SAC Places 21 Football Players On Daktronics All-Region Team

NEWBERRY, S.C. -- Twenty-one football players from the South Atlantic Conference have been named to the 2010 Daktronics All-Super Region 2 Football Team, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Twelve were named to the first team, and advance to the national ballot as the 2010 Daktronics All-America Team will be announced later this month.

Tusculum led the region with six selections to the all-region squads, including three first teamers. Regional finalist Delta State had five selections, as did playoff participant North Alabama. Schools with three selections include regional finalist Albany State, playoff participants Valdosta State and Wingate, Henderson State, Mars Hill and Newberry.

Mars Hill running back Jonas Randolph, Carson-Newman offensive lineman Michael Tribue, Newberry offensive lineman Matt Holmes, Southern Arkansas defensive lineman Cedric Thornton and Newberry safety Ron Parker repeated as first team selections from 2009, while Tusculum kicker Gareth Rowlands moved from the 2009 second team to first team honors this season. First team all-region selections are eligible for the 2010 Daktronics All-American team.

Henderson State quarterback Nick Hardesty and Valdosta State linebacker Larry Dean were named the 2010 Daktronics Super Region 2 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

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. Voting for the all-region and All-American teams is powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.

Tusculum College

Bo Cordell, Deonte' Gist and Gareth Rowlands were named to the All-Region First Team, while Hannibal Ruiz, Michael Rodriguez and Terrence Smith garnered Second Team recognition.

Bo Cordell	Deonte' Gist
Gareth Rowlands	Hannibal Ruiz
Michael Rodriguez	Terrence Smith
Perry Floyd	Mike Arndt
Greg Harmon	Chandler Rearden
Marcus Shuford	Matt Holmes
Ron Parker	David Pressley
Jonas Randolph	Maurice Harris
Rudy Cabral	Michael Tribue
Nate Inman	LJ McCray
Jumal Rolle

Cordell was tabbed the First Team quarterback, along with Henderson State signal caller Nick Hardesty. Both Cordell and Hardesty are amongst the nine national finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which honors the Division II College Football Player of the Year.

Cordell a 6-1, 195-pound sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, has recorded one of the finest passing performances in NCAA history. The 2010 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year passed for a school and SAC record 4,657 yards, which are the most by any quarterback in the country (NCAA - all divisions). His passing yardage tally is also the third highest in NCAA II history. Cordell threw for 38 touchdowns, a new school single-season mark and the 20th most in NCAA II history. The Indian Hill High School graduate has also established school and SAC records with 394 completions (2nd in NCAA II history), 605 pass attempts (2nd in NCAA II history) and 702 total offensive attempts (2nd in NCAA II history).

In 2010, Cordell averaged 425.45 total offensive yards per game, which is currently the best in NCAA II. He passed for over 400 yards in nine consecutive games this season, which is a new TC, SAC and NCAA II record. He also leads the nation in completions per game (35.82 cpg) and points responsible for per game (26.00 ppg). Cordell has been named SAC Offensive Player of the Week four times this year and twice honored as national offensive player of the week by D2football.com and D2 Sports Insider.

For his young 21-game career, he is already second in school history with 8,115 passing yards and 61 touchdowns (6th in SAC history for both). His 386.4 career passing yards per game average is on pace to be a new NCAA II record.

Gist, a 5-9, 170-pound junior from Wellford, S.C., accounted for one of the greatest seasons for a receiver in league history. His 1,183 receiving yards are a new school record and the third most in conference history. The Byrnes High School graduate also established school records with his 96 receptions and 1,713 all-purpose yards. The 2010 All-SAC First Team honoree averaged a league-best 107.55 receiving yards per game, which are 17th best in the nation this year. His 8.73 receptions per contest were also tops in the league and fourth in the country. Gist tallied 10 or more catches in five games and posted over 100 receiving yards in seven of his 11 contests. He established a school single-game record with 279 all-purpose yards at Catawba, including a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Gist finished the year with nine touchdowns, including eight TD receptions.

