Wednesday, December 26, 2012

TSU Tops College Sporting News All-American Team

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Led by a running back and a big tight end, the Tigers of Tennessee State topped the selections for the 2012 Inside the HBCU Huddle/College Sporting News All-American Team.
 
The Tigers were named HBCU Program of the Year as Coach Rod Reed led the Tigers to an 8-3 record and a No. 1 ranking in the Final Top 10 Poll Ranking. TSU finished with three top five wins (3-0), wins over Arkansas Pine Bluff (No. 2; Major Division), Bethune-Cookman (No. 3; Major Division), and Jackson State (No. 4; Major Division) as well as a 4-0 record against HBCU competition includes defeating unranked Florida A&M.

TE A.C. Leonard in his first season with TSU after transferring from Florida, was the tight end selection after catching 51 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. The 733 yards were the most by a tight end at the FCS level this year and was the fourth most throughout all four divisions of college football (FBS, FCS, D-II and D-III). He led all HBCU tight ends in receptions, yards, yards per reception (14.4) and touchdowns.

After a stellar 2011 season, RB
Trabis Ward continued to refine his skills as he finished the 2012 season with 309 attempts, 1,460 yards 4.6 yards per run and 15 touchdowns. It was the second most rushing attempts in a single season in TSU history as well as the third most rushing yards in a single season.
DB Steven Godbolt III is one of two sophomores on the defensive unit. He picked off six passes in 10 games to finish first nationally in interceptions per game (0.60). He had two separate streaks during the 2012 season of three consecutive games with an interception.

Left tackle
Rogers Gaines was a part of a TSU offensive line that led the Ohio Valley Conference in rushing at 175.7 yards per game. The senior did not give up a sack all season and graded out at a 93.6. He also earned OVC 1st team Offense.

Junior kicker
Jamin Godfrey was 16-of-20 on field goals during the 2012 season. He tied his own school record that he set last season with 16 field goals and broke the school record for career field goals with 41.

TSU finished the season 8-3, the most wins in an 11 game season since 2001.

 

 
 
2012 INSIDE THE HBCU HUDDLE/CSN ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

OFFENSE

QB, Nick Elko, (6'2", 210, R Senior; Odenton, MD), Delaware State University
WR, Rico Richardson (6'1", 185, Senior; Natchez, MS), Jackson State University
WR, Xavier Boyce, (6'4", 220, R Senior; Virginia Beach, VA), Norfolk State University
RB, Trabis Ward, (5'10", 200, R Junior; Fort Lauderdale, FL), Tennessee State University
RB, Isaiah Crowell, (5'11", 190, Sophomore; Columbus, GA), Alabama State University
TE, A.C. Leonard, (6'4", 245, Sophomore; Jacksonville, FL), Tennessee State University
OT, Terron Armstead, 6'5", 320, Senior; Cahokia, IL), University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
OL Rogers Gaines, (6'7", 320, R Senior; Goodlettsville, TN), Tennessee State University
C, Eugene Solomon, 6'4", 270, Senior; Savannah, GA), Bethune Cookman University
OL Terrance Hackney, (6'6", 310, Junior; Chapel Hill, NC), Bethune-Cookman University
OT Terren Jones (6'8", 305, Junior; Fort Walton Beach, FL), Alabama State University

DEFENSE

DL, Harold Love III, (6'3", 325, Senior; Portland, OR), Bethune Cookman University
DE, Brandon Thurmond, (6'2", 260, Senior; Augusta, GA), University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
DE, Joseph LeBeau, (6'1", 245, Junior; New Orleans, LA), Jackson State University
DT, Robert Simpson, (6'4", 255, Junior; Gulfport, MS), Mississippi Valley State University
LB, Bill Ross, (6'2", 240, Senior; Wetumpka, AL), University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
LB, Lynden Trail, (6'7", 250, R Sophomore; Miami, FL), Norfolk State University
LB, Keith Pough, (6'2", 225, Junior; Orangeburg, SC), Howard University
DB, Qua Cox, (6'0", 185, R Junior; Tuskegee, AL), Jackson State University
CB, Steven Godbolt III, (6'1", 180, R Junior; Cross City, FL), Tennessee State University
CB, D’Vonte Graham, (5'9", 180, Junior; Tallahassee, FL), North Carolina A&T State University
FS, Kejuan Riley, (6'0", 180, Junior; Wetumpka, AL), Alabama State University

SPECIAL TEAMS


K, Jamin Godfrey, (6'0", 180, Junior; Englewood, TN), Tennessee State University
KR Arthur Goforth, (5'8", 171, Senior; Columbia, SC), North Carolina Central University
P, Bobby Wenzig, (6'2", 180, Junior; San Diego, CA), Alabama State University
PR Arthur Goforth, (5'8", 171, Senior; Columbia, SC), North Carolina Central University

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