13 NEC Players Named TSN Mid-Major All-America
12/4/2006
 | | | CCSU's Justise Hairston |
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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Quarterback Josh Johnson led a group of six San Diego players that were among the 26 named to The Sports Network’s 2006 I-AA Mid-Major All-America team. Johnson, wide receiver Wes Doyle, offensive linemen Gabe DeAnda and Jordan PaoPao, defensive lineman Eric Bakhtiari and defensive back Josh Brisco all represented the 11-1 Toreros, who won The Sports Network Cup as the Mid-Major champion for the second year in a row.
The Northeast Conference had 13 players on the team, while the Pioneer Football League notched 12 selections and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference had one selection. A panel of I-AA/FCS media and sports information directors covering the 21 mid-major programs of the MAAC, NEC and Pioneer Leagues selected the team.
The All-America backfield consists of Johnson (3320 yards, 34 TD) and running backs Justise Hairston (1847 yards, 20 TD) of Central Connecticut State and Scott Phaydavong (1613 yards, 10 TD) of Drake. Johnson led the nation in total offense, and Hairston and Phaydavong both placed in the top three in rushing yardage per game.
Doyle (52 receptions, 909 yards, 11 TD) and Duquesne’s Bruce Hocker (61 receptions, 1070 yards, 16 TD) notched All-America honors at wide receiver. Robert Morris tight end Jarvis Powers (31 receptions, 421 yards, 5 TD) rounds out the trio of pass-catchers.
The offensive line consists of DeAnda, PaoPao, Monmouth’s Matt Connolly, Drake’s Matt Haas and Central Connecticut State’s Ryne Nutt.
On the All-America defensive line, Bakhtiari (63 TT, 8 sacks) made the team for the second year in a row. He is joined by Albany’s Andre Coleman (42 TT, 6 sacks) and the Robert Morris pair of Matt Brunck (74 TT, 4.5 sacks) and Ray Gensler (65 TT, 11 sacks).
Albany’s Colin Disch (103 TT, 11 TFL) is an All-American linebacker for the second consecutive year. Drake’s James Adams (93 TT, 9 TFL), Monmouth’s Mike Castellano (64 TT, 4.5 TFL) and Sacred Heart’s Jon Corto (104 TT, 11 TFL) fill out the linebacking corps.
All four players in the I-AA Mid-Major All-America secondary earned their first All-America honor. Brisco (57 TT, 2 INT) and Drake’s Andy Green (52 TT, 5 INT) represent the PFL, with Monmouth’s Matt Hill (74 TT, 3 INT) and Central Connecticut State’s Farod Muhammad (80 TT, 2 INT) earning honors from the Northeast Conference.
Davidson kicker Brad Smith (11-12 FG), Morehead State punter Mason Webb (40.9 avg) and Robert Morris return specialist Mario Hines (24.5 KR avg) make up the All-America special teams.
Drake and Robert Morris each placed four players on the All-America team, while Monmouth and Central Connecticut State each received three selections. Ten teams garnered at least one selection to the team.
All 26 players selected for The Sports Network 2006 I-AA Mid-Major All-America Team are automatically nominated for the I-AA-wide All-America team, to be announced Monday, December 18. The 21 programs of the MAAC, Northeast Conference, and Pioneer Football League, which play at a non-scholarship or limited scholarship level, make up the I-AA Mid-Major ranks.
THE SPORTS NETWORK 2006 I-AA MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Josh Johnson San Diego QB Jr. 6-3 195
Justise Hairston Central Connecticut State RB Sr. 6-1 210
Scott Phaydavong Drake RB Jr. 5-7 165
Wes Doyle San Diego WR Jr. 6-4 205
Bruce Hocker Duquesne WR Jr. 6-4 190
Jarvis Powers Robert Morris TE Sr. 6-2 180
Matt Connolly Monmouth OL Sr. 6-5 250
Gabe DeAnda San Diego OL Jr. 6-0 275
Matt Haas Drake OL Jr. 6-1 240
Ryne Nutt Central Connecticut State OL Jr. 6-4 305
Jordan PaoPao San Diego OL Jr. 5-11 292
Brad Smith Davidson K Sr. 6-0 170
Mario Hines Robert Morris RS Jr. 5-11 175
DEFENSE School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Eric Bakhtiari San Diego DL Jr. 6-4 255
Matt Brunck Robert Morris DL Sr. 6-2 255
Andre Coleman Albany DL Sr. 6-4 290
Ray Gensler Robert Morris DL Sr. 6-0 220
James Adams Drake LB Sr. 6-1 225
Mike Castellano Monmouth LB Sr. 6-2 235
Jon Corto Sacred Heart LB Sr. 6-1 195
Colin Disch Albany LB Jr. 6-1 210
Josh Brisco San Diego DB Sr. 6-2 200
Andy Green Drake DB So. 6-3 198
Matt Hill Monmouth DB Sr. 6-0 210
Farod Muhammad Central Connecticut State DB Sr. 5-11 175
Mason Webb Morehead State P So. 6-0 220
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