Stenerud in 1966.
Moore, a 5-7, 185-pound junior from Long Beach, Calif., returned two kicks and two punts for touchdowns in his first season with the Bengals. He ranks third in the nation in all-purpose yards and second in punt return at 18.3 yards per return. Moore was tabbed to the AFCA All-America Team.
Nash, a 6-3, 250-pound junior from Vacaville, Calif., led the Big Sky with 13 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He ranks fourth in the nation in sacks per game.
2010 Associated Press All-America Team
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Jeremy Moses, senior, 6-0, 195, Stephen F. Austin.
Running backs — Taiwan Jones, junior, 6-1, 200, Eastern Washington; Nate Eachus, junior, 5-10, 216, Colgate.
Linemen — Ben Ijalana, senior, 6-4, 320, Villanova; Curt Porter, senior, 6-7, 290, Jacksonville State; David Arkin, senior, 6-5, 302, Missouri State; Mike Person, senior, 6-5, 295, Montana State; Will Rackley, senior, 6-4, 310, Lehigh.
Tight end — Shadrae King, junior, 6-3, 225, Robert Morris.
Receivers — Raymond Webber, senior, 6-3, 220, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Tysson Poots, senior, 6-3, 205, Southern Utah.
All-purpose player — Gralyn Crawford, sophomore, 5-10, 175, Stephen F. Austin.
Kicker — Jason Cunningham, junior, 6-1, 175, Montana State.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Kenrick Ellis, senior, 6-3, 280, Hampton; Jabari Fletcher, senior, 6-3, 265, Appalachian State; Martin Parker, senior, 6-3, 283, Richmond; Brent Russell, sophomore, 6-2, 287, Georgia Southern.
Linebackers — J.C. Sherritt, senior, 5-10, 220, Eastern Washington; Kyle Glazier, senior, 6-1, 220, Western Illinois; Tyler Holmes, junior, 6-0, 220, Massachusetts.
Defensive backs — Mark Legree, senior, 6-0, 220, Appalachian State; Trumaine Johnson, junior, 6-3, 197, Montana; Korey Lindsey, senior, 6-0, 190, Southern Illinois; Eugene Clifford, senior, 6-2, 205, Tennessee State.
Punter — David Harrington, junior, 6-3, 185, Idaho State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Deandre Presley, junior, Appalachian State.
Running backs — Henry Harris, senior, Southeast Missouri State; Eric Breitenstein, junior, Wofford.
Linemen — Johnny Culbreath, senior, South Carolina State; Ryan McKnight, senior, South Dakota State; Corey Konycki, senior, Robert Morris; Pat Illig, senior, Wofford; Michael Booker, senior, Northwestern State.
Tight end — Andrew Kennedy, senior, Columbia.
Receivers — Marcus Harris, senior, Murray State; Aaron Mellette, sophomore, Elon.
All-purpose player — Tavoy Moore, junior, Idaho State.
Kicker — Matt Bevins, junior, Liberty.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Mario Kurn, junior, San Diego; Ameet Pall, junior, Wofford; Dain Taylor, senior, Drake; Zack Nash, junior, Sacramento State.
Linebackers — Bryce Smith, senior, Samford; Matt Evans, sophomore, New Hampshire; Eric McBride, senior, Richmond.
Defensive backs —James Vercammen, senior, Dayton; Dino Vasso, senior, New Hampshire; Moses Ellis, senior, Prairie View A&M; Charles James, sophomore, Charleston Southern.
Punter — David Miller, senior, William & Mary.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Pat Devlin, senior, Delaware.
Running backs — Kyle Minett, senior, South Dakota State; Frank Warren, senior, Grambling State.
Linemen — Brett Moore, junior, Georgia Southern; Natiel Curry, junior, Bethune-Cookman; Austin Zlab, senior, Northern Iowa; D.J. Hall, junior, Texas State; Sean Middleton, senior, Southeast Missouri State.
Tight ends — Dean Rogers, senior, UC Davis.
Receivers — Joel Bradford, junior, Chattanooga; Chris Summers, junior, Liberty.
All-purpose player — Mark Rodgers, junior, Cal Poly.
Kicker — Adrian Mora, junior, Georgia Southern.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Devon Langhorst, senior, Dayton; Kenneth Charles, senior, Stephen F. Austin; Andrew Soucy, senior, Eastern Kentucky; Josue Ortiz, senior, Harvard.
Linebackers — Jabara Williams, senior, Stephen F. Austin; Dejuan Fulghum, senior, Texas Southern; D.J. Smith, senior, Appalachian State.
Defensive backs — Justin Rogers, senior, Richmond; Anthony Bratton, senior, Delaware; Laron Scott, junior, Georgia Southern; Anthony Walters, senior, Delaware.