1-AA All American team - sleepers

[Nors]

RICKY SANTOS NAMED TO AFCA ALL-AMERICA TEAM AT QB
12/11/2007

WACO, TEX. — Football Championship Subdivision’s (FCS) second leading rusher and the nation’s second leading tackler headline the American Football Coaches Association 2007 Football Championship Subdivision Coaches’ All-America Team announced today.

THE OFFENSE
The runningbacks on the 2007 FCS Coaches’ All-America Team are Chad Simpson of Morgan State, Omar Cuff of Delaware and Mike McLeod of Yale. Simpson finished as the MEAC’s leading rusher and set a single season school record by accounting for 1,402 yards. He led the MEAC in scoring (90 points), and ranked second in all-purpose yards by averaging 161.8 yards per game. Cuff established new school single season records in 2007 with 377 carries, 1,889 yards, 34 rushing touchdowns and 38 total touchdowns. His 34 rushing touchdowns and 38 total touchdowns this season are both NCAA FCS records. McLeod became Yale’s first Ivy MVP since 1987 after running for a school-record 1,619 yards and 23 touchdowns.

The signal caller on this year’s squad is Ricky Santos of New Hampshire. Santos, the 2006 Walter Payton Award winner, passed for 2,972 yards and 24 touchdowns and finished seventh in the nation in total offense with a 292.3 yards per game average.

Lafayette’s Jesse Padilla, Weber State’s David Hale, Northern Iowa’s Chad Rinehart, South Dakota State’s Mitch Erickson and Appalachian State’s Kerry Brown make up the offensive line for 2007. Padilla was a senior member of an offensive line that helped Lafayette average 364.5 yards of offense and 25.5 points per game. Hale helped lead the way for a Weber State offense that averaged 399.6 yards per game, earning him First Team All-Big Sky. Rinehart helped guide the Northern Iowa rush offense to a No. 15 national ranking (227.38 ypg), and a No. 7 national ranking in total offense (457.31 ypg). Erickson anchored a Jackrabbit offensive line that helped produce averages of 34.2 points and 362.5 yards per game. Brown is the only returning AFCA All-America from last year’s squad. Brown earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded to the Southern Conference’s top offensive lineman, for the second-straight year. He helped pave the way for an Appalachian offense that ranked second in total offense at 483.5 yards per game.

The receiving corps on this year’s team is Ryan Maher of Holy Cross and Ramses Barden of Cal-Poly. Maher led the Patriot League in both receptions (6.82 catches per game) and receiving yards (82.5 yards per game). Barden set Cal Poly records for most receiving yards (1,467), points (108) and 100-yard receiving games (7) in a season, and was ranked No. 2 in the nation in receiving yards per game (133.36) in 2007.

THE DEFENSE
The defensive line is headlined by Montana’s Kroy Biermann. Biermann, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, was among the national leaders with 18 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and five forced fumbles, as well as 72 total tackles. McNeese State’s Bryan Smith was named Southland Conference Player of the Year after ranking third in the nation in quarterback sacks (10.5) and finishing as one of the nation’s leaders in tackles for a loss (22.5). Gardner-Webb’s Brian Johnston totaled 74 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2007, helping lead the ‘Dogs to No. 1 in the Big South Conference in total defense. Kendall Langford of Hampton led the team in total tackles with 72, and also accumulated 13.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks.

Western Illinois’ Jason Williams, Towson’s Brian Bradford and Prairie View A&M’s Zach East make up the linebackers on the Coaches’ All-America Team. Williams led the Gateway Conference in three defensive categories – sacks (eight), tackles for loss (16.5) and forced fumbles (five), and ranked third in tackles (107 total tackles). Bradford led the Colonial Athletic Association in tackles with 149 and finished No. 2 in the nation at 13.55 tackles per game. He was also the CAA co-leader with four forced fumbles. East finished third in the nation in tackles per game with 12.5, and finished the season with 127 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
Derrick Huff of Eastern Kentucky leads a group of four talented defensive backs on the All-America team. Huff tied for the national lead in interceptions with nine, earning him Ohio Valley Conference Defensive MVP honors. Al Donaldson of Alabama A&M was the other co-leader in interceptions, as he totaled nine in 11 games to go along with his 51 tackles and 11 pass breakups. James Madison’s Tony LeZotte recorded 88 tackles this season, including 48 unassisted, and he has two interceptions and eight pass deflections. Steven Williams of Harvard led the Ivy League and ranked fourth nationally with eight interceptions, tying Harvard’s single season mark. He also led the nation in passes defended with 23.

THE SPECIALISTS
Georgia Southern’s Jayson Foster is this year’s all-purpose player. One of three Payton Award finalists, Foster ranked fifth nationally in all-purpose yards per game at 189.09. He rushed for 1,844 yards, passed for 1,206 yards and totaled 171 yards in returns while also scoring 30 touchdowns. In 2007, punter Chris MacDonald of Texas State led the nation with a 45.92 yards per punt average. Of MacDonald’s 49 punts, 19 were over 50 yards. Placekicker Piotr Czech of Wagner was 16 of 19 on field goal attempts and 27 of 28 on PATs this season. He earned First Team All-Northeast Conference honors at both placekicker and punter and finished second on the team in scoring with 75 points.

[tomson75]

This man-crush is becoming disturbing.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by tomson75

This man-crush is becoming disturbing.

