Tusculum’s NeSmith, Russell, Carson-Newman’s Battle Named To Daktronics All-America Football Team

WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Tusculum College's Jarrell NeSmith and Corey Russell and Carson-Newman's Thomas Battle have been named to the 2008 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Football Team announced officials Tuesday afternoon.

NeSmith and Battle were named the First Team, while Russell earned Second Team recognition at quarterback.

This is the 16th year the Daktronics All-America team has been selected by a voted of sports information directors from NCAA Division II playing members.

NeSmith, a 6-2, 215-pound junior tight end from Russellville, Ala., earned All-South Atlantic Conference First Team and Daktronics Super Region Two First Team honors this year, finishing second on the team and in the league with 67 receptions. His catch tally is the third-best in school history. He totaled 635 receiving yards, while making seven touchdown receptions, which are tied for the fourth most in TC history.

Jarrell NeSmith

Thomas Battle

Corey Russell

NeSmith was also recognized for his off the field success as he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® College Division Third Team last week. The Russellville High School graduate has a 3.83 cumulative grade point average as a Pre-Medicine major. He is a two-time Academic All-District First Team selection, was also named the SAC Scholar Athlete for Football for a second consecutive year. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior from Speedwell, Tenn., smashed the record books in the finest season ever posted by a Pioneer signal caller. The 2008 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Daktronics Region Player of the Year peppered his name throughout the Tusculum, SAC and NCAA II record books.

Russell, who finished as one of eight national finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II Player of the Year), established 15 Tusculum records this season, including a pair of NCAA Division II bests. He recorded 300 or more total offensive yards on 11 occasions this season, which were the best in DII history. He recorded 674 total offensive plays, which are a new NCAA II record. The All-SAC First Team signal caller established league single-season records in total offensive yards (4907), passing yards (4097) and touchdown passes (37). He also set TC season records for completions (301) and pass attempts (505).

Russell caps one of the most successful careers in Division II history. His 11,315 total offensive yards are the most ever by a Pioneer, second in SAC history and ninth in NCAA II history. The Cumberland Gap High School graduate also set career marks in pass attempts (1382), completions (773), passing yards (9887), TD passes (82), touchdowns accounted for (103), interceptions (49) and total offensive attempts (1853). He also becomes the first Tusculum quarterback to earn NCAA II All-American and All-Region honors.

The Pioneers posted a 9-4 record winning four of their last five outings to capture TC's second South Atlantic Conference title in five years. Tusculum also made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, advancing to the Final 16.

Battle (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is a 6-foot-3, 315-pound offensive guard. The Chattanooga Tyner High School product keyed the Eagles' offensive line throughout the 2008 season, leading an offense that led the nation in rushing yards per game (310 ypg.) and rushing touchdowns (44).

The senior was named first team All-South Atlantic Conference, as well as earning the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded to the league's top lineman. He is also a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is given to the top Division II lineman.

Carson-Newman finished the 2008 season 7-4, claiming a share of the South Atlantic Conference title and reaching the Division II Playoffs.

This year's All-America team is headlined by Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scott and Northwest Missouri State safety Myles Burnsides, who were selected as the Ron Lenz Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. The awards are named in honor of Ron Lenz, the retired sports information director at South Dakota State, who was the first national coordinator of the program.

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 competition.

2008 Daktronics NCAA II All-American Football Team

First Team Offense
TE - Jarrell NeSmith, Tusculum
WR - Charly Martin, West Texas A&M
WR - Mike Washington, West Chester
OL - Thomas Battle, Carson-Newman
OL - Sam Collins, Abilene Christian
OL - Jeremy Davis, Northwest Missouri St.
OL - Billy Eisenhardt, Grand Valley St.
OL - Tony Washington, Abilene Christian
QB - Mike Reilly, Central Washington
RB - LaRon Council, Northwest Missouri State
RB - Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian
RS - Deante Steele, Shepherd
PK - Tom Schneider, North Alabama

First Team Defense
DL - Sean Paddock, Northwest Missouri St.
DL - Dan Skuta, Grand Valley State
DL - Jake Visser, Ferris State
LB - Jared Brock, West Texas A&M
LB - Matt Freed, East Stroudsburg
LB - Lardester Hicks-Green, Delta State
CB - Darren Banks, West Liberty State
CB - David Raymond, North Alabama
S - Myles Burnsides, Northwest Missouri State
S - Sherard Reynolds, Valdosta State
P - Nick Krut, East Stroudsburg

Second Team Offense
TE - Jared Bronson, Central Washington
WR - Johnny Knox, Abilene Christian
WR - Garrett Manning, Henderson State
OL - Sam Allen, Grand Valley State
OL - Nate Baier, Minnesota-Duluth
OL - Sam Hathorn, North Alabama
OL - Kendall Molz, Pittsburg State
OL - Joseph Thompson, Abilene Christian
QB - Corey Russell, Tusculum
RB - Bobby Coy, Mesa State
RB - Jerry Seymour, Glenville State
RS - Kendall Wright, Northwest Missouri State
PK - Matt Adams, Abilene Christian

Second Team Defense
DL - Louis Ellis, Shaw
DL - Ricky Hope, Texas A&M-Commerce
DL - Troy Pribnow, Wayne State (Neb.)
LB - Jared Brawner, Missouri Southern
LB - Jeffrey Cargile, Morehouse
LB - John Jacobs, Saginaw Valley State
LB - Gary Pack, West Alabama
CB - Devon Hughes, Henderson State
CB - Terrence Johnson, California (Pa.)
S - Jabir Perkins, Texas A&M-Kingsville
S - Tyler Yelk, Minnesota-Duluth
P - Will Batson, North Alabama

Ron Lenz Offensive Player of the Year Award: Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian
Ron Lenz Defensive Player of the Year Award: Myles Burnsides, Northwest Missouri State