Ten SAC Football Players Earn Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-America Honors

ROCK HILL, SC - Tusculum College tight end Jarrell NeSmith was named a first team All-American by the 2008 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America Team announced Friday and was one of ten football players recognized from the South Atlantic Conference.

Carson-Newman offensive lineman Thomas Battle was named to the second team. Tusculum quarterback Corey Russell, linebacker Justin Scott, punter John Gregory, and Catawba offensive tackle Terence Crosby were named to the third team. Carson-Newman running back Buck Wakefield, Catawba running back Jamelle Cuthbertson and defensive tackle Melquan Fair, and Tusculum wide receiver Ryan Tallent were honorable mentions.

NeSmith, a 6-2, 215-pound junior tight end from Russellville, Ala., has earned All-American distinction four times this year.

Jarrell NeSmith	Thomas Battle
Corey Russell	Justin Scott
John Gregory	Terence Crosby
Buck Wakefield	Jamelle Cuthbertson
Melquan Fair	Ryan Tallent

He has been named to the Associated Press Little All-America Team, Daktronics Division II All-America Team and the D2Football.com All-America Team. He also earned All-South Atlantic Conference First Team, Daktronics Super Region Two First Team and Football Gazette All-Region First Team honors this season. He totaled 635 receiving yards, while making seven touchdown receptions, which are tied for the fourth most in TC history.

Battle, 6-foot-3, 315-pound Chattanooga Tyner High School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) product, keyed the Eagles' offensive line throughout the 2008 season, leading an offense that led the nation in rushing yards per game (310 ypg.) and rushing touchdowns (44).

Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior quarterback from Speedwell, Tenn., smashed the record books in the finest season ever posted by a Pioneer signal caller. Russell established 15 Tusculum records this season, including a pair of NCAA Division II bests. He recorded 300 or more total offensive yards on 11 occasions this season, which were the best in DII history. He recorded 674 total offensive plays, which are a new NCAA II record. The All-SAC First Team signal caller established league single-season records in total offensive yards (4907), passing yards (4097) and touchdown passes (37). He also set TC season records for completions (301) and pass attempts (505).

Scott, a 6-3, 235-pound linebacker from Jamestown, S.C., has been Tusculum's Minister of Defense this year leading the team and South Atlantic Conference with 113 tackles, the second most in school history. He also been a two-time All-SAC selection, pushing his name into the record book in tackles for loss in a season (22) and a career (51). His seven career fumble recoveries are the most ever in Tusculum history. Scott was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week for his 10-tackle performance against Mars Hill.

Gregory, a 6-2, 210-pound junior punter from Ooltewah, Tenn., also garners his first All-America honor after finishing third in the nation in punting average. He has earned All-Region honors twice this year and for a third straight season. Gregory owns the three top career marks for punt attempts (175), punting yards (7293) and punting average (41.67). He averaged 43.52 yards per punt this season which is a new school record.

Crosby was a first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection and anchored the Catawba line that paved the way for a record-setting season by tailback Jamelle Cuthberton. Crosby had 27 knockdown blocks on the season and allowed just one sack in 283 pass plays.

Wakefield was a first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection and finished with 921 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns. He also caught nine passes for 146 yards to help lead Carson-Newman to a 7-4 season and a share of the SAC championship.

Cuthbertson finished his career in record setting fashion. He set season marks in rushing yards (1.411), average per game (114.1) and most 100-yard games (7). His 7.9 yards per carry was second only to Pete Stout's 1957 8.5 average and his 12 touchdowns was the sixth best total. He finished fourth-all time with 2,330 yards and became the first back to ever rush for two 200-yard games.

Fair was a first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection and led Catawba with six and half sacks this season and had 16 total stops for losses.

Tallent, a 5-10, 210-pound receiver from Maryville, Tenn., garners All-America honors for the first time in his career. The two-time All-SAC First Team standout also tied a school season record with nine TD receptions this year.

This marks the 21st year Don Hansen's Football Gazette, a recognized authority on small college football, has selected a NCAA Division All-America Team.