I'd just like to know how Santos makes the first team, when he's 7th in total offense... Josh Johnson from San Diego averaged nearly 80 yards per game more than Santos did... his team also led the FCS in scoring offense...

And here's a statistical comparison of the two for their respective careers:

Games played-- Santos 58, Johnson 41...

Completion percentage-- Santos 68.6, Johnson 68.0... no real difference there...

Yards per game passing-- Santos 227.8, Johnson 236.6... slight edge to Johnson...

Yards per game rushing-- Santos 24.2, Johnson 45.5... big advantage to Johnson...

Yards per game total offense-- Santos 252.0, Johnson 282.0... big advantage, Johnson...

TDs to Ints ratio: Santos 3.7 to 1 (123 TDs, 33 ints), Johnson 7.5 to 1 (113 TDs, 15 ints)... huge advantage for Johnson...

Johnson has thrown 113 TDs in 41 games, Santos has played 17 more games, and has thrown 10 more TD passes... he's also thrown 18 more ints...

Again, how does Ricky make the first team ahead of Josh??

And how come Nors isn't all over Johnson's jock, instead of Santos'??

[junk]

I wonder if Biermann gets invited to the Combine. I'd like to see how he does in LB drills and how he runs.

No way can he be an NFL defensive end, but he could be a 3-4 LB.

[Nors]

Santos has pelts on the wall, its that simple

Some other sleapers here.....

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by Nors

Santos has pelts on the wall, its that simple

Exactly what has he won?? Johnson's team was 9-2 this year, a better record than Ricky's team had... and Johnson had the better season, straight up... it wasn't really even close...

What I find particularly amusing is that you've told us repeatedly that one of the things that makes Ricky special in your eyes is his running ability... well, Johnson is a better runner...

[CPonder14]

Josh Johnson(QB) is a sleeper. If he is there in round 4 i would grab him. The kid has a lot of talent, and has good intangibles.

A project, but could pay off really nice in 3 or 4 years.

[Nors]

Originally Posted by CPonder14

Josh Johnson(QB) is a sleeper. If he is there in round 4 i would grab him. The kid has a lot of talent, and has good intangibles.

A project, but could pay off really nice in 3 or 4 years.

7th round to UDFA

[CPonder14]

Originally Posted by Nors

7th round to UDFA

I doubt it. You see the numbers he has put up in his career? That along with his rushing numbers, and add in the fact that Jim Harbaugh used to coach him.

Seems like some team will take a chance on him.

[BehindEnemyLinez]

How did Armanti Edwards from App St. not make the AA team? I know he's not that great of a traditional QB but the kid makes things happen with his legs, big time! I've only seen him twice (against Michigan and Delaware in the championship) but he was ELECTRIC in both of those games! Maybe what he did in between wasn't worthy of AA consideration but from what I saw he should be on that team! Anyone with more knowledge of 1AA ball willing to fill me in...it'll be appreciated!

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by Nors

7th round to UDFA

He'll be drafted ahead of Santos...

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by BehindEnemyLinez

How did Armanti Edwards from App St. not make the AA team? I know he's not that great of a traditional QB but the kid makes things happen with his legs, big time! I've only seen him twice (against Michigan and Delaware in the championship) but he was ELECTRIC in both of those games! Maybe what he did in between wasn't worthy of AA consideration but from what I saw he should be on that team! Anyone with more knowledge of 1AA ball willing to fill me in...it'll be appreciated!

He's a winner at that level, but bottom line, he averaged over 135 yards per game total offense less than Josh Johnson did...

At the same time, if Nors is gonna blow off Johnson's statistical edge over Santos by arguing that "Ricky's got the skins on the wall", then maybe Edwards SHOULD be the starting QB... after all, Appy State has won three straight I-AA/FCS national championships, that's a LOT of "skins on the wall", isn't it??

[Nors]

Originally Posted by silverbear

He's a winner at that level, but bottom line, he averaged over 135 yards per game total offense less than Josh Johnson did...

At the same time, if Nors is gonna blow off Johnson's statistical edge over Santos by arguing that "Ricky's got the skins on the wall", then maybe Edwards SHOULD be the starting QB... after all, Appy State has won three straight I-AA/FCS national championships, that's a LOT of "skins on the wall", isn't it??

Blow what off? Johnson has a great career and quality player. Other than his insane low Ints Santos Blows him away career stat wise.

Santos 123 TD's 33 Ints 30 Rush TD's 13,212 yards passing

Johnson - 113 TD's 15 Ints 9600+- yards passing.

My bigger question on Johnson is lack of NFL Size, weight. 200 pound QB's don't play well on Sundays.....

[tomson75]

Originally Posted by Nors

My bigger question on Johnson is lack of NFL Size, weight. 200 pound QB's don't play well on Sundays.....

The same could be said for 6'1" NFL QB's....like Santos would be if he's lucky enough to get an invitation.

Its a bit easier to grow horizontally than vertically after college too.

[Nors]

Originally Posted by tomson75

The same could be said for 6'1" NFL QB's....like Santos would be if he's lucky enough to get an invitation.

Its a bit easier to grow horizontally than vertically after college too.

Santos is 6-2 215/220 exact same size as Romo out of College.

I have never seen Johnson play and not sure if he can translate to NFL game. NFL Draftscout has him listed at 198 so that is a big indicator he can't handle the physical side of the NFL, NOW. Might be a nice UDFA prospect or is he a convert to WR?