Big Sky places 14 on 2003 Preseason All-America Team
7/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Big Sky Conference leads all I-AA leagues by placing 14 players on The Sports Network's 2003 Division I-AA Preseason All-America Team, including five selected to the First-Team. Big Sky co-champ and 2002 national quarterfinalist Montana placed two on the initial squad, while Idaho State, Montana State, and Northern Arizona each garnered one selection. Tackle Dylan McFarland (Montana) was selected to the First-Team offense, while defensive end Jared Allen (Idaho State), defensive tackle Blake Horgan (Montana), safety Kane Ioane (Montana State), and punter Mark Gould (Northern Arizona) were among those recognized on the defense.
Two finalists for the 2002 Walter Payton Award - Grambling quarterback Bruce Eugene and Fordham tailback Kirwin Watson - help make up the First-Team backfield. Eugene placed third in balloting after throwing for 4,483 yards and 43 touchdowns last season, while Watson finished 10th after compiling 1,467 rushing yards for the national quarterfinalist Rams. Southern Illinois' RB Mo Abdulqaadir, who led I-AA in rushing last season before succumbing to injury, completes the First-Team backfield.
The first-team wide receivers - Grambling State's Tramon Douglas and William & Mary's Rich Musinski - each come off prolific 2002 seasons. Douglas was among the nation's leaders with 92 catches, 1,704 yards, and 18 touchdowns a year ago, while Musinski hauled in 58 balls for 1,140 yards and eight scores.
Joining Montana's McFarland on the first-team offensive line are center Jelani Clement (Hampton), guards Dwight Hudler (McNeese State) and Fred Layne (Western Illinois), tackle Joe Wilson (Richmond), and tight end Casey Cramer (Dartmouth). Kicker Justin Langan (Western Illinois) and return specialist DaShaun Morris (Delaware State) round out the first-team offense.
The first-team defense is highlighted by two linebackers - Illinois State's Boomer Grigsby and Eastern Illinois' Nick Ricks - who served as finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, bestowed upon the I-AA defensive player of the year, last season. Grigsby led the nation with 179 tackles for the Redbirds, while Ricks paced the Panthers with 127 stops and four sacks. The pair is joined by McNeese State's Roderick Royal and Hofstra's Renauld Williams at linebacker. Joining Allen and Horgan on the first-team defensive line are end K.T. Stovall (Appalachian State) and tackle John Paul Jones (McNeese State). In the secondary along with Ioane are cornerbacks Chris Thompson (Nicholls State) and Tony Tiller (East Tennessee State), as well as safety Alexis Moreland (Southern Illinois). Gould, who led all of Division I with a 48.2 punting average last season, finishes out the First-Team.
In all, 77 players from 12 different conferences were selected to the team, along with one player from an independent program. As mentioned, the Big Sky Conference led all leagues with 14 players, followed by the Gateway with 12 selections and the Atlantic 10 and Southern Conferences with eight each.
The Preseason All-America Team is the first of TSN's many services to I-AA for the 2003 season. The Sports Network also administers the Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan, and Eddie Robinson Awards, which are presented annually to the division's top player, defensive player, and coach, respectively. The 2003 I-AA Awards ceremony will be held on December 18rd, 2003, on the eve of the I-AA national championship game in Chattanooga, TN. TSN also administers I-AA's most widely recognized weekly Top 25 poll for the division, as well as Players of the Week, Postseason All-America Team, and regular features and columns dealing with I-AA college football.
Two finalists for the 2002 Walter Payton Award - Grambling quarterback Bruce Eugene and Fordham tailback Kirwin Watson - help make up the First-Team backfield. Eugene placed third in balloting after throwing for 4,483 yards and 43 touchdowns last season, while Watson finished 10th after compiling 1,467 rushing yards for the national quarterfinalist Rams. Southern Illinois' RB Mo Abdulqaadir, who led I-AA in rushing last season before succumbing to injury, completes the First-Team backfield.
The first-team wide receivers - Grambling State's Tramon Douglas and William & Mary's Rich Musinski - each come off prolific 2002 seasons. Douglas was among the nation's leaders with 92 catches, 1,704 yards, and 18 touchdowns a year ago, while Musinski hauled in 58 balls for 1,140 yards and eight scores.
Joining Montana's McFarland on the first-team offensive line are center Jelani Clement (Hampton), guards Dwight Hudler (McNeese State) and Fred Layne (Western Illinois), tackle Joe Wilson (Richmond), and tight end Casey Cramer (Dartmouth). Kicker Justin Langan (Western Illinois) and return specialist DaShaun Morris (Delaware State) round out the first-team offense.
The first-team defense is highlighted by two linebackers - Illinois State's Boomer Grigsby and Eastern Illinois' Nick Ricks - who served as finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, bestowed upon the I-AA defensive player of the year, last season. Grigsby led the nation with 179 tackles for the Redbirds, while Ricks paced the Panthers with 127 stops and four sacks. The pair is joined by McNeese State's Roderick Royal and Hofstra's Renauld Williams at linebacker. Joining Allen and Horgan on the first-team defensive line are end K.T. Stovall (Appalachian State) and tackle John Paul Jones (McNeese State). In the secondary along with Ioane are cornerbacks Chris Thompson (Nicholls State) and Tony Tiller (East Tennessee State), as well as safety Alexis Moreland (Southern Illinois). Gould, who led all of Division I with a 48.2 punting average last season, finishes out the First-Team.
In all, 77 players from 12 different conferences were selected to the team, along with one player from an independent program. As mentioned, the Big Sky Conference led all leagues with 14 players, followed by the Gateway with 12 selections and the Atlantic 10 and Southern Conferences with eight each.
The Preseason All-America Team is the first of TSN's many services to I-AA for the 2003 season. The Sports Network also administers the Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan, and Eddie Robinson Awards, which are presented annually to the division's top player, defensive player, and coach, respectively. The 2003 I-AA Awards ceremony will be held on December 18rd, 2003, on the eve of the I-AA national championship game in Chattanooga, TN. TSN also administers I-AA's most widely recognized weekly Top 25 poll for the division, as well as Players of the Week, Postseason All-America Team, and regular features and columns dealing with I-AA college football.
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