July 12, 2005
Thirteen players from the Northeast Conference are among the 28 named to The Sports Network's 2005 I-AA Mid-Major Preseason All-America team. NEC champion Monmouth led all teams with four players named to the All-America squad, while defending MAAC champion Duquesne and Robert Morris each placed three players on the team.
The All-America backfield consists of Monmouth quarterback Brian Boland (1643 yards, 12 TD) and running backs Sean Mayers (1546 yards, 8 TD) of St. Peters, Scott Phaydavong (1539 yards, 9 TD) of Drake, Ed Pricolo (1339 yards, 14 TD) of Sacred Heart and Evan Harney (1334 yards, 18 TD) of San Diego.
At wide receiver are Monmouth's Miles Austin (47 receptions, 859 yards, 9 TD) and Wagner's Chris Turner (61 receptions, 845 yards, 8 TD). Drake tight end James Mickley (34 receptions, 462 yards, 3 TD), rounds out the trio of pass-catchers.
The offensive line consists of Monmouth's John Castoro, Morehead State's Justin Farrar, Austin Peay's Adam Rector, Marist's Steve Van Soest, and Dayton's Ryan Winner.
On the All-America defensive line, Duquesne's Josh Antinopolous (63 TT, 7.5 sacks) made the team after making the last two postseason All-America squads. Robert Morris' Jason Forest (65 TT, 5 sacks) also made the 2004 All-America team. Central Connecticut State's Devon Douglass (38 tackles, 5 sacks) and Austin Peay's Steven Young (51 tackles, 4 sacks) fill out the All-America defensive line.
Duquesne's Harry Carter (105 TT, 12 TFL) and Robert Morris' James Noel (115 TT, 12 TFL, 5 sacks) were both named to the 2004 All-America team. Albany's Colin Disch (131 tackles, 15 TFL, 5 sacks) and Dayton's Jon Hoppe (57 tackles) join Carter and Noel at linebacker.
Monmouth's Nick Castellano (81 tackles), Wagner's Terek Henderson (32 tackles, 5 INT), Duquesne's Kyle Postell (47 tackles, 2 INT) and Valparaiso's Brad Smeja (79 tackles) make up the All-America secondary.
The All-America special teams include Robert Morris placekicker Nathan DiLorenzo (13/16 FG) and Jacksonville punter Ryan Feely (40.9 avg). Sacred Heart return specialist James Wright (31.2 KR avg., 1 TD) also made the squad.
Ten players were selected to the team from the Pioneer Football League, while five were named from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
The 22 programs of the MAAC, Northeast Conference and Pioneer Football League, which play at a non-scholarship or limited scholarship level, make up the I-AA Mid-Major ranks. In addition to the Preseason All-America team, The Sports Network also sponsors the Top 10 ranking for the Mid-Major teams. The No. 1 team at the end of the regular season on Nov. 21 will be honored with The Sports Network Cup as the Mid-Major champion at the TSN I-AA Awards Ceremony in Chattanooga, TN on Dec. 15.
THE SPORTS NETWORK 2005 PRESEASON I-AA MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.Brian Boland Monmouth QB Jr. 6-1 210Sean Mayers St. Peters RB Sr. 5-10 195Scott Phaydavong Drake RB So. 5-6 156Ed Pricolo Sacred Heart RB Sr. 5-10 210Evan Harney San Diego RB Sr. 6-1 220Miles Austin Monmouth WR Sr. 6-3 220Chris Turner Wagner WR Jr.. 6-3 210James Mickley Drake TE Sr. 6-2 230John Castoro Monmouth OL Sr. 6-3 275Justin Farrar Morehead State OL Jr. 6-3 270Adam Rector Austin Peay OL Sr. 6-2 315Steve Van Soest Marist OL Sr. 6-0 275Ryan Winner Dayton OL Sr. 6-6 295Nathan DiLorenzo Robert Morris K Jr. 5-11 185James Wright Sacred Heart RS Jr. 5-9 165
DEFENSE School Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt.Josh Antinopoulos Duquesne DL Sr. 6-2 265Devon Douglass Central Conn. State DL Jr. 6-1 275Jason Forest Robert Morris DL Sr. 6-2 290Steven Young Austin Peay DL Jr. 6-1 235Harry Carter Duquesne LB Sr. 6-1 235Colin Disch Albany LB So. 6-1 210Jon Hoppe Dayton LB Sr. 6-0 220James Noel Robert Morris LB Sr. 6-0 225Nick Castellano Monmouth DB Sr. 5-10 190Terek Henderson Wagner DB Sr. 5-9 175Kyle Postell Duquesne DB Jr. 5-11 185Brad Smeja Valparaiso DB Jr. 5-11 200Ryan Feely Jacksonville P Sr. 5-8 170
