S.C. State's Ford Named FCS Preseason All-American
By SCSU Sports Information Friday, July 10, 2009South Carolina State running back Will Ford has been named to the preseason Sports Network FCS All-America first team, announced Thursday.
It is the second prestigious honor for the Bulldog senior in a week as the Travelers Rest native was earlier named to the Payton Watch List, from which the top offensive player in the nation will be selected.
Ford was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last year, finishing 12th, and is one of seven players who appeared on the final ballot making up the 2009 preseason All-America offensive unit.
Ford, the 2008 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the league in rushing last year with 1,499 yards and added 13 touchdowns. He has rushed for 3,640 yards during his Bulldog career and needs just over 1,000 yards to become the MEAC’s career rushing leader.
Ford is one of two MEAC players named to the Sports Network’s FCS first team. Norfolk State senior defensive back Terrell Whitehead made the first team defense.
Hampton defensive tackle Kendrick Ellis made the second team defense, while Florida A&M kick returner Leroy Vann made the second team special teams, giving the MEAC four players overall on the squad.
Other HBCU players named were wide receiver Juamorris Stewart of Southern, defensive back Anthony Beck of Prairie View and punt returner William Osborne of Texas Southern.
2009 Preseason All-American Team
First Team Offense
Player School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.
Armanti Edwards Appalachian State QB Sr 6-0 185
William Ford South Carolina State RB Sr 5-11 185
Trevyn Smith Weber State RB Sr 5-9 210
Jared Turcotte Maine FB So 6-2 232
Terrell Hudgins Elon WR Sr 6-2 234
Marc Mariani Montana WR Sr 6-0 185
Andre Roberts The Citadel WR Sr 5-11 175
Scott Sicko New Hampshire TE Sr 6-3 230
Ben Ijalana Villanova T Jr 6-4 325
James Williams Harvard T Sr 6-5 295
Jeff Hansen Montana State G Sr 6-4 290
Matthew McCracken Richmond G Sr 6-4 291
Austin Stiecken Northern Iowa C Sr 6-3 305
First Team Defense
Larry Hart Central Arkansas DE Sr 6-1 242
Austen Lane Murray State DE Sr 6-7 270
Sam Daniels James Madison DT Sr 6-1 280
Mychal Savage Youngstown State DT Sr 6-2 305
Brandin Jordan Southern Illinois LB Sr 5-11 230
Osayi Osunde Villanova LB Sr 6-1 235
Jabara Williams Stephen F. Austin LB Jr 6-3 215
Jeffery Williams Gardner-Webb LB Jr 6-0 205
Josh Morris Weber State CB Sr 6-0 180
Justin Rogers Richmond CB Jr 5-10 170
Tommy Connors Southeastern Louisiana SS Sr 6-1 205
Mark LeGree Appalachian State FS Jr 6-0 200
Terrell Whitehead Norfolk State DB Sr 6-2 200
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