Six SAC Football Playes Named To D2Football.com All-America Team

ROCK HILL, SC --- Tusculum College senior tight end Jarrell NeSmith was named a second team All-American by the staff of D2Football.com announced Thursday, January 22. The team is selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from coaches and sports information directors from around the country.

Five other SAC conference players garnered honorable mention including: Tusculum quarterback Corey Russell, Catawba College running back Jamelle Cuthbertson and offensive lineman Terence Crosby, Carson-Newman College offensive lineman Thomas Battle and Newberry College linebacker Will Newell.

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

Corey Russell

Jamelle Cuthbertson

Terence Crosby

Thomas Battle

Will Newell

Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior from Speedwell, Tenn., is enjoying one of the finest gridiron seasons ever by a Tusculum football player. He has named the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, while leading the Pioneers to a SAC Championship and a berth to the NCAA II Playoffs for the first time in school history. In 2008, he has passed for 3,787 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Cuthbertson finished his career in record setting fashion. He set season marks in rushing yards (1.411), average per game (114,1) and most 100-yard games (7). His 7.9 yards per carry was second only to Pete Stout's 1957 8.5 average and his 12 touchdowns was the sixth best total. He finished fourth-all time with 2,330 yards and became the first back to ever rush for two 200-yard games.

Crosby was a first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection and anchored the Catawba line that paved the way for a record-setting season by tailback Jamelle Cuthberton. Crosby had 27 knockdown blocks on the season and allowed just one sack in 283 pass plays.

Battle is a 6-foot-3, 315-pound offensive guard. He 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.

In 2008, Newell led Newberry in tackles for the third consecutive season, en route to South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as Daktronics All-Super Region 2 second team. He finished the 2008 season with 91 total tackles for an average of 9.1 stops per game. He recorded six tackles for loss and two sacks and forced two fumbles. He also registered five quarterback hurries, broke up three passes and snagged his first career interception on Homecoming night against Catawba.