Newberry’s Benedict, Carson-Newman’s Rice Named All-Americans By D2Football.com

LIBERTY, Mo. - Newberry College offensive lineman Heath Benedict and Carson-Newman College linebacker Eric Rice have been named first team All-Americans by D2Football.com. Six other football players from the South Atlantic Conference earned Honorable Mention honors.

Heath Benedict, a senior from Greer, S.C., adds his third postseason All-American honor of the 2007 season to a list of honors that highlights one of the most successful football careers in Newberry history. Benedict is slated to participate in next weekend's 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl (Saturday, 4 p.m., NFL Network) in preparation for April's NFL Draft. He is a three-time first team all-South Atlantic Conference honoree, two-time winner of the SAC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy and a two-time national finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award.

Rice was the leading tackler on an Eagle team that led the South Atlantic Conference in rush defense. He finished the 2007 season with 48.5 tackles. The Thomasville, Georgia native collected five sacks and an interception against FCS foe Chattanooga that helped C-N defeat the Mocs, 29-17. Rice was also named the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Heath Benedict

Eric Rice

Named to the Honorable Mention list were four players from conference co-champion Catawba College, as well as Newberry and Wingate University. The Catawba representatives were: Quarterback Brad Roach, the SAC's Offensive Player of the Year; running back Kory Fisher; wide receiver Brent Johnson and defensive lineman Ron Ellington. Also named to the Honorable Mention list are Newberry running back Alex Haynes and Wingate tight end Chris Conklin.

Newberry College running back Alex Haynes, a senior from Summerville, S.C., earns his first career All-American honor following an outstanding career as one of the top running backs in the SAC and in Newberry history. He wrapped up his career with over 2,500 rushing yards and two consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards or more. He was a first team all-South Atlantic Conference selection in each of the last two seasons and set a Newberry record with 255 rushing yards in the 2007 win over Bowie State. He was also selected to play in the 2007 East Coast Bowl.

Ellington led the Catawba defense this season with 7.5 sacks and 15 stops for losses. He totaled 70 tackles, forced four fumbles and recovered two, one of which he returned for a touchdown in Catawba's playoff win over Albany State.

For his career, Ellington finished third all-time at Catawba with 26 sacks, including a school-best seven in a win over Mars Hill as a sophomore. He posted 206 career tackles with 52 of those being for losses.

Roach enjoyed a record-breaking senior season as he threw for 3,322 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also set a season mark with a 153.4 pass efficiency rating. Roach had a record five touchdown passes in Catawba's playoff win over Albany State.

In his career, Roach finished second in passing yards (7,874), but his 212.8 per game average is tops for a career. His 62 touchdowns and .546 completion percentage also rank second all-time.

Northwest Missouri running back Xavier Omon and Delta State linebacker Michael Eubanks highlight the 100 players named to the 2007 D2Football.com All-America Team.

There were 54 schools represented. Grand Valley, who carried a 40-game winning streak into the national semifinals, had the most first-team selections with three. Abilene Christian led with six overall selections.

After being the first running back in history to rush for 1500 yards in four different seasons, Omon was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Eubanks, the all-time sack leader in Division II history, was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Valdosta State coach David Dean, who led the Blazers to a championship in his first season as head coach, was named Coach of the Year.

The D2Football.com All-America Team was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from coaches and sports information directors from around the country.

D2Football.com has named an All-America Team since its inception in 2000.

To view the entire 2007 D2Football All-America Team, click here.

2007 D2Football.com All-America Team

First Team
Offense
QB Mike Reilly 6-3 212 Jr. Central Washington
RB Xavier Omon 5-11 220 Sr. Northwest Missouri
RB Danny Woodhead 5-9 200 Sr. Chadron State
WR Almonzo Banks 6-2 220 Sr. West Liberty
WR Weston Dressler 5-7 165 Sr. North Dakota
TE Mike Peterson 6-3 250 Sr. Northwest Missouri
OL Heath Benedict 6-6 330 Sr. Newberry
OL Mackenzy Bernadeau 6-4 303 Sr. Bentley
OL Tim McCutcheon 6-4 305 Sr. California
OL Brandon Barnes 6-2 315 Sr. Grand Valley
OL Ben Hochstein 6-4 298 Sr. Nebraska-Omaha

Defense
DL Brandon Swain 6-4 255 Jr. West Texas A&M
DL Jake Visser 6-2 275 Jr. Ferris State
DL Alex Hall 6-5 225 Sr. St. Augustine's
DL Curtis Johnson 6-4 245 Sr. Clark Atlanta
LB Michael Eubanks 6-2 225 Sr. Delta State
LB Anthony Adams 6-2 234 Sr. Grand Valley
LB Eric Rice 5-11 205 Sr. Carson-Newman
DB Darren Banks 5-10 185 Sr. West Liberty
DB Sherard Reynolds 5-10 175 Jr. Valdosta State
DB Kendall Ricketts 5-10 190 Sr. Central Missouri
DB Brandon Carr 6-1 206 Sr. Grand Valley

Special Teams
AP De'Audra Dix 5-10 160 Sr. Johnson C. Smith
K Jared Keating 6-0 185 Jr. Mesa State
P Michael Podobnik 6-0 230 Jr. Arkansas Tech

Second Team
Offense
QB Mark Nicolet 6-1 220 Sr. Hillsdale
RB Bernard Scott 5-11 190 Jr. Abilene Christian
RB Dervon Wallace 5-6 177 Sr. Shepherd
WR Cedric Jones 6-0 180 So. Valdosta State
WR Elfren Quiles 6-2 205 Sr. Kutztown
TE Kolo Kapanui 6-5 255 Sr. West Texas A&M
OL Nathan Young 6-4 295 Sr. Abilene Christian
OL Vince Cashdollar 6-2 297 Sr. Ashland
OL Christian Morton 6-5 290 Sr. South Dakota
OL Tony Burson 6-4 280 Sr. Midwestern State
OL Reid Kirby 6-4 300 Jr. Northwest Missouri

Defense
DL Kurt Kissner 6-3 235 Sr. Mesa State
DL Louis Ellis 6-4 295 Jr. Shaw
DL Kirby Griffin 6-2 275 Jr. California
DL Dan Skuta 6-3 255 Jr. Grand Valley
LB Jared Brock 6-1 232 Jr. West Texas A&M
LB William Montford 5-11 215 Sr. Valdosta State
LB Gary Butler 6-1 235 Sr. California
DB Cary Williams 6-2 190 Sr. Washburn
DB Chris Hemphill 6-5 240 Sr. Central Washington
DB Randy Kush 5-10 189 Sr. Nebraska-Omaha
DB Monterio James 6-1 195 Jr. Delta State

Special Teams
AP Ryan Chappell 5-11 193 So. North Dakota
K Jared Guberman 5-9 197 Jr. West Georgia
P Wayne Durham 6-4 195 Sr. Adams State


Honorable Mention
QB Brad Roach 6-6 245 Sr. Catawba
RB Kory Fisher 5-10 195 Sr. Catawba
RB Alex Haynes 5-11 215 Sr. Newberry
WR Brent Johnson 6-2 180 Sr. Catawba
TE Chris Conklin 6-4 255 Sr. Wingate
DL Ron Ellington 6-5 215 Sr. Catawba