SAC Places 13 on Daktronics All-Southeast Region Football Team

Three South Atlantic Conference football teams placed a total of 13 football players on the 2006 Daktronics All-Southeast Region Football Team.

Newberry offensive lineman Heath Benedict was the only first-team selection. Benedict was one of six Newberry players to earn All-Region honors.

Wingate had five on the All-Region Team. Tusculum had two selections.

Newberry

Newberry College offensive lineman Heath Benedict was named to the All-Southeast Region First Team by Daktronics on Wednesday afternoon. Overall, Newberry had six players on either the first or second teams.

Heath Benedict	Tymere Zimmerman	Josh Stepp
Alex Haynes	Will Newell	Derrell Mills

Benedict, a junior from Greer, S.C., enjoyed a solid season on the offensive line, paving the way for an offense that averaged 185.5 rushing yards per-game. He was also named to the South Atlantic All-Conference First Team and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given annually to the top offensive lineman in the SAC. With his first team honor, Benedict is automatically placed on the national All-America ballot. The All-America team will be released on December 13.

Five other Indians earned second team honors. Senior wide receiver Tymere Zimmerman was named to the second team for the second straight season. Zimmerman, a native of Bennettsville, S.C., leaves Newberry as the career and single-season leader in every receiving statistical category. He also leaves as the SAC leader in career receptions (250) and receiving touchdowns (40).

Senior quarterback Josh Stepp was also named to the second team. Stepp, a native of Pelion, S.C., leaves Newberry as the most prolific passer in football history. He holds every single-season and career passing record at Newberry. Stepp, who was also named the SAC's Offensive Player of the Year, finished the season passing for 2,593 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Junior running back Alex Haynes earned a spot on the second team. Haynes, a native of Summerville, S.C., finished the season rushing for 1,007 yards, the eighth-highest mark in a single-season at Newberry. Haynes was also named to the SAC All-Conference First Team.

On the defensive side of the ball, a pair of sophomores in linebacker Will Newell and safety Derrell Mills earned a spot on the second team. Newell, a native of Irmo, S.C., finished the season with 130 tackles, the third-highest in a single-season at Newberry. He also earned SAC All-Conference First Team honors. Mills, a native of Gray Court, S.C., finished the season leading the league in interceptions with six. He too was named to the SAC All-Conference First Team.

The All-Southeast Region Team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

Wingate

Kenwin Cummings	David Jones
Dan Brooks	Chris Conklin

Five Wingate University football players have been named to the 2006 Daktronics All-Southeast Region football team. The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

All five Bulldogs earned second team honors: junior defensive lineman Kenwin Cummings, senior cornerback David Jones, senior wide receiver Dan Brooks, junior tight end Chris Conklin and senior offensive tackle Brandon Manshack. North Carolina Central University had the most honorees with 10.

Bulldog junior defensive lineman Kenwin Cummings (Maxton, N.C.) is a repeat selection, as he earned second team honors in 2005. A first team All-South Atlantic Conference performer in 2006, Cummings led the SAC in tackles for loss (17.5), quarterback hurries (15) and quarterback sacks (nine). He compiled 66 tackles (24 solo, 42 assists) and three forced fumbles in 2006.

Cummings was named to the 2005 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-America first team. In addition, he was a first team All-SAC and a first team All-Southeast region selection. In 2005, he had 71 tackles, eight sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and eight QB hurries.

Wingate senior cornerback David Jones (Greenville, S.C.) joined Cummings on the second team. Jones has been selected to play in the 2007 Hula Bowl. A first team All-SAC performer for the second year in a row, Jones recorded four interceptions in his senior campaign to bring his career total to 15. Jones also made 24 tackles (14 solo, 10 assists) in 2006 and knocked down 12 passes.

Brandon Manshack

Jones also made an impact on the offensive side of the football in 2006. He notched two receptions for two touchdowns, with an average of 62.5 yards per catch. The two receiving touchdowns in 2006, combined with his three interception returns for scores in his three previous seasons, give him a total of five visits to the end zone in his career.

Jones was a first team All-SAC selection in 2005. During the 2005 campaign, Jones intercepted five passes and made 37 tackles (30 solo, seven assists). He returned one pick-off for a touchdown in a big SAC win over Lenoir-Rhyne (Oct. 1, 2005). Jones had 10 pass deflections and one forced fumble in 2005.

Three Bulldogs were named to the second team offense. Senior wide receiver Dan Brooks (Monroe, N.C.) is a two-time All-SAC performer. Brooks earned first team honors in 2006 and second team laurels in 2005. During his senior campaign, Brooks led the South Atlantic Conference in receiving yards per game (73.5) and receptions per game (5.55). He tallied his 100th career catch against Catawba on Oct. 28, 2006.

For his Wingate career, Brooks had 116 catches for 1778 yards and 23 scores. During the 2006 season, he caught 61 passes for 809 yards and seven touchdowns. Earlier this month, Brooks was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III football first team (college division), selected by CoSIDA.

Bulldog junior tight end Chris Conklin (Snow Camp, N.C.) was also a first team All-SAC selection. Conklin led SAC tight ends with 25 catches for 438 yards and four touchdowns. He had six catches in a season-opening win over Fayetteville State.

