University of Massachusets Athletics
Ten Earn Preseason A-10 Honors
July 31, 2003 | Football
July 31, 2003
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Ten members of the University of Massachusetts football team have been selected to the 2003 preseason All-Atlantic 10 Conference teams, it was announced this morning at Atlantic 10 Football Media Day. Senior defensive tackle Valdamar Brower (Florence, Mass.), senior linebacker Jeremy Cain (Tamarac, Fla.), sophomore tailback R.J. Cobbs (Parsippany Hills, N.J.), senior quarterback Jeff Krohn (Phoenix, Ariz.) and senior strong safety Anton McKenzie (Medford, N.Y.) were selected to the first team in voting by the conference's coaches and media, while senior offensive tackle Carmen Collins (Syracuse, N.Y.), junior cornerback Steve Costello (Kingston, N.Y.), senior defensive end Doran Davis (Elmont, N.Y.), sophomore free safety Shannon James (Stratford, Conn.) and senior linebacker Mike Ziccardi (Coral Springs, Fla.) all earned second team honors.
As a team, UMass was predicted to finish third in the 2003 Atlantic 10 preseason poll (with eight first place votes), also selected by the league's coaches and media. Northeastern placed first in the poll and collected nine first place votes, with Delaware coming in second and receiving eight first place votes. Following the Minutemen, Maine was ranked fourth (four first place votes)), with Villanova being ranked fifth, Hofstra coming in sixth (one first place vote) and William & Mary placing seventh. James Madison (eighth), Richmond (ninth), New Hampshire (10th) and Rhode Island (11th) rounded out the poll.
Brower previously earned preseason second team All-America honors from The Sports Network. Last season he was a second team All-America selection by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette, while also being named first team All-New England and second team All-Atlantic 10. He totaled 53 tackles in 11 games last year, while ranking second on the team in sacks (seven for 48 yards) and fifth in tackles for loss (14 for 61 yards). Brower also recorded team-highs of three blocked kicks and 16 quarterback hurries, to go along with two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. During his three-year UMass career, Brower now has 167 total tackles, including 22 sacks and 49 tackles for loss. He enters the 2003 season ranked fifth all-time at UMass in career sacks, standing just 11 behind Mario Perry's record of 33 (set from 1989-1993).
Cain was named second team All-America and second team All-Atlantic 10 last season, after leading the Minutemen with 133 total tackles on the year. He recorded the second-most tackles in the Atlantic 10 last season, while his 97 solo tackles were the fifth-highest single season total in UMass history. Cain also led the team in tackles for loss (18 for 72 yards), and tied for second on the squad in sacks (seven for 43 yards). In addition, Cain totaled six quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick last year. He led the team in tackles three times last season, while reaching double-figures in tackles eight times. Over the course of his three-year UMass career, Cain has now totaled 256 tackles, including 179 solo stops, 30 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
Cobbs was named the 2002 Rookie of the Year by both the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference, in addition to earning second team All-Atlantic 10 honors, after leading the team and ranking second in the Atlantic 10 in rushing with 1,067 yards and 14 touchdowns on 192 carries. He set a UMass freshman record for rushing yards, in addition to posting the third-highest rushing total by a freshman in Atlantic 10 history. Cobbs also caught 21 passes for 140 yards and a score, while returning four kickoffs for 61 yards. His 90 points scored led the team and the Atlantic 10, in addition to being a UMass freshman record, while his 1,268 all-purpose yards led the Minutemen and ranked third in the conference.
Krohn completed 152 of 287 passes for 2,032 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, while also leading the team with 1,957 yards of total offense. He placed sixth on the UMass single season list with 2,032 passing yards, which was also the third-highest mark in school history by a junior. In addition, his 152 completions were the fourth-highest single season total in school history, while his 203.2 passing yards per game, 287 attempts and 16 touchdowns rank sixth on the single season lists, and his 1,957 yards of total offense place 10th. On top of it all, UMass posted an 8-2 record in the 10 games Krohn played, with one of the losses coming against Division I-A North Carolina State.
McKenzie, a third team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 2002, ranked second on the team with 117 total tackles last season, including 85 solo stops. He also totaled nine tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, four forced fumbles, a blocked kick and an interception, which he returned 96 yards for a touchdown. McKenzie reached double figures in tackles five times last season, while leading the team in tackles on three occasions. He recorded a career-best 18 total tackles and a game-winning blocked field goal against Villanova, while also posting 16 tackles and an interception at New Hampshire. Over the course of his UMass career, McKenzie has now totaled 214 total tackles, with 155 solo stops, 20 tackles for loss, three interceptions and 13 pass breakups.
Collins returns for his fourth season as a starter on the offensive line for the Minutemen, having played in 34 career games with 29 starts. Last season, he played in all 12 of UMass games at left tackle, while starting nine times. Collins was one of the leaders of an offensive line which paved the way for the Minutemen to rush for 166.1 yards per game in 2002, while supplying pass protection to let UMass throw for 203.9 yards per contest
Costello will be one of UMass' starting cornerbacks this fall, after taking over a spot in the starting lineup midway through last season. In 12 games last year, Costello tied for the team lead with four interceptions, in addition to ranking second on the team in pass breakups with seven. He also totaled 39 tackles on the season, including 31 solo stops, in addition to recording two forced fumbles, one blocked punt and one tackle for loss. Over the course of his UMass career, Costello has 43 total tackles.
Davis, a returning starter for UMass at defensive end, has played in 25 career games with 18 starts. Last season he started all 12 games for the Minutemen, and led all UMass defensive linemen with 58 total tackles, including 42 solo stops. Davis also ranked second on the team in tackles for loss, with 16 for 29 yards, while recording a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, two pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries. During his UMass career, he has totaled 103 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
James started all 12 of UMass' games at free safety last season, and ranked third on the team with 111 total tackles, including 80 solo stops. He also led the team in pass breakups with 10, while tying for the team lead in interceptions with four. In addition, James recorded two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five tackles for loss during the 2002 season. He finished the year ranked third in the Atlantic 10 Conference in interceptions, and 10th in total tackles.
Ziccardi returns for the Minutemen at outside linebacker, having played in 23 career games at UMass, starting 15 times. In 12 games last season, he ranked sixth on the team with 83 total tackles, including 46 solo stops. Ziccardi also led the squad in sacks with 10 for 64 yards, while standing fourth in tackles for loss with 15 for 76 yards. In addition, he recorded two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries. Over the course of his career as a Minuteman, Ziccardi has totaled 118 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and three interceptions.
The Minutemen will open the 2003 season on Saturday, Sept. 6, when they play host to Central Connecticut State in a 1:00 p.m. game at Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
To view a complete list of the 2003 preseason All-Atlantic 10 Conference teams, click here.