Rowlands returns to the Daktronics All-Region Team for a second straight year, moving up from the Second Team. The two-time All-SAC First Team pick enjoyed one of the finest seasons ever by a league kicker. He established school and league single-season records with his 111 points and 21 field goals made. Rowlands leads the nation in field goals made per game (1.91) and is sixth in scoring (10.09 ppg). His 111 points are the most this season by a NCAA II kicker. He went 21-for-26 in field goals, including a string of 10 in a row towards the end of the season, which is a new school record. His streak of 53 consecutive made extra points is also a new school record. His 270 points are the most in school history by a kicker and second amongst all Pioneers. His 45 career field goals made are a new Tusculum record and tied for 25th most in NCAA II history. He is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List, which recognizes the top kicker in the country. Rowlands is also a two-time ESPN Academic All-District selection.

Ruiz, a 6-2, 310-pound senior offensive lineman from Atlanta, Ga., earns All-Region honors for the first time in his career. The two-time All-Conference honoree graded out at 80 percent for the season, while recording 75 knockdown blocks and allowed just two sacks on the year. The 2010 All-SAC First Team pick anchored an offensive line that allowed just .056 sacks per pass attempt (641 total pass attempts).

Rodriguez also earns his inaugural All-Region honor, after garnering a spot as the All-SAC Second Team tight end. The 6-2, 190-pound junior from Columbia, S.C., finished third on the team with his 70 receptions, averaging seven catches per game, which is the 19th best average in the country this year. Rodriguez tallied 727 yards and a school single-season record nine TD receptions.

Smith rounds out the All-Region honorees for the Pioneers. The 6-6, 230-pound defensive end from Riverdale, Ga., led the Pioneers with 16 tackles for loss, which are tied for the third most in school history. The 2010 All-SAC Second Team selection finished with 48 tackles (5th on the team), including three sacks, four pass break-ups, forced two fumbles, recovered one and blocked an extra point.

Wingate University

Three Wingate University football players have been named to the 2010 Daktronics All-Super Region 2 teams.

Bulldog redshirt senior return specialist Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.) was a first team pick, while redshirt junior offensive lineman Mike Arndt (Matthews, N.C.) and redshirt senior linebacker Greg Harmon (Hope Mills, N.C.) were named to the second team pick.

Floyd, Arndt and Harmon were named first team All-South Atlantic Conference in November. Floyd was a first team All-SAC return specialist and a second team All-SAC choice as a wide receiver. The 2009 All-American second team return specialist (Don Hansen's Football Gazette), Floyd is third in the NCAA with his 203.5 all-purpose yards per game.

On the SAC charts, Floyd leads the league in punt returns (15.7). Floyd's 2442 all-purpose yards this year is a single-season Wingate record. The Forestview High School product had 301 all-purpose yards as the Bulldogs defeated Carson-Newman College 38-35 (Oct. 9), giving the program its first-ever road win over Eagles. Floyd is third in the SAC in receiving yards per game (103.0 yards per game).

Arndt is a three-year starter on the Bulldog offensive line (right tackle) who has blocked for 15 100+ yard performances by Wingate running backs during his tenure. This year, the Bulldogs are second in the SAC and seventh in the nation in passing offense (332.27 yards per game). Wingate is second in the SAC and 18th in the nation in total offense (443.3 yards per game).

The Bulldog O-Line helped Nelson Woods rush for 1000 yards for the third time in his career. In addition, Arndt and his offensive line teammates helped Wingate redshirt junior Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) set numerous records on his way to Harlon Hill Trophy regional finalist honors.

Harmon led the Bulldogs with 106 tackles this year. He had seven tackles for loss and one QB sack. Harmon had 13 tackles three times this year (wins over UNC Pembroke, Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill). He posted an interception as the Bulldogs topped Newberry 49-33 to clinch their first-ever SAC regular season title (Nov. 13). In 2010, Harmon served as a team captain for the Bulldogs.

