WACO, Texas – Carson-Newman center Kevin Day (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) adds another honor to his postseason accolades after garnering all-American status from the American Football Coach's Association. 

Day is Carson-Newman's first AFCA All-American since Eric Rice garnered the honor in 2007.  The 6-0, 270 pound center is also a finalist for the Upshaw Award for lineman of the year, a first team all-SAC selection and the winner of the Jacobs Blocking Award. 

Day started his final 46 games in a Carson-Newman uniform. 

"He's undersized but over-hearted," Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks said. "One of the toughest players I've ever coached. There'd have to be a bone sticking out of him for him to take a play off and that's because we'd have to carry him off the field."

Day helped clear the way for the nation's top rushing offense in Division II.  The Eagles piled up nearly 380 yards a game while scoring 52 rushing touchdowns.  The 52 scores on the ground are the most among all schools in all divisions.  Only FCS' Georgia Southern averaged more yards rushing a game than C-N. 

Day is the 107^th all-American in Carson-Newman history.  Day is the 14^th C-N player to make the AFCA squad.  All told, the Eagles have 15 AFCA all-Americans (one player was named twice).  That's the seventh most all time. 

Texas A&M-Kingsville has been represented a total of 34 times by 30 players on the AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team. Trailing Texas A&M-Kingsville is Pittsburg State (19/16), Indiana (Pa.) (18/16), Northwest Missouri State (17/13), North Alabama (16/15), Abilene Christian (15/14), Carson-Newman (15/14), Grand Valley State (15/14), American International (14/13),  Ferris State (14/12), Texas A&M-Commerce (14/12), New Haven (13/13), Valdosta State (13/11), Indianapolis (10/10), Ashland (10/10) and Saginaw Valley State (10/10).

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2012 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team

Offense

Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)

WR Chris Bowden 6-2 215 Sr. Wingate  Joe Reich Forsyth, Ga. (Mary Persons)

WR John Brown 5-11 171 Jr. Pittsburg St. Tim Beck Homestead, Fla. (Homestead)

OL  Mark Jackson 6-6  320 Sr. Glenville St. David Hutchison Columbus, Ohio (Brockhaven)

OL  Garth Heikkinen 6-4 315 Sr. Minnesota-Duluth Bob Nielson Duluth, Minn. (Central)

C Kevin Day 6-0 270 Sr. Carson-Newman Ken Sparks Soddy-Daisy, Tenn. (Soddy-Daisy)

OL  Manase Foketi 6-5 320 Sr. West Texas A&M Don Carthel Hesperia, Calif. (Sultana)

OL  Ryan Schraeder* 6-7 300 Sr. Valdosta St. David Dean Wichita, Kan. (Maize)

QB  Taylor Housewright 6-2 215 Sr. Ashland Lee Owens Ashland, Ohio (Ashland)

RB  Franklyn Quiteh 5-10 203 Jr. Bloomsburg Danny Hale Tobyhanna, Pa. (Pocono Mountain West)

RB Michael Hill 5-11 205 Sr. Missouri Western St. Jerry Partridge St. Joesph, Mo. (Central)

RB Rayon Simmons, Jr. 5-10 210 Sr. Winona St.  Tom Sawyer University City, Mo. (Christian Brothers College)


Defense

Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)

DL  Brandon Williams** 6-3 325 Sr. Missouri Southern St.  Daryl Daye Kirkwood, Mo. (Rockwood Summit)

DL Brad Davis 6-1 245 Sr. Elizabeth City St.  Waverly Tillar Charlotte, N.C. (Independence)

DL  Armonty Bryant 6-4 250 Sr. East Central (Okla.) Tim McCarty Wichita Falls, Texas (Wichita Falls)

DL  Zach Moore 6-6 282 Jr. Concordia-St. Paul Ryan Williams Chicago, Ill. (Simeon Academy)

LB  Ronell Williams 6-1 230 So. West Chester Bill Zwaan Chester, Pa. (Chester)

LB  Corey Jones 6-2 240 Sr. Lane Derrick Burroughs Compton, Ca. (John C. Fremont)

LB  Jeremy Aguilar 6-1 235 Sr. Texas A&M-Kingsville Bo Atterberry Los Angeles, Ca. (Roosevelt)

DB  Don Unamba 6-1 192 Sr. Southern Arkansas Bill Keopple Hurst, Texas (L.D. Bell)

DB  Pierre Desir 6-2 206 Jr. Lindenwood (Mo.) Patrick Ross St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell Central)

DB  Rontez Miles* 6-1 210 Sr. California (Pa.) Mike Kellar Braddock, Pa. (Woodland Hills)

DB Jack Moro 5-11 190 Jr. St. Cloud State Scott Underwood Brookfield, Wis. (Central)


Specialists

Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)

P  Randy Weich 6-2 250 Sr. Wayne St. (Neb.) Dan McLaughlin Lincoln, Neb. (Pierce)

PK  Sam Brockshus 5-11 200 Jr. Minnesota St.-Mankato Aaron Keen Spencer, Iowa. (Spencer)

AP  Tyron Laughinghouse 6-2 175 Sr. St. Augustine's  Michael Costa Greenville, N.C. (Rose)


*-2011 AFCA All-American

**-2010 & 2011 AFCA All-American