FAMU's Vann Cut by 49ers, May Catch On with Titans

After having trouble holding on to punts, former Florida A&M Rattler LeRoy Vann found himself without a job this week. Vann, who had signed with the San Francisco 49ers for training camp, was supposed to be on special teams, returning punts and kick-offs. However, because he seemed to have trouble handling punts and kick-offs in practice, he was cut, according to league sources.

All may not be lost for the former Rattler cornerback who signed into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Vann's agent Karim Lawrence said that the Tennessee Titans have expressed an interest in Vann. Lawrence said that he called the Titans Monday and had held three conversations with the team. "The Titans are definitely an option, something we are looking at," Lawrence said. "There's definitely some interest there."

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NFL Jacksonville Jags will conduct private workout today with FAMU's LeRoy Vann

Folks know about all the big dogs entering this year’s NFL Draft. But a name Jags fans should file into their mental Rolodex as April approaches is LeRoy Vann, a former standout at Florida A&M, who will conduct a private workout today in Tallahassee for the Jaguars, according to an NFL source. Originally scheduled to work out for Tampa Bay later this week (with Jacksonville set to help guide the session), Vann had also planned to perform for the Jaguars shortly after the session with the Buccaneers. But the plans quickly changed thanks, in part, to a buzz beginning to build concerning Vann, who holds the NCAA record for career returns for touchdowns (eight punts – including five last season – and three kickoffs for TDs).




Instead of waiting until later this week to conduct the session they’d originally planned for Vann, the Jaguars contacted his representatives and asked for the workout to be moved up to today. Vann plans to conduct his pro day at FAMU next month. According to the league source, the Jags also plan to attend that session, despite conducting the private workout today with Vann.

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LeRoy Vann, FAMU and Zach East, PVAMU named to Walter Camp All-American Team

Florida A&M University junior return specialist LeRoy Vann was named Friday to the 2008 Walter Camp Foundation NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America Team. The all-star team is selected annually by the head football coaches and sports information directors of the FCS member schools.

The 5-9, 185-pound speedster from Tampa, Florida's Blake High School, shattered numerous school, conference and NCAA records for total returns, return yardage, while tying NCAA marks for combined TD kick returns with six. Vann tied Bashir Levingston of Eastern Washington (1998) and Corey Smith of Montana State (2003) with six (6) combined TD returns in NCAA FCS for a season. He also finished the 2008 campaign as the NCAA FCS all-time single-season leader in combined kick return yardage with 1,583 yards, surpassing the old mark of 1,469 set by Samford's David Primus in 1989. Vann also ended the season with 66 combined returns, surpassing the former mark of 64 by Connecticut's Joe Markus in 1981.

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Prairie View A&M University Panthers side linebacker Zack East was also named to the Camp All-American Team. The 6-2/230 defensive standout lead the Panthers to their best record in three decades (9-1) with 69 tackles in 10 games, with two quarterback hurries, three sacks, 14.5 tackles for losses, 1 interception and one funble recovery. East has lead Prairie View nationally ranked defense for the past two years.

In all, players from 13 different conferences and 20 institutions were represented on the 2008 Walter Camp FCS All-America team. The Southern Conference had the most players (6) followed by the Big Sky Conference (5) and Colonial Athletic Association (4). Five schools had multiple players selected, led by Appalachian State with three. Elon, James Madison, Northern Arizona, and Montana each placed two players on the 2008 Walter Camp All-America team.

2008 Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision
All-America Team

OFFENSE
WR Ramses Barden* Cal Poly Sr. 6-6 227 Altadena, CA
WR Terrell Hudgins* Elon Jr. 6-3 235 Rocky Mount, NC
TE Scott Sicko New Hampshire Jr. 6-3 230 Stillwater, NY
OL Colin Dow Montana Sr. 6-5 300 Billings, MT
OL Nick Hennessey Colgate Sr. 6-6 300 Danvers, MA
OL Joel Bell Furman Sr. 6-8 308 Spartanburg, SC
OL Jonathan Bieschke Appalachian State Sr. 6-5 275 Port St. Lucie, FL
C Scott Lemn James Madison Sr. 6-3 285 Virginia Beach, VA
QB Armanti Edwards Appalachian State Jr. 6-0 184 Greenwood, SC
RB Herb Donaldson Western Illinois Sr. 5-11 225 St. Louis, MO
RB Rashad Jennings Liberty Sr. 6-1 230 Forest, VA
PK Andrew Wilcox Elon Sr. 6-2 231 Richmond, VA

DEFENSE
DL Greg Peach Eastern Washington Sr. 6-2 250 Vancouver, WA
DL Jovan Belcher Maine Sr. 6-2 228 West Babylon, NY
DL Larry Hart Central Arkansas Jr. 6-1 242 Madison, MS
DL Greg Miller Villanova Sr. 6-3 250 Willow Grove, PA
DL John Faletoese UC Davis Sr. 6-3 292 Carmichael, CA
LB Nathan Williams Murray State Sr. 6-1 225 Murray, KY
LB Zach East Prairie View A&M Sr. 6-2 230 Houston, TX
LB Bobby Abare Yale Sr. 6-2 220 Acton-Boxboro, MA
DB Mark LeGree Appalachian State Soph. 6-0 200 Columbus, GA
DB Marcus Haywood James Madison Sr. 6-0 190 Williamsburg, VA
DB Colt Anderson Montana Sr. 5-11 195 Butte, MT
DB K.J. Gerard Northern Arizona Sr. 6-1 187 Fountain Valley, CA
P Robbie Dehaze Northern Arizona Sr. 6-3 193 Sherwood, OR
KR LeRoy Vann Florida A&M Jr. 5-9 182 Tampa, FL

* - 2007 Walter Camp FCS All-America selection

- http://www.waltercamp.org/

Taylor's special hunch on Vann pays dividends

FAMU coach's intuition results in 99-yard return

Somehow, Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor knew LeRoy Vann had it in him. And when it mattered most, the junior delivered — in a big way. Vann's 99-yard kickoff return went a long way toward helping FAMU knock down Alabama State 30-20 in the season opener Saturday night.

Less than 30 seconds after the visiting Hornets tied the Rattlers 14-14 in the second quarter, Vann tore through the turf on Bragg Memorial Stadium behind a perfectly executed wedge for an explosive 99-yard touchdown dash. The score was one of those handful of plays that Taylor calls "game changers." It was a play that helped alter the momentum as FAMU went on to win 30-20. The win was Taylor's first as the new Rattlers head coach.

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