Adams Named Top Freshman by CSN
The Big Sky Conference dominated the College Sporting News 2012 Fabulous Fifty FCS All-America Team, placing 14 players on the squad.
The team was released on Monday, Jan. 21 by the College Sport News.
Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams was named the Freshman of the Year. Northern Arizona returner Austin Shanks was named the Special Teams Player of the Year.
Adams burst onto the scene early in Eastern Washington’s run to the national semifinals. The 6-foot, 180-pound redshirt freshman from Pasadena, Calif., completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 1,959 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He led the league in efficiency rating at 160.6. He also rushed for 342 yards and a touchdown.
Shanks, a 5-8 senior from Pacoima, Calif., led the nation in punt return with an average of 19.8 yards per return. He returned two for touchdowns.
Cal Poly running back Deonte Williams, UC Davis offensive guard Sean Davies, Eastern Washington offensive tackle Will Post and Eastern Washington wide receiver Brandon Kaufman were named to the offense.
Southern Utah defensive tackle Cody Larsen, senior defensive end Caleb Schreibeis, Montana defensive end Zach Wagenmann, Montana State linebacker Jody Owens and Eastern Washington cornerback T.J. Lee III were named to the defense.
Eastern Washington’s Jimmy Pavel was named the kicker, and Shanks was tabbed as the punt returner. EWU had five players named to the team, more than any other squad.
Southern Utah linebacker Zak Browning was a honorable mention selection as Freshman of the Year. Northern Arizona punter Andy Wilder, who led the nation in punting, was an honorable mention pick.
COLLEGE SPORTING NEWS 2012 FABULOUS FIFTY FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Coach of the Year: Walt Hameline, Wagner
Offensive Player of the Year: Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion
Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Williams, North Dakota State
Offensive Lineman Of The Year: Corey Howard, Central Arkansas
Special Teams Player Of The Year: Austin Shanks, Northern Arizona
Freshmen Of The Year: Vernon Adams, QB, Eastern Washington
Playoff MVP: Brock Jensen, QB, North Dakota State
OFFENSE
QB Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion, So.
QB Jerick McKinnon, Georgia Southern, Jr.
RB Miguel Maysonet, Stony Brook, Sr.
RB Deonte Williams, Cal Poly, Sr.
RB Jordan McCord, Colgate, Sr.
RB Zach Zenner, South Dakota State, So.
FB Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Sr.
AP Walter Powell, Murray State, Jr.
C Corey Howard, Central Arkansas, Sr.
OG Earl Watford, James Madison, Sr.
OG Sean Davies, UC Davis, Sr.
OT Will Post, Eastern Washington, Sr.
OT Bill Turner, North Dakota State, Jr.
OL Kaleb Hopson, Sam Houston State, Sr.
OL Mike Sellers, The Citadel, Jr.
TE Kyle Juszcyk, Harvard, Sr.
TE A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State, So.
WR Brandon Kaufman, Eastern Washington, Jr.
WR Aaron Mellette, Elon, Sr.
WR Erik Lora, Eastern Illinois, Jr.
WR Cordell Roberson, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.
WR Quentin Sims, Tennessee-Martin, Sr.
WR Jordan Harris, Bryant, Jr.
DEFENSE
DT Cody Larsen, Southern Utah, Sr.
DT Brent Russell, Georgia Southern, Sr.
DE Brandon Thurmond, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sr.
DE Caleb Schreibeis, Montana State, Sr.
DL Davis Tull, Tennessee-Chattanooga, So.
DL Zach Wagenmann, Montana, So.
DL Mike Catapano, Princeton, Sr.
DL Colton Underwood, Illinois State, Jr.
LB Robert McCabe, Georgetown, Sr.
LB Grant Olson, North Dakota State, Jr.
LB Jeremy Kimbrough, Appalachian State, Sr.
LB Jody Owens, Montana State, Sr.
LB Keith Pough, Howard, Sr.
LB Matt Evans, New Hampshire, Sr.
DB Marcus Williams, North Dakota State, Jr.
DB Steven Godbolt III, Tennessee State, So.
DB Darnell Taylor, Sam Houston State, Sr.
DB Ben Ericksen, Illinois State, Sr.
DB T.J. Lee III, Eastern Washington, Jr.
DB Kejuan Riley, Alabama State, Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Jimmy Pavel, Eastern Washington, Sr.
P Patrick Murray, Fordham, Sr.
KR Jerodis Williams, Furman, Sr.
PR Austin Shanks, Northern Arizona, Sr.
LS Rick Lovato, Old Dominion, So.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Coach of the Year: Dino Babers, Eastern Illinois
Coach of the Year: Kevin Higgins, The Citadel
Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Breitenstein, Wofford
Freshmen Of The Year: Sean Price, Appalachian State
Freshmen Of The Year: Zak Browning, Southern Utah
QB Michael Colvin, Lehigh, Sr.
RB Shakir Bell, Indiana State, Jr.
OL Terren Jones, Alabama State, Sr.
TE Justin Perillo, Maine, Jr.
TE Colin Anderson, Furman, Sr.
DE Davis Tull, Tennessee-Chattanooga, So.
DB Robert Alford, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr.
DB Jaquiski Tartt, Samford, So.
P Andy Wilder, Northern Arizona, Jr.