Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) ? Six Southern Conference student-athletes were selected to the preseason Sports Network All-America team, including three first-team selections.
Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards was tabbed as the first-team quarterback and was joined on the squad by Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins and Furman offensive tackle Joel Bell.
The Citadel’s Andre Roberts, a standout wide receiver, was named to the second team offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, SoCon preseason player of the year Pierre Banks from Appalachian State was named to the second team as a linebacker. Elon punter Brandon Lane was chosen as the second team punter.
Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington placed four players each on the preseason Sports Network All-America team and the Big Sky Conference had 18 athletes selected when the squad was announced on Friday.
Northern Arizona landed cornerback K.J. Gerard and punter Robbie DeHaze on the first team, while safety Cyrus Igono and tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick were third-team selections.
Eastern Washington was represented by defensive end Greg Peach on the second- team, while fullback Alexis Alexander, wide receiver Aaron Boyce and defensive tackle Lance Witherspoon were named to the third team.
Montana was one of five teams with a trio of players picked, with safety Colt Anderson and offensive linemen Colin Dow and Brent Russum being tabbed.
The Colonial Athletic Association grabbed 12 spots and the Missouri Valley Football Conference (formerly the Gateway) added 10.
Richmond also earned four selections, with guard Matt McCracken and kick returner Justin Rogers making the second team, while defensive end Sherman Logan and tackle Tim Silver being named to the third team.
A total of 28 members of the 2007 postseason All-America squad was selected to the preseason team, including Armanti Edwards, the quarterback of three-rime defending national champion Appalachian State and his teammate, linebacker Pierre Banks.
Two Buchanan Award candidates from 2007, Montana State linebacker Bobby Daly and Nicholls State safety Lardarius Webb were first-team selections.
Six Payton Award finalists from 2007 were also represented, quarterback Dominic Randolph, receivers Ramses Barden (Cal Poly) and Terrell Hudgins (Elon) and running backs Herb Donaldson (Western Illinois), Mike McLeod (Yale) and Tyler Roehl (North Dakota State).
THE SPORTS NETWORK 2008 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE
First-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Armanti Edwards Appalachian State QB Jr. 6-0 185
Rashad Jennings Liberty RB Sr. 6-1 230
Corey Lewis Northern Iowa RB Sr. 6-0 197
Joe Casey Rhode Island FB Sr. 5-10 215
Ramses Barden Cal Poly WR Sr. 6-5 230
Terrell Hudgins Elon WR Jr. 6-3 235
Scott Sicko New Hampshire TE Jr. 6-3 225
Kheon Hendricks Delaware C Sr. 6-1 300
Stephen Field Cal Poly G Sr. 6-1 280
Colin Dow Montana G Sr. 6-5 300
Joel Bell Furman T Sr. 6-8 308
Cornelius Lewis Tennessee State T Sr. 6-5 310
Taylor Rowan Western Illinois K Sr. 6-0 190
J.T. Rogan San Diego KR Sr. 5-10 190
Second-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Dominic Randolph Holy Cross QB Sr. 6-3 223
Mike McLeod Yale RB Jr. 5-11 200
Tyler Roehl North Dakota State RB Sr. 5-10 232
Jon Hall Cal Poly FB Jr. 6-2 240
Andre Roberts The Citadel WR Jr. 5-11 175
Eddie Thompson Idaho State WR Sr. 5-11 185
Brian Mandeville Northeastern TE Sr. 6-7 253
Scott Lemm James Madison C Sr. 6-3 285
Matt McCracken Richmond G Jr. 6-4 300
Dennis Conley Hampton G Jr. 6-4 257
Nicholas Hennessey Colgate T Sr. 6-6 300
Brent Russum Montana T Sr. 6-4 295
Jon Striefsky Delaware K Jr. 6-1 190
Justin Rogers Richmond KR So. 5-10 165
Third-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Nathan Brown Central Arkansas QB Sr. 6-2 209
Herb Donaldson Western Illinois RB Sr. 5-11 225
Jarvarris Williams Tennessee State RB Sr. 5-11 215
Alexis Alexander Eastern Washington FB Sr. 5-10 230
Aaron Boyce Eastern Washington WR Jr. 6-2 205
Johnny Gray Northern Iowa WR Sr. 5-9 185
Shaun Fitzpatrick Northern Arizona TE Sr. 6-2 255
Raymond Harrison South Carolina State C Sr. 6-2 275
Jeff Hansen Montana State G Jr. 6-4 281
Jon Compas UC Davis G Sr. 6-3 298
Tim Silver Richmond T Sr. 6-6 330
James Williams Harvard T Sr. 6-6 285
Jeff Turner SE Louisiana K Jr. 5-9 170
Dominic Bolden Liberty KR Sr. 5-10 180
THE SPORTS NETWORK 2007 PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA DEFENSE
First-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Jovan Belcher Maine DE Sr. 6-2 228
Pierre Walters Eastern Illinois DE Sr. 6-5 261
Mychal Savage Youngstown State DT Jr. 6-2 290
John Faletoese UC Davis DT Jr. 6-3 290
Bobby Daly Montana State LB Sr. 6-1 226
Zach East Prairie View LB Sr. 6-2 230
Cyrus Mulitalo Sacramento State LB Sr. 6-1 245
Jason Williams Western Illinois LB Sr. 6-3 235
K.J. Gerard Northern Arizona CB Sr. 6-1 180
Domonique Johnson Jackson State CB Sr. 6-3 218
Colt Anderson Montana SS Sr. 5-11 185
Lardarius Webb Nicholls State FS Sr. 5-11 180
Robbie DeHaze Northern Arizona P Sr. 6-3 184
Jeremy Gilchrist Hampton PR Sr. 5-10 174
Second-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Mark Marcorelle Delaware DE Sr. 6-2 250
Greg Peach Eastern Washington DE Sr. 6-2 250
Mark Huygens Northern Iowa DT Jr. 6-6 280
Brian Jackson Lehigh DT Sr. 6-1 250
Bobby Abare Yale LB Sr. 6-2 210
Pierre Banks Appalachian State LB Sr. 6-0 210
Andy Romans Lafayette LB Sr. 5-11 215
Andy Schantz Portland State LB Sr. 6-1 235
Sam Pope Hampton CB Sr. 6-1 200
Sean Smalls Massachusetts CB Sr. 6-1 205
Brandon Gathof Eastern Kentucky SS Sr. 5-2 200
Terrell Whitehead Norfolk State FS Jr. 6-2 200
Brandon Lane Elon P Sr. 6-5 258
Bryant Eteuati Weber State PR Sr. 5-7 160
Third-Team School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
James Cloud Southern Illinois DE Sr. 6-2 216
Sherman Logan Richmond DE Sr. 6-3 250
Eric Schroeder South Dakota State DT Sr. 6-4 285
Lance Witherspoon Eastern Washington DT Sr. 6-2 275
Mike Brannon Sacramento State LB Sr. 6-2 235
Mario Brown Gardner-Webb LB Sr. 6-2 230
Tim Diamond Lehigh LB Sr. 6-0 220
Chauncey Mixon Southern Illinois LB Sr. 6-1 221
Andrew Berry Harvard CB Sr. 6-1 175
David Hyland Morehead State CB Sr. 6-1 185
Cyrus Igono Northern Arizona SS Sr. 5-10 205
Al Donaldson Alabama A&M FS Sr. 5-9 173
Kevin Cook Eastern Illinois P So. 6-2 195
Anthony Weeden Prairie View PR So. 5-5 155