HONOLULU, Hawai’i ? Elon University All-American linebacker Chad Nkang (Hyattsville, Md./ Northwestern High) amassed nine tackles ? one in front of the end zone ? with one pass deflection on his way to earning team MVP honors in the 2007 Cornerstone Bancard 61st Annual Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic Sunday night at Aloha Stadium on the island of O’ahu.
Nkang’s Kai team (West) fell to the Aina squad (East) by an 18-10 margin. One of the nation’s top all-star games of its kind, the Hula Bowl consisted of 110 seniors ? mainly from Bowl Championship Subdivision (formerly known as NCAA Division I) programs ? playing in their final college football game.
Televised on ESPN, the Hula Bowl annually offers invited college seniors an environment to showcase their talent in front of scouts representing every National Football League team. The days leading up to the game featured competitive practices also held at Aloha Stadium, home of the NFL Pro Bowl. Players were evaluated by NFL general managers, scouts and personnel directors at all of the practices as well as the game.
A two-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist and two-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Nkang paced the SoCon and tied for fourth in the nation with 11.6 total tackles per game in 2006. He also led the league and tied for 15th in the country with 1.5 tackles for loss per contest this past season.
Nkang paced the Southern Conference in tackles per game each of the past three seasons, averaging 12.5 total stops and 1.6 TFL for those 33 starts.
NKANG'S FOOTBALL HONORS AT ELON
2007 Hula Bowl All-Star Classic Kai Team MVP
2006 The Sports Network 2nd Team All-America
2006 The Associated Press 2nd Team All-America
2006 Buck Buchanan Award Finalist ? 8th Place
2006 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year (Media)
2006 1st Team All-SoCon (Coaches)
2006 1st Team All-SoCon (Media)
2006 SoCon Tackles Champion (T-4th NCAA-IAA)
2006 SoCon Defensive Player of the Month ? November
2006 SoCon Defensive Player of the Month ? October
2006 SoCon Defensive Player of the Month ? September
2006 Verizon Wireless Elon Performer of the Month ? November
2006 Football Gazette National Def. Player of the Week ? Nov. 17
2006 Football Gazette National Def. Player of the Week ? Nov. 10
2006 SoCon Defensive Player of the Week ? Nov. 13
2006 SoCon Defensive Player of the Week ? Nov. 6
2006 SoCon Defensive Player of the Week ? Sept. 4
2005 Walter Camp Football Foundation 1st Team All-America
2005 The Sports Network 1st Team All-America
2005 CollegeSportsReport.com 1st Team All-America
2005 Football Gazette 1st Team All-America
2005 The Associated Press 2nd Team All-America
2005 Football Gazette National Linebacker of the Year
2005 Football Gazette Southeast Region Linebacker of the Year
2005 Football Gazette 1st Team All-Southeast Region
2005 Buck Buchanan Award Finalist ? 5th place
2005 SoCon Co-Defensive Player of the Year (Coaches)
2005 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year (Media)
2005 1st Team All-SoCon (Coaches)
2005 1st Team All-SoCon (Media)
2005 SoCon & NCAA-IAA Tackles Champion
2005 Elon Most Valuable Player
2005 Elon Outstanding Linebacker
2005 SoCon Defensive Player of the Month ? November
2005 SoCon Defensive Player of the Month ? October
2005 SoCon Defensive Player of the Month ? September
2005 The Sports Network National Def. Player of the Week ? Oct. 17
2005 Football Gazette National Def. Player of the Week ? Oct. 17
2005 SoCon Defensive Player of the Week ? Oct. 17
2004 Football Gazette 2nd Team All-Southeast Region
2004 2nd Team All-SoCon (Coaches)
2004 1st Team All-SoCon (Media)
2004 SoCon Tackles Champion (T-4th NCAA-IAA)
2004 Elon Outstanding Linebacker
2004 SoCon Defensive Player of the Month ? November
2003 SoCon Freshman of the Week ? Sept. 1