Complete Sports Network All-American Team
PHILADELPHIA - Twelve Ohio Valley Conference football players were selected to 2008 Sports Network All-America Team on Tuesday.
The players included two first-team selection in Murray State linebacker Nathan Williams and Eastern Kentucky kicker Taylor Long, a second-team selection in Tennessee State offensive lineman Cornelius Lewis and three third-team selections in Tennessee State offensive lineman Cecil Newton, Eastern Kentucky safety Brandon Gathof and Southeast Missouri State punter Doug Spada.
Six other OVC players were tabbed honorable mention including Tennessee State running back Javarris Williams, Eastern Illinois offensive lineman Chaz Millard, Eastern Illinois defensive end Pierre Walters, UT Martin defensive tackle Ray Williams, Jacksonville State safety Carnell Clark and UT Martin safety Dontrell Miller.
Nathan Williams was the 2008 OVC Defensive Player of the Year. He recorded 179 tackles (76 solo), 13 tackles-for-loss, eight sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. The Buck Buchanan Award finalist led all levels of college football in total tackles during the regular season. He leads the FCS in solo tackles while also becoming the FCS active career leader in total tackles (396) and ranking second in solo tackles (208). Williams set the MSU single-season tackle record on his way to becoming just the third Racer player to earn OVC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He posted double digits in tackles in nine games this season and recorded at least 15 tackles in seven contests. Williams set an FCS season high when he registered 23 tackles against Illinois State. He was also named to both the Walter Camp and AP All-American Teams this season.
Long, who was also a second-team All-American this season, concluded his Colonel career as the program’s all-time leader in kicking points (285). He made 20 field goals this year which ranks second nationally at the NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) level. During one stretch this fall, Long converted 13 straight field goals including the overtime game-winner against Austin Peay on Sept. 27. Long then booted a career-best 50-yard field goal in the win over Eastern Illinois on Oct. 25. Long, a first team All-OVC pick, converted 20-of-27 (74.1 percent) of his field goal attempts this year and finished second in the league in scoring at 7.3 points per game. Long shares the program record for field goals made (49) with Dale Dawson (1983-86) and owns the program record in PATs (138).
Lewis, a two-time first-team All-OVC selection, had 35 knockdown blocks in 2008 and has anchored an offensive line that ranked first in the OVC in rushing in each 2007 and 2008. The transfer from Florida State has blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher each of the last two seasons and did not give up a sack this season. Lewis was a first-team Associated Press (AP) All-American and a CSN Fabulous Fifty honoree this season.
Newton was the leader of an offensive line that blocked for a 1,000-plus rusher in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and a team that averaged over 200 yards/agme for two straight seasons (2007, 2008). In 2008 season, he graded out an average of 90 percent per game and had 30 knockdown blocks while not give up a sack. In 2007, Newton had 24 pancake blocks along with 40 knockdowns. Newton graded out a winner for all 11 games and only gave up three sacks the entire 2007 season.
Gathof became just the eighth Colonel ever to be named first-team All-OVC three times. He was instrumental in EKU’s win over UT Martin on Nov. 22. He finished with two interceptions, including one returned 50 yards for a touchdown, and blocked the game-winning field goal attempt as time expired. That performance earned him National Player of the Week honors. Gathof, also a 2007 Sports Network third team All-American, started all 12 games as a senior while finishing second on the squad in tackles (81) and interceptions (five). His six pass break-ups in 2008 were the most on the team.
Spada, an AFCA All-American and third-team AP All-American this year, earned first-team All-OVC honors at the punter position for the second consecutive season in 2008. He ranked third nationally in punting, averaging 44.74 yards per punt. He had a long of 65 yards and downed 12 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Javarris Williams, the 2008 OVC Offensive Player of the Year, led the conference in touchdowns (15), scoring (9.6 points/game) and rushing average (103.7 yards/game) and was second in total rushing yards (1,037) despite missing the final two games of the season due to injury. He rushed for over 100 yards in six of 10 games this season and accomplished the feat 20 times in his career. He finished his TSU career with 4,329 yards (second in Tiger history) and 42 rushing touchdown (most in school history). He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons after netting 872 yards as a freshman in 2005. He was also named an AFCA All-American this season.
Millard was the only Panthers lineman to start all 12 games at the same position during the 2008 season. He graded out at 93 percent for the season collecting 57 decleater blocks for an average of 4.75 per game. He was a preseason All-American selection and is a two-time first team All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree.
Walters finished the season with 48 tackles including a team-high 16.5 tackles for loss. He ended his EIU career ranking third on the career chart for tackles for loss. Walters was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference first team selection and a 2008 preseason Buck Buchanan Award nominee. He added 4.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries and one blocked kick during the 2008 season. He was also a third-team AP All-American this season.
Ray Williams had 56 total tackles, eight tackles for a loss and five sacks in 2008.
Clark was a first-team All-OVC selection this season. The junior was second on the team with 66 tackles, including 39 solo stops. He added two interceptions, five pass break-ups and recovered three fumbles. He was also named a third-team AP All-American and a CSN Fabulous Fifty Team honor this season.
Miller, who was a second-team AP and first-team AFCA All-American this season, had 78 total tackles, four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and five defensive touchdowns in 2008. He returned three fumbles for touchdowns (an NCAA record) and two interceptions for scores. His five total defensive touchdowns in a season is believed to be a NCAA record.
2008 Sports Network All-America Team - OVC Honorees
First Team
Nathan Williams, LB - Murray State
Taylor Long, K - Eastern Kentucky
Second Team
Cornelius Lewis, OL - Tennessee State
Third Team
Cecil Newton, C - Tennessee State
Brandon Gathof, S - Eastern Kentucky
Doug Spada, P - Southeast Missouri
Honorable Mention
Javarris Williams, RB - Tennessee State
Chaz Millard, OL - Eastern Illinois
Pierre Walters, DE - Eastern Illinois
Ray Williams, DT - UT Martin
Carnell Clark, S - Jacksonville State
Dontrell Miller, S - UT Martin