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University of Massachusets Athletics
Four Minutemen Earn All-America Honors
August 01, 2003 | Football
Aug. 1, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. - Four members of the University of Massachusetts football team have been selected as 2003 preseason All-Americans by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette. Senior defensive tackle Valdamar Brower (Florence, Mass.) was named to the first team, senior linebacker Jeremy Cain (Tamarac, Fla.) was a second team selection, and senior quarterback Jeff Krohn (Phoenix, Ariz.) and senior strong safety Anton McKenzie (Medford, N.Y.) both earned honorable mention distinction.
Brower previously earned preseason second team All-America honors from The Sports Network and was a preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection. 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, a preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection, 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.
Krohn, a preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection, 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 preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection, ranked second on the team with 117 total tackles last season (including 85 solo stops), and was named third team All-Atlantic 10. 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.
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 Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette preseason All-America teams in PDF format, click here.