FAMU's Vann Earns His Place In History

A First-team All-American.

It is the goal of every elite college football player, but only a select few can be recognized with that special distinction. That's why Florida A&M University junior return specialist LeRoy Vann, a Blake High graduate, will always consider 2008 as his most special season. Vann, after a record-setting season, was named to the Walter Camp Foundation NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) All-America Team.

Vann runs into permanent Rattler lore with a sizzling 92 yards kickoff for TD against 2008 MEAC Champions, S.C. State Bulldogs 10/4/2008.


"He's creating a larger recognition base for himself, but it goes to show no matter where you are, if you work hard, it will not go unnoticed," FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. "Individually, it brings him great recognition, but it brings recognition to Florida A&M University in a very positive way. It's going to help with our recruiting, because young men are going to see that Florida A&M is where you can play and still get recognized."

FAMU's LeRoy Vann returns kickoff 80 yards for Rattler touchdown against MEAC foe Delaware State before national television audience on ESPNU Thursday Night game, 9/4/08 at Dover, DE.

His accomplishments were difficult to ignore. Vann, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound cornerback, was the only Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player to make the team. He set an FCS single-season record for combined kick-return yardage (1,583 yards), breaking the mark of 1,469, set by Samford's David Primus in 1989. Additionally, Vann had six touchdowns on kick returns, tying the single-season record of Eastern Washington's Bashir Levingston (1998) and Montana State's Corey Smith (2003). He had 66 combined returns - another national record - breaking the mark of 64, set by Connecticut's Joe Markus in 1981. Vann shared the glory, giving credit to FAMU special-teams coach Rod Plummer.

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