Thursday, July 18, 2013

12 Tennessee StateTigers Recognized by Phil Steele

(Courtesy TSU Tigers Athletics)
NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Members of the 2013 Tennessee State football team received a great amount of national recognition in Phil Steele’s annual Preseason Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Publication.

Senior left guard Kadeem Edwards, junior redshirt cornerback Steven Godbolt III and junior tight end A.C. Leonard were all selected to Steele’s FCS Preseason All-American First Team.

Leonard is listed as the nation’s top tight end and the No. 11 overall best player.

“At 6’4, 245 pounds with great speed he is a matchup problem for most and could be the best tight end in FCS in recent memory,” Josh Buchanan of JBScouting.com said.

At No. 15 on the 100 best FCS players list, Godbolt is just four slots behind Leonard, but draws similar rave reviews.

“The 6’1, 180 pounder reminds many of [former Tennessee State cornerback] Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie as a shutdown cover corner,” Buchanan said. “His ability to shut down his side of the field makes him one of the best players in the country.”

Godbolt was also selected as the Ohio Valley Conference’s Preseason Player of the Year.
 
Edwards cracked the top-50 at No. 41 and Steele ranks him as the best guard and the third-best offensive lineman in the country.
 
“TSU has been known to have very talented offensive lineman and Edwards is no different. He will be a four-year starter and has already been named All-OVC twice. The 6’4, 320 pounder has a shot at the next level with his ability,” Buchanan said.
 
In addition to that TSU All-American trio, Steele also chose senior defensive end Antonio Harper for the Preseason All-OVC First Team.
 
Among those nominated to the league’s second team were redshirt junior quarterback Michael German, sophomore running back Telvin Hooks, senior center Demetrius Rhaney, junior defensive tackle Samquan Evans, junior middle linebacker Nick Thrasher, junior safety Daniel Fitzpatrick and senior kicker Jamin Godfrey.
 
Steele also lists sophomore Joe Bowens as the 14th best tight end in FCS, playing as Leonard’s backup.
 
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
 

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