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University of Massachusets Athletics
Eleven UMass Football Players Earn All-Atlantic 10 Conference Honors
November 24, 1999 | Football
Nov. 24, 1999
AMHERST, Mass. ? Eleven members of the University of Massachusetts football team have been selected to the 1999 All-Atlantic 10 Conference teams. The Minutemen had six selections to the first team, in junior linebacker Kole Ayi (Nashua, N.H.), senior tight end Sean Higgins (Brewster, N.Y.), sophomore free safety Jeremy Robinson (Syracuse, N.Y.), junior running back Marcel Shipp (Paterson, N.J.), senior cornerback Jerard White (Fort Washington, Md.) and sophomore wide receiver Adrian Zullo (Pompano Beach, Fla.). Senior quarterback Todd Bankhead (Escondido, Calif.), senior linebacker Matt Dawson (Pepperell, Mass.), senior defensive tackle Aaron Parker (New Brighton, Pa.) and senior offensive lineman Mike Wynne (Somerdale, N.J.) were all named to the second team, while senior defensive end Chris Price (Boxboro, Mass.) was a third team selection.
Ayi, one of 16 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, leads the team and ranks second in the Atlantic 10 with 130 total tackles on the season, including 93 solo stops. His 93 unassisted tackles so far this year are the ninth highest single season total in school history. Ayi has led the team in tackles eight times on the year, while also reaching double figures in tackles on eight occasions. He also ranks second on the team in sacks with five and third in tackles for loss with 11, while also recording two interceptions. For his career, Ayi ranks fourth all-time at UMass in solo tackles (238) and fifth in total tackles (338).
Higgins ranks second on the team in receiving this year with 43 catches for 466 yards and one touchdown. His total of 43 receptions so far this year ranks ninth on the UMass single season list. Higgins has caught four or more passes in seven games this season, including a career-high seven catches for 74 yards against New Hampshire. He has also been a key blocker along the offensive line, helping the Minutemen to rank third in the Atlantic 10 and 27th in the nation with an average of 196.4 rushing yards per game.
Robinson is tied for the team lead in interceptions this season with six. His six interceptions rank third in the Atlantic 10 and 11th in the nation, while also placing him 10th on the UMass single season list. Robinson also ranks third on the team in tackles with 82, including 53 solo stops, while recording 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and five pass breakups on the year. He has reached double figures in tackles four times this season, and also had a streak of five consecutive games with an interception.
Shipp, one of 16 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, has rushed 327 times for 1,572 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, while also catching 43 passes for 253 yards and another score. He has set a new UMass single season record for rushing touchdowns, while ranking second on the season list for carries, third for rushing yards and scoring (126 points), fifth for all-purpose yards (1,825 yards) and ninth for receptions. Shipp also leads the Atlantic 10 in scoring and stands second in rushing, while ranking sixth nationally in scoring, seventh in rushing and 12th in all-purpose yards. In addition, Shipp has set new UMass career records for rushing yards (4,870) and all-purpose yards (6,066), while ranking second in career carries (894) and rushing touchdowns (42).
White is tied for the team lead in interceptions this season with six. His six interceptions rank third in the Atlantic 10 and 11th in the nation, while also placing him 10th on the UMass single season list. White has also broken up 13 passes this season, the most in the conference and the fifth-highest single season total in school history. In addition, White has recorded 38 tackles on the year, with 27 solo stops and two fumble recoveries. For his career, White holds the all-time UMass record for pass breakups with 38, while ranking ninth in interceptions with 11.
Zullo leads all UMass receivers with 65 catches for 1,030 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. He ranks second in the Atlantic 10 and 17th nationally in receiving yards, while standing third in the league and 25th in the country in receptions. Zullo also ranks second on the UMass single season list for receiving yards, third for receptions and fourth for touchdowns catches. In addition, he already holds the UMass career record for receiving touchdowns with 16, while ranking third in career receiving yards (1,499) and fifth in receptions (94).
Bankhead has completed 209 of 332 passes on the year for 2,496 yards and 14 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for six scores. His 63.0 percent completion rate would break the UMass single season record, while he also ranks second on the season lists for passing yards, completions and attempts. Bankhead ranks second in the Atlantic 10 this season in pass efficiency (131.6 rating), third in passing yards and fourth in total offense (2,481 yards). In addition, he has set new UMass career records for passing yards (6,415), completions (512), attempts (857) and touchdown passes (48).
Dawson ranks sixth on the team in tackles this season with 45, including 28 solo stops. He has also recorded seven tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception on the season, despite missing two games due to injury. Dawson?s top game this year came at Villanova when he recorded 10 tackles, marking the fifth time in his career he has reached double figures in tackles. A three-year starter at linebacker, Dawson now has career totals of 237 tackles (including 143 unassisted tackles), with 11 sacks, 27 tackles for loss and four interceptions.
Parker leads all UMass defensive linemen with 41 tackles on the season, including 23 solo stops. He leads the team in sacks with six and forced fumbles with two, while also recording seven tackles for loss. In addition, Parker?s six sacks on the season rank him fifth in the Atlantic 10. He tied a career-high with nine tackles in this year?s victory at Maine, while also recording two sacks in the win over Rhode Island. For his career, Parker has now totaled 127 tackles, including 67 unassisted tackles, with 13 sacks and 18 tackles for loss.
Wynne is the leader of an offensive line which paved the way for UMass to have another impressive offensive season. He has helped the Minutemen to record 4,787 yards of total offense and 364 points on the year, both marks good for second place on the UMass single season lists. Wynne has allowed the Minutemen to rush for 196.4 yards per game this season, while supplying pass protection to let UMass throw for 238.8 yards per contest. He has also been selected as a National Scholar Athlete by both the National Football Foundation and Burger King.
Price ranks second among UMass defensive linemen with 40 tackles on the season, including 27 solo stops. He leads the team in tackles for loss with 16 on the year, a mark which places him second in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Price has also recorded four sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal. He recorded a season-high seven tackles in the victory at Maine, while also recording three tackles for loss against both New Hampshire and Rhode Island. For his career, Price now has totals of 217 tackles (with 115 solo stops), 14 sacks and 31 tackles for loss.
UMass will play at Furman this Saturday, November 27, in an NCAA Division I-AA first round playoff game. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m., as the Minutemen look to begin the defense of their 1998 national championship.