Ohio Valley Conference

EKU's Pierre Wright

TSU's Charles Anthony

Samford's Efrem Hill

Samford's Ray Nelson

The accolades continue to roll in for several Ohio Valley Conference football student-athletes as Eastern Kentucky safety Pierre Wright, Tennessee State wide receiver Charles Anthony and Samford wide receiver Efrem Hill and quarterback Ray Nelson were all named to the I-AA.org All-Star team for the 2004 season.

Wright finished second on the team with 102 tackles, a tally that tied for sixth in the league. He led EKU and ranked among Conference leaders with six interceptions and four sacks while also posting 8.5 tackles-for-loss, forcing two fumbles, and breaking up three passes. A native of Winter Garden, Fla., Wright also blocked five kicks as part of the Colonels' special teams unit and was a first team All-OVC selection.

Anthony, a two-time Payton Award Finalist, led the nation in rushing average (158.1 ypg) while recording the third-highest rushing yardage total in OVC history, re-setting his own school record with 1,739 yards on 306 carries. He also registered 318 receiving yards with two touchdown receptions to rank third in the nation in all-purpose average (187.0 ypg). The Orlando, Fla., native ran for at least one touchdown in all but the final game of the 2004 season and was second in the league in scoring (8.7 ppg). A two-time All-OVC first team selection, Anthony finished as the league’s second all-time leading rusher (5,057 yds.).

Hill, a native of Atlanta, Ga., was named first team All-OVC for the second straight year after catching 71 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns to the league in receptions (6.45 rpg.) and receiving yards (89.5 ypg) per game during the 2004 campaign. A consensus All-American each of the past two years and two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, Hill finished his career as the Bulldogs' all-time leader in receiving yardage (3,054), touchdown catches (31) and receptions (214).

Nelson was a first team All-OVC selection for the second straight year after leading the league in total offense (327.8 ypg.) and ranking second in passing (255.2 ypg.). A native of Mobile, Ala., he completed 258-of-460 passes for 2,807 yards and 20 touchdowns during the 2004 season and finished his career as Samford's all-time leader in total offense (9,575 yds.) and passing (7,950 yds.).


I-AA.ORG 2004 ALL-STAR TEAM

Coach of the Year
Ron Randleman, Sam Houston State

Offensive Player of the Year
DaVon Fowlkes, Appalachian State

Defensive Player of the Year
Boomer Grigsby, Illinois State

Lineman of the Year
Michael Roos, Eastern Washington

Freshman of the Year
Ricky Santos, New Hampshire

I-AA Playoff Most Valuable Player
Craig Ochs, Montana

OFFENSE
WR David Ball, New Hampshire
WR Efrem Hill, Samford
WR Vincent Jackson, Northern Colorado
WR Eric Kimble, Eastern Washington
T Buster Ashley, Western Kentucky
G Greg Buckley, Northwestern State
C Brandon Mason, Elon
G Eric Deutsch, Wofford
T Ben Bainbridge, Furman
TE Adam Bergen, Lehigh
QB Lang Campbell, William & Mary
QB Ray Nelson, Samford
FB Jermaine Austin, Georgia Southern
TB Clifton Dawson, Harvard
AB Charles Anthony, Tennessee State

DEFENSE
DE Brady Fosmark, Weber State
DT Chris Mooney, Delaware
DL Harold Wells, Gardner-Webb
DT Jamil Butler, Villanova
DE Chris Gocong, Cal Poly
LB Jordan Beck, Cal Poly
LB Jamall Johnson, Northwestern State
LB Kevin Talley, Norfolk State
LB Charles Thompson, Western Kentucky
CB Tad Kornegay, Fordham
CB Ahmad Treaudo, Southern
SS Pierre Wright, Eastern Kentucky
FS Alexis Moreland, Southern Illinois
NB Shannon James, Massachusetts
RV Tony LeZotte, James Madison

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Jon Scifres, Southwest Missouri State
P Paul Ernster, Northern Arizona
KR Jerome Mathis, Hampton
PR Darrell Jones, Cal Poly
LS Dusty Daws, Montana State