Newberry’s Heath Benedict Named To Daktronics All-America Team

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Newberry College's Heath Benedict has been named to the 2007 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America football team, it was announced today. Benedict was named a second team selection for the second consecutive season.

Benedict, a senior offensive lineman from Greer, S.C., earns his fifth career postseason All-American honor after earning six following the 2006 season. In his two All-American seasons, the Indians compiled a record of 20-4 and were South Atlantic Conference champions in 2006.

Benedict is a national finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is awarded annually to the best lineman in Division II, for the second straight year and is the only South Atlantic Conference player named to this year's Daktronics All-America team. He is slated to play in the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on January 26, 2008. He will be only the fourth SAC student-athlete to play in the game and the first since 2004.

Benedict is a two-time winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is awarded to the top offensive lineman in the South Atlantic Conference. He was named a preseason All-American by six publications prior to the 2007 season, and was the leading vote-getter on this season's Daktronics All-Southeast Region team.

This is the 15th year the Daktronics All-America team has been selected by a vote of sports information directors from NCAA Division II football playing members. 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.

OFFENSE

TIGHT END
First Team
+Kolo Kapanui 6-5 255 Sr. West Texas A&M
Second Team
Dan Pickens 6-4 240 Sr. Indiana (Pa.)

WIDE RECEIVER
First Team
+Almonzo Banks 6-2 220 Sr. West Liberty State (W.Va.)
Weston Dressler 5-8 165 Sr. North Dakota
Second Team
Cedric Jones 6-0 180 So. Valdosta State (Ga.)
Johnny Knox 6-0 180 Jr. Abilene Christian (Texas)
Nick Smart 6-1 185 Sr. Southwest Baptist (Mo.)

OFFENSIVE LINE
First Team
+Brandon Barnes 6-2 315 Sr. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Ben Hochstein 6-4 268 Sr. Nebraska-Omaha
Reid Kirby 6-4 300 Sr. Northwest Missouri State
Tim McCutcheon 6-4 305 Sr. California (Pa.)
Nathan Young 6-3 300 Sr. Abilene Christian
Second Team
Heath Benedict 6-6 335 Sr. Newberry (S.C.)
Tony Burson 6-4 280 Sr. Midwestern State (Texas)
Mike Butterworth 6-7 330 Sr. Slippery Rock (Pa.)
Sam Collins 6-2 270 Jr. Abilene Christian (Texas)
John Strand 6-8 280 Sr. Chadron State (Neb.)

QUARTERBACK
First Team
+Daniel Polk 6-2 202 Sr. Midwestern State (Texas)
Second Team
Mark Nicolet 6-2 220 Sr. Hillsdale (Mich.)

RUNNING BACK
First Team
+Xavier Omon 5-11 220 Sr. Northwest Missouri State
Bernard Scott 5-11 220 Jr. Abilene Christian (Texas)
Second Team
Dervon Wallace 5-6 177 Sr. Shepherd (W.Va.)
Danny Woodhead 5-9 200 Sr. Chadron State (Neb.)

ALL-PURPOSE BACK
First Team
+Ryan Chappell 5-11 193 So. North Dakota
Second Team
Ashton Gronewold 5-10 190 Sr. Missouri-Rolla

PLACE KICKER
First Team
+Jared Keating 6-0 185 Jr. Mesa State (Colo.)
Second Team
Brandon Hellevang 5-9 189 So. North Dakota

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE
First Team
+Kurt Kissner 6-3 245 Sr. Mesa State (Colo.)
Dan Skuta 6-3 255 Jr. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Brandon Swain 6-4 255 Jr. West Texas A&M
Second Team
Kirby Griffin 6-2 275 Jr. California (Pa.)
Curtis Johnson 6-4 245 Sr. Clark Atlanta (Ga.)
Jake Visser 6-2 275 Jr. Ferris State (Mich.)

LINEBACKER
First Team
Anthony Adams 6-1 232 Sr. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Will Clewis 6-1 225 Sr. Central Oklahoma
Jared Erspamer 6-0 235 Sr. Northwest Missouri State
+Michael Eubanks 6-2 225 Sr. Delta State (Miss.)
Second Team
Jared Brock 6-1 232 Jr. West Texas A&M
Gary Butler 6-1 230 Sr. California (Pa.)
Lateef Ferguson 6-1 220 Sr. West Chester (Pa.)
Cody Stutts 6-0 230 Sr. Abilene Christian (Texas)

CORNERBACK
First Team
+Darren Banks 5-11 180 Jr. West Liberty State (W.Va.)
Cary Williams 6-2 190 Sr. Washburn (Kan.)
Second Team
Brandon Carr 6-1 206 Sr. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Rod Mosley 5-10 175 Sr. Texas A&M-Kingsville

SAFETY
First Team
Ranardrick Phillips 5-10 202 Sr. Tarleton State (Texas)
+Sherard Reynolds 5-10 175 Jr. Valdosta State (Ga.)
Second Team
Brian Bingnear 6-0 200 Sr. Kutztown (Pa.)
Randy Kush 5-11 200 Jr. Nebraska-Omaha
Kendall Ricketts 5-10 190 Sr. Central Missouri

PUNTER
First Team
+Michael Podobnik 6-0 230 Jr. Arkansas Tech
Second Team
Jace Amore 6-0 230 Sr. California (Pa.)

+ indicates top vote getter at a position