In 2008, Harmon was Wingate's team MVP and defensive MVP. During the 2008 campaign, he was second on the team with 96 tackles. Harmon had a career-best 17 stops at Carson-Newman the same season.

For the first time in school history, the 2010 Bulldogs (9-3 overall) qualified for the NCAA Division II play-offs. Wingate defeated number 23 Morehouse College 63-41 before falling to number five Albany State University 30-28 in the second round. Floyd and Harmon and their 15 senior teammates set a new school record with 31 career victories.

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne's Chandler Rearden (Greenwood, S.C.) and Marcus Shuford (Newton, N.C.) have been selected to the 2010 NCAA Division II Daktronics Football Super Region 2 First Team.

Rearden, a junior offensive tackle, was selected to the All-South Atlantic Conference First Team last month after helping the Bears lead NCAA Division II in rushing at 319.5 yards per game.

Rearden also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given annually to the top offensive lineman in the South Atlantic Conference. Rearden, a two-time all-league performer, is the first L-R player to garner such honors.

Shuford, a senior free safety from Newton, N.C., was named the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player Of The Year in 2010 after leading L-R in tackles (78) and interceptions (nine).

Shuford is the third Bear to earn league defensive MVP accolades (Butch Gunter in 1983 and Tim Clarke in 2004) and finished his Bear career with 308 tackles and 12 interceptions. Like Chandler, Shuford is also a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference First-Team selection (2009 and 2010).

Newberry College

Three Newberry College football players have been named to the 2010 Daktronics All-Super Region Two football team.

Offensive lineman Matt Holmes and safety Ron Parker earned first team all-region honors. Wide receiver David Pressley earned second team honors.

Holmes, a senior from Johnston, S.C., anchored an offensive line which allowed only 12 sacks in 365 pass dropbacks this season. The 12 sacks were the fewest allowed by a SAC team this year. This is the second straight season Holmes has earned all-region honors. He is a three-time all-SAC honoree, making the second team in 2008 and the first team in 2009 and 2010. He was a national semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, one of only 12 Division II players to earn the honor and the only player from the SAC and Super Region Two. He was named first team all-region by Daktronics in 2009 and was named all-South Carolina by The State and the Orangeburg Touchdown Club in 2009. The Gene Upshaw Award nominee completes his Newberry career with an impressive string of 30 consecutive starts.

Parker, a senior from St. Helena Island, S.C., earns all-region first team honors for the second straight season. The six time All-American and 2009 SAC Defensive Player of the Year led the conference in interceptions and fumble recoveries while making 59 tackles in his senior season. Parker finished the regular season ranked 14th nationally in interceptions with 0.56 per game, and was one of fewer than 20 players at all levels of collegiate football to record eight takeaways this season, snagging five interceptions and recovering three fumbles. He had a career-best 16 tackles at Mars Hill and had a defensive takeaway in six of his nine games played, including two straight games with two takeaways and three straight games with a fumble recovery, including a 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Catawba.

Pressley, a senior from Anderson, S.C., wrapped up a stellar career with a record-breaking season, earning all-region and all-SAC honors for the first time in his career. Pressley established new school records for receptions (86 catches) and receiving yardage (1,117 yards), becoming the first Newberry player to record over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He had 11 receiving touchdowns - the second most in a Newberry season - and 12 total touchdowns. He ranks second in Newberry history in career receptions (148 catches) and receiving touchdowns (17 receiving touchdowns) and fifth in career receiving yardage (1,860 yards). He had seven games with over 100 receiving yards this season and four games with over 150 receiving yards, including a career-high 183 yards in the season finale against Wingate. He finished the regular season leading the conference in receiving yards per game (111.7 yards), which ranked ninth nationally, and second in the league in receptions per game (8.! 6 catches per game), which ranked sixth nationally.

