South Carolina State's senior offensive lineman Raymond Harrison and junior running back Will Ford was named to the FCS (Football Championship Subdivison) AP All-American team by the Associated Press Wednesday.
Ford (RB, 5-11, 185, Jr., Travelers Rest, SC) earning Third Team Alll-American honors led the MEAC in rushing with 1,499 yards and was tied for third in the conference scoring (78 points). He carried the ball 246 times for an average of 115.3 yards and accounted for 13 touchdowns. Ford is just 1,009 yards away from becoming the MEAC's all-time leading rusher. The Preseason Player of the Year honoree, he received the Rookie of the Year award in 2006. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annualy to the best offensive player in the FCS, he recently was the recipient of the 2008 Banks McFadden Award, given annually to the top collegiate player in the Palmetto State by the Greenville Touchdown Club.
Harrison (Center, 6-2, 275, Sr., Columbia,SC) who earned Second Team All-American honors was a key performer in one of the most dominating offensive attacks in the MEAC this season for SC State. The Bulldogs' third consecutive Line of the Year, Harrison helped SCSU offense amass 4, 972 yards of total offense including 2, 651 yards on the ground. With Harrison at the lead, the Bulldogs posted the league's top rusher in running back Ford. Harrison earned Offensive Line of the Week honors twice this season.
SC State clinched the 2008 MEAC championship with a 10-3 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in league play. The Bulldogs also had ten (10) players to earn All-MEAC accolades including Oliver “ Buddy” Pough being named the MEAC Coach of the Year.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Quarterback—Armanti Edwards, junior, 6-feet, 185 pounds, Appalachian State.
Running backs—Herb Donaldson, senior, 5-11, 225, Western Illinois; Rashad Jennings, senior, 6-1, 230, Liberty.
Wide receivers—John Matthews, senior, 6-0, 203, San Diego; Ramses Barden, senior, 6-6, 225, Cal Poly.
Linemen—Colin Dow, senior, 6-5, 300, Montana; Joel Bell, senior, 6-8, 3-8, Furman; Cornelius Lewis, senior, 6-5, 310, Tennessee State; Scott Lemn, senior, 6-3, 285, James Madison; Stephen Field, senior, 6-1, 280, Cal Poly.
Tight end—Scott Sicko, junior, 6-3, 225, New Hampshire.
All-purpose player—Larry Warner, senior, 5-5, 169, Southern Illinois.
Kicker—Andrew Wilcox, senior, 6-2, 231, Elon.
Defense
Linemen—Greg Peach, senior, 6-2, 250, Eastern Washington; Larry Hart, junior, 6-1, 252, Central Arkansas; Jovan Belcher, senior, 6-2, 228, Maine; John Faletoese, senior, 6-3, 290, UC Davis.
Linebackers—Zach East, senior, 6-2, 230, Prairie View; Jason Williams, senior, 6-3, 235, Western Illinois; Nathan Williams, senior, 6-1, 225, Murray State.
Defensive backs—K.J. Gerard, senior, 6-1, 180, Northern Arizona; Ladarius Webb, senior, 5-11, 180, Nicholls State; Colt Anderson, senior, 5-11, 180, Montana ; Mark Legree, sophomore, 6-0, 200, Appalachian State.
Punter—Brett Arnold, senior, 6-0, 185, Massachusetts.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Quarterback—Rodney Landers, senior, James Madison.
Running backs—Toddrick Pendland, junior, McNeese State; Trevyn Smith, junior, Weber State.
Wide receivers—Andre Roberts, junior, The Citadel; Terrell Hudgins, junior, Elon.
Linemen—Raymond Harrison, senior, South Carolina State; Matthew McCracken, junior, Richmond; Tim Silver, senior, Richmond; Nick Hennessey, senior, Colgate; Jonathan Bieschke, senior, Appalachian State.
Tight end—Clay Harbor, junior, Missouri State.
All-purpose player—LeRoy Vann, junior, Florida A&M.
Kicker—Taylor Long, senior, Eastern Kentucky.
Defense
Linemen—James Ruffin, junior, Northern Iowa; Scott Vossler, senior, Dayton; Greg Miller, senior, Villanova; Pierre Walters, senior, Eastern Illinois.
Linebackers—Chris Covington, senior, Georgia Southern; Andy Roman, senior, Lafayette; Bobby Abare, senior, Yale.
Defensive backs—Marcus Haywood, senior, James Madison; Dominique Johnson, senior, Jackson State; Dontrell Miller, junior, Tennessee-Martin; Charles Graves, junior, Delaware.
Punter—Robbie Dehaze, senior, Northern Arizona.
THIRD TEAM
Offense
Quarterback—Cameron Higgins, sophomore, Weber State.
Running backs—William Ford, junior, South Carolina State; David Sinisi, junior, Monmouth, N.J.
Wide receivers—Thomas Harris, junior, Alabama A&M; Cameron Luke, senior, Texas State.
Linemen—Brad Samsa, senior, Youngstown State; Eman Naghavi, senior, McNeese State; Derek Wooten, senior, Wofford; Jon Compas, senior, UC Davis; James Williams, junior, Harvard.
Tight end—Abner Brown, senior, Mississippi Valley State.
All-purpose player—Williams Osborne, junior, Texas Southern.
Kicker—Andrew Samson, sophomore, Pennsylvania.
Defense
Linemen—Kevin Walsh, senior, Monmouth; Austen Lane, junior, Murray State; Everette Pedescleaux, senior, Northern Iowa; Tim Knicky, junior, Stephen F. Austin.
Linebackers—Jeffrey Williams, sophomore, Gardner-Webb; Jarrell Guyton, senior, Morgan State; Andy Schantz, senior, Portland State.
Defensive backs—Philip Ashley, junior, Charleston Southern; Tommy Connors, junior, SE Louisiana; Nick Schommer, senior, North Dakota State; Carnell Clark, junior, Jacksonville State.
Punter—Doug Spada, junior, SE Missouri State.
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