FSU's Johnson & Bailey, Jr., Named Preseason All-Americans

MICHAEL JOHNSON

COLON BAILEY, JR.

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  -- Fayetteville State junior Michael Johnson (Raleigh, NC) and senior Colon Bailey, Jr. (Manteo, NC) have been named to the 25th Annual USA College Football Division II Preseason All-American Teams. Johnson was placed on the First Team for defense at the free safety position; while Bailey Jr. earned Second Team accolades for offense as a running back.

For Michael Johnson (a 6-3, 191-pound free safety), this is his second honor of the preseason. He was previously named to Lindy's Sports Magazine's All-Division II First Team.  He led the Broncos defense last season and was fifth in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) with 93 tackles in ten games played. Johnson was named the CIAA Defensive Back of the Week following a stellar performance against Johnson C. Smith in which he had a career-high 19 tackles; falling just one tackle shy of the school record set in 1997 by Sam Washington.

 

Colon Bailey, Jr. (a 6-0, 200-pound running back) was recently named to the Preseason All-CIAA Team at the conference's Media Day in Winston-Salem, NC.

 

He earned CIAA All-Conference honors last season after rushing for 1,015 yards and ten touchdowns. Bailey, Jr. became the first FSU running back since Clifton Davis in 1994 to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. He finished 38th nationally in rushing and was fourth in the conference in rushing yards and touchdowns.

The duo was two of ten players from the conference to be selected as a Preseason All-American. Johnson was joined on the First Team by offensive lineman Nathaniel Hartung (Winston-Salem State), defensive lineman TJ Batchelor (Chowan) and linebacker Carlos Fields (Winston-Salem State). The Second Team, along with Bailey, Jr., consisted of offensive lineman Vincent Maene (Elizabeth City State), defensive lineman Javarous Faulk (Saint Augustine's) and defensive back Darnell Evans (Shaw). Bowie State tight end Khari Lee (Third Team) and defensive back Curtis Pumphrey (Honorable Mention) also received recognition.

The Broncos open the 2013 season on Sept. 7 against the Virginia State Trojans at L.N. Jeralds Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.  Fans wishing to purchase 2013 season tickets may do so online via etix.com or by contacting Antoinette Fairley, FSU Ticket Manager, by phone at (910) 672-1724 or by e-mail at afairley@uncfsu.edu.

Fayetteville State University is the second-oldest public institution in North Carolina. A member of the University of North Carolina System, FSU has nearly 6,000 students and offers degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. 

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION