KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Carson-Newman senior safety Mario Russell (Columbus, Ohio) and senior offensive tackle Michael Tribue (Antioch, Tenn.) have been named to the 2010 D2Football.com Preseason All-America team.
Russell is on the first team defense, while Tribue is a second team selection on offense.
Russell was a first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection a year ago after finishing fifth in the league in tackles with 102, second in the nation in forced fumbles with six and second in the conference in passes defended with 18. He garnered D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week honors after tying a NCAA Division II record with four forced fumbles in the Eagles' 23-20 win over Newberry on Sept. 26.
Tribue anchored C-N's offensive line last season and helped pave the way for a rushing attack that led the nation in rushing yards per game with an average of 336.7. He earned first team Daktronics All-American, All-SAC and Daktronics Super Region 2 All-Region honors and received the SAC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy, presented to the league's top offensive lineman.
Russell and Tribue guided the Eagles to an 11-3 finish last season, including a 7-0 mark in SAC play to win the program's 21st SAC title. C-N advanced to the semifinals of the Division II playoffs and finished the year ranked fourth in the nation.
The Eagles open the 2010 season on Saturday at home against Winona State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Burke-Tarr Stadium. The game will be televised on Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS).
2010 D2Football.com All-America Team - Preseason
First Team Offense |
|||
QB |
Blake Bolles |
Northwest Missouri |
Sr. |
RB |
Isaac Odim |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Sr. |
RB |
Jonas Randolph |
Mars Hill |
Jr. |
WR |
Jake Soy |
Northwest Missouri |
Jr. |
WR |
Thomas Mayo |
Concord |
Jr. |
TE |
Ryan Travis |
West Liberty |
Sr. |
OL |
David Mims |
Virginia Union |
Sr. |
OL |
Cameron Bradfield |
Grand Valley |
Sr. |
OL |
Trevis Turner |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
OL |
Brett Grozinger |
Northwest Missouri |
Sr. |
OL |
Brandon Fusco |
Slippery Rock |
Sr. |
First Team Defense |
|||
DL |
Cedric Thornton |
Southern Arkansas |
Sr. |
DL |
Danny Richard |
Grand Valley |
Sr. |
DL |
Xavier Brown |
C.W. Post |
Sr. |
DL |
Aston Whiteside |
Abilene Christian |
Jr. |
LB |
Justin Victor |
Grand Valley |
Sr. |
LB |
Robbie Aurich |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Sr. |
LB |
Matt Freed |
East Stroudsburg |
Sr. |
DB |
Pierre Desir |
Washburn |
So. |
DB |
Ron Parker |
Newberry |
Sr. |
DB |
Mario Russell |
Carson-Newman |
Sr. |
DB |
Ryan Jones |
Northwest Missouri |
Sr. |
First Team Specialists |
|||
AP |
Deante Steel |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
K |
Greg Zuerlein |
Nebraska-Omaha |
Sr. |
P |
Kevin Berg |
Chadron State |
Sr. |
Second Team Offense |
|||
QB |
Zach Amedro |
West Liberty |
Sr. |
RB |
Levi Terrell |
Nebraska-Omaha |
So. |
RB |
Alfonso Hoggard |
Clarion |
Sr. |
WR |
Andre Holmes |
Hillsdale |
Sr. |
WR |
Terrance Moore |
California |
Sr. |
TE |
Mike Higgins |
Nebraska-Omaha |
Sr. |
OL |
Jason Wiseman |
Northwest Missouri |
Sr. |
OL |
Nick Madia |
West Liberty |
Sr. |
OL |
Harrison Lingenfelter |
Nebraska-Omaha |
Sr. |
OL |
Michael Tribue |
Carson-Newman |
Sr. |
OL |
Dan Jordan |
California |
Sr. |
Second Team Defense |
|||
DL |
Marc Schiechl |
Colorado Mines |
Sr. |
DL |
Bryan Braman |
West Texas |
Sr. |
DL |
Malcolm Jenkins |
Elizabeth City |
Sr. |
DL |
Alex Cook |
Fort Valley |
Sr. |
LB |
Chad Kilgore |
Northwest Missouri |
Jr. |
LB |
Nick Thomas |
Wayne State (Mich.) |
Jr. |
LB |
Clay Beeler |
West Liberty |
Sr. |
DB |
Branden Williams |
Edinboro |
Jr. |
DB |
Rodney Mitchell |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr. |
DB |
Jesse Hamilton |
Minnesota State |
Jr. |
DB |
Curtis Jefferson |
West Texas |
Sr. |
Second Team Specialists |
|||
AP |
Trevar Deed |
Delta State |
Sr. |
K |
David Van Voris |
Adams State |
So. |
P |
Justin Hinson |
UNC-Pembroke |
Sr. |