Wingate senior offensive tackle Brandon Manshack (Charlotte, N.C.) was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs. Manshack and the Bulldog offensive line have played a big role in the success of Wingate's passing offense. Wingate led the SAC in passing offense (273.8 yards per game) during the 2006 season. The Bulldogs were second in the SAC in total offense (342.7 yards per game).

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution offering students active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, faith nurturing, career development, community service and study abroad.

Wingate offers more than 37 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers pre-professional programs and graduate degrees in business, education, physical education and sport administration. In the spring of 2007, Wingate University will award its first-ever doctor of pharmacy degrees. Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports.

Tusculum

Tusculum College's Michael Bujnak and John Gregory have been named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Football Team announced College officials Wednesday.

Michael Bujnak	John Gregory

Bujnak, a senior offensive tackle from Belleville, Ill., was named to the All-Region Second Team. The 6-6, 300-pound product from Belleville, Ill., earned All-South Atlantic Conference First Team recognition earlier this month. The Eastern Illinois transfer has started in every collegiate game he has played in, including the last two seasons at Tusculum. While at EIU, he was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference team on two occasions.

Gregory, a rookie punter from Ooltewah, Tenn., had a fine debut season leading the SAC in punting, averaging 40.9 yards per kick. The 6-2, 210-pounder earned All-SAC First Team honors and accounted for 2,866 punting yards on his 70 attempts, both second all-time in a season at Tusculum while his average is fourth-best. Gregory was named SAC Special Teams Player of the Week three times this season and was selected as national special team player of the week by D2football.com and Football Gazette.

Tusculum posted a 6-5 record, its sixth winning season in the last seven years.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of nine colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

2006 Daktronics All-Southeast Region football teams

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Pos. - Name, School, Yr.
TE - Kenneth Broadway, North Carolina Central, Sr.
WR - Cedric Jones, Valdosta State, Fr.
WR - Charles Futrell, North Carolina Central, Sr.
OL - Heath Benedict, Newberry, Jr.
OL - Robert Duncan, North Carolina Central, Sr.
OL - JoJo Bates, North Alabama, Sr.
OL - Travis Mikel-Allen, Delta State, Jr.
OL - Sam Funches, North Carolina Central, Sr.
QB - Scott Eyster, Delta State, Sr.
RB - Nathaniel Queen, Bowie State, Sr.
RB - Matt Moore, North Greenville, So.
AP - Anthony Merritt, North Alabama, Sr.
PK - Brandon Gilbert, North Carolina Central, Jr.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Pos. - Name, School, Yr.
DL - Alton Pettway, Albany State, Sr.
DL - Alex Hall, Saint Augustine's, Jr.
DL - Andre Bernardi, North Greenville, So.
LB - Kevin Jones, Saint Augustine's, Sr.
LB - Michael Eubanks, Delta State, Jr.
LB - Emanuel Plummer, Elizabeth City State, Sr.
LB -Sevohn Greer, Harding, Jr.
LB - John Perkins, West Georgia, Sr.
LB - Ed Wilson, Johnson C. Smith, Sr.
CB - Craig Amos, North Carolina Central, Jr.
CB - Robert Towns, Harding, Sr.
S - Andre George, North Carolina Central, Sr.
S - Sherard Reynolds, Valdosta State, So.
P - Kevin Dodson, Elizabeth City State, Sr.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Pos. - Name, School, Yr.
TE - Chris Conklin, Wingate, Jr.
WR - Tymere Zimmerman, Newberry, Sr.
WR - Marquis Belton, Johnson C. Smith, Sr.
WR - Dan Brooks, Wingate, Sr.
WR - Chris Carter, Elizabeth City State, Sr.
OL - Brandon Manshack, Wingate, Sr.
OL - Michael Bujnak, Tusculum, Sr.
OL - Ross Conn, Harding, So.
OL - Carlton Perry, Fayetteville State, Sr.
OL - Andrew Ross, Henderson State, Sr.
QB - Stadford Brown, North Carolina Central, Fr.
QB - Josh Stepp, Newberry, Sr.
RB - Alex Haynes, Newberry, Jr.
RB - Kyle Wess, Harding, Sr.
AP - De'Audra Dix, Johnson C. Smith, Jr.
PK - Adrian Escalona, North Greenville, Jr.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Pos. - Name, School, Yr.
DL - Greg Peterson, North Carolina Central, Sr.
DL - Kenwin Cummings, Wingate, Jr.
DL - Justin Currie, Harding, Sr.
DL - Maceo Thomas, Elizabeth City State, Sr.
LB - Naim Abdul-Malik, North Carolina Central, Sr.
LB - Will Newell, Newberry, So.
CB - David Jones, Wingate, Sr.
CB - De'Audra Dix, Johnson C. Smith, Jr.
CB - Quincy Skinner, Arkansas Tech, Sr.
S - Derrell Mills, Newberry, So.
S - Jamarcus Wiggins, Delta State, Jr.
P - John Gregory, Tusculum, Fr.