Mars Hill College

Mars Hil running back Jonas Randolph, defensive lineman Maurice Harris and linebacker Rudy Cabral were named to the 2010 Daktronics Super Region 2 first team offensive and defensive squads.

Randolph earns a first team selection for the second consecutive season. He led the South Atlantic Conference in rushing for two consecutive seasons. Through three seasons, Randolph has 37 touchdowns, 3,438 rushing yards and 222 points scored, all school career records.

Harris had a league-best 11 sacks. Cabral led the conference with 104 total tackles.

Carson-Newman College

Senior offensive lineman Michael Tribue (Antioch, Tenn.) paved the way for an Eagle offense that finished the season averaging 311.2 yards per game rushing, good for second nationally. The Eagles ran behind Tribue on the two-point conversion that ended up being the deciding points in the season finale, a 49-48 win at Tusculum.

Junior running back Nate Inman (Fitzgerald, Ga.) was named to the second team. He finished the year with 1,057 yards, the second highest total by an Eagle running back in the last seven years.

Catawba College

Sophomore return specialist LJ McCray (Charlotte, NC/Harding HS) and sophomore cornerback Jumal Rolle (Wilson, NC/Beddingfield HS) were both named to the second team.

Rolle, a cornerback, led the team and was second in the conference with five interceptions. He finished the season with 50 tackles, including four for losses. Rolle forced three fumbles and broke up eight other passes.

McCray, also a defensive back, was named as a return specialist. Against Tusculum, he set a NCAA II record with 304 kickoff return yards. He was the first Catawba player to return two for scores in a game and only the sixth in Division II history. McCray was the second-leading tackler on defense with 61 stops.

2010 Daktronics All-Super Region 2 Football Team

First Team Offense
QB - Bo Cordell, Tusculum
QB - Nick Hardesty, Henderson State
RB - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill
RB - Kale Gelles, Harding
OL - Chandler Rearden, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL - Kyle Thornton, North Alabama
OL - Michael Tribue, Carson-Newman
OL - Matt Holmes, Newberry
OL - Michael Mavromichalis, Albany State
TE - Sean McGrath, Henderson State
WR - Deonte' Gist, Tusculum
WR - Gerald Worsham, West Alabama
RS - Perry Floyd, Wingate
PK - Gareth Rowlands, Tusculum

First Team Defense
DL - Courtney Harris, North Alabama
DL - Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas
DL - Maurice Harris, Mars Hill
LB - Larry Dean, Valdosta State
LB - Harrison Bryant, North Alabama
LB - Rudy Cabral, Mars Hill
LB - Adam Deese, UNC Pembroke
CB - Stevie Harden, Valdosta State
CB - Chad Daniel, North Alabama
S - Marcus Shuford, Lenoir-Rhyne
S - Ron Parker, Newberry
P - Jack Fulford, Valdosta State

Second Team Offense
RB - Trevar Deed, Delta State
RB - Nate Inman, Carson-Newman
OL - Mike Arndt, Wingate
OL - Hannibal Ruiz, Tusculum
OL - Phillip Yandall, Delta State
OL - Mike Tuimavave, Henderson State
OL - LJ Tarrant, Harding
TE - Michael Rodriguez, Tusculum
WR - David Pressley, Newberry
WR - LJ Castile, Delta State
RS - LJ McCray, Catawba
PK - Jason Fowler, Ouachita Baptist

Second Team Defense
DL - Derrin Nettles, Morehouse
DL - Jacob Hardwick, Albany State
DL - Terrence Smith, Tusculum
LB - Xavier Triplett, Delta State
LB - Derrick Addai, Kentucky State
LB - Greg Harmon, Wingate
LB - Hilliard Foster, North Alabama
CB - Prathon Wilkerson, Albany State
CB - Jumal Rolle, Catawba
S - Garrett Williams, Delta State
S - Antonio Charles, Arkansas Tech
P - Derek Johnson, Arkansas-Monticello

Region Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Hardesty, Henderson State
Region Defensive Player of the Year: Larry Dean, Valdosta State