SAC Places 20 Football Players On Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Southeast Region Team

ROCHESTER, MN - A total of 20 football players from the South Atlantic Conference were named to the 2007 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Team.

Four players were named to the first team, including a pair from Newberry College. Newberry running back Alex Haynes, who led the conference in rushing, and offensive guard Heath Benedict, the two-time Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, were selected to the first team offense, as was Wingate University tight end Chris Conklin. Carson-Newman linebacker Eric Rice, the SAC Defensive Player of the Year, was named to the first team defense.

Members of the All-Southeast Region first team are eligible for the national All-America ballot.

Benedict, a senior from Greer, S.C., has earned a plethora of postseason awards this season, including three all-American teams and his second consecutive Jacobs Blocking Trophy as well as being named a national finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award. He also became the first Division II player since 2004 to participate in the Senior Bowl.

Haynes, a senior from Summerville, S.C., 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.

Named to the second team offense were Catawba running back Kory Fisher and Wingate running back Nelson Woods, the SAC Freshman of the Year, as well as Newberry fullback Corey Smalls and Catawba offensive guard Terence Crosby.

Smalls, a senior from Summerville, S.C., was a key blocker throughout the season and constantly came through in the clutch in short yardage situations for the Indians. He rushed for a touchdown in the upset win over 18th-ranked Wingate as well as one against Chowan in the season opener.

Wingate defensive end Kenwin Cummings, Catawba defensive tackle Ron Ellington and Mars Hill College cornerback Rashawn Champion were all named to the second team defense.

The third team offense has six representatives from the SAC. Leading the way is Catawba quarterback Brad Roach, the SAC Offensive Player of the Year. He is joined by teammates George Bell at running back and wide receiver Brent Johnson. Also on the third team offense are Catawba running back George Bell, Carson-Newman College offensive tackle Matt Tyrell and Lenoir-Rhyne College placekicker Andrew Coln.

The third team defense has a pair of Tusculum College representatives in defensive tackle Adrian Samples and punter John Gregory. Carson-Newman cornerback Denares Waites was also named to the third team.

For Samples, this marks the second All-Region honor for him as he was named to the Daktronics All-Southeast Region Second Team in December.

Samples, a 6-2, 255-pound senior defensive end, earned All-South Atlantic Conference First Team accolades for a third straight season. The Rome, Ga. native finished third on the team with 57 tackles, including a TC-best 15 for loss (-48 yds.). Samples also led the team with six sacks, while breaking up five passes, recovered three fumbles, forced another and blocked two kicks on special teams. He is only the second Tusculum defensive lineman to earn All-Region honors (Lebron Johnson, 3rd team in 2004). During his stellar collegiate career, Samples made 130 tackles, including 43 for loss, which are the third most by a Pioneer. His 17 career sacks are fourth in school history. Samples was selected to play in the East Coast Bowl this past November.

Gregory, a 6-2, 220-pound punter, earns All-Region honors for a second consecutive year. The two-time All-SAC selection finished second in the conference averaging 40.9 yards per punt. He averaged that total, last season, earning him First Team recognition and a spot on the All-Region team. In just 22 games, he has already established a new school record for career punting yardage (5,073) and his 40.9 average is second in TC history. The Ooltewah, Tenn. sophomore was named SAC Special Teams Player of the Week on four occasions in 2007 and seven times in his career. Gregory also earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Second Team in 2007.

To view the entire Don Hansen's Football Gazette 2007 All-Southeast Region Team, click here.