University of Massachusets Athletics
Shannon James Named AP Division I-AA All-American
December 17, 2004 | Football
Dec. 17, 2004
NEW YORK - UMass junior defensive back Shannon James (Stratford, Conn.) continues to rack up major postseason awards in 2004. He was named to the Associated Press Division I-AA All-American First Team.
He was also named a first-team All-American by The Sports Network. James, who was also the A-10 Defensive Football Player of the Year, led the Conference and shared the national lead in interceptions with eight. He registered 75 tackles, including 59 solo stops.
The junior picked off two passes in three of Massachusetts' 11 games this season and his 16 career interceptions are the most of any active player in I-AA.
James was also named to the New England Sports Writers All-Star Team.
Here's the release from the Associated Press
Lang Campbell played like an All-American even against major college competition.
The William & Mary quarterback started the season with two touchdown passes and two TD runs against North Carolina, nearly leading his I-AA team to an upset of the Tar Heels from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Campbell went on to throw for 3,998 yards and 30 touchdowns, and earned a spot on The Associated Press I-AA All-America team announced Wednesday.
Led by Campbell, the Tribe (11-3) shared the Atlantic 10 Conference crown and set a school record for victories.
He was one of four A-10 players selected first-team All-American, along with offensive lineman Matt Magerko of James Madison, defensive back Shannon James of Massachusetts and linebacker Liam Ezekiel of Northeastern.
Ezekiel, the A-10 defensive player of the year, was one of five players to repeat as a first-team All-American.
The others were Tennessee State tailback Charles Anthony, the nation's leading rusher (158.1 yards per game), offensive linemen Buster Ashley of Western Kentucky and Eric Deutsch of Wofford, and linebacker Boomer Grigsby of Illinois State.
Wofford and Cal Poly were the only schools with multiple players on the first team, each getting two.
Deutsch was joined by defensive lineman Lee Basinger while Cal Poly was represented by defensive back Kenny Chicoine and defensive lineman Chris Gocong.
The All-American receivers were two of the best players in I-AA.
Appalachian State's Davon Fowlkes led the nation in catches (103), yards receiving (1,618) and all-purpose yards (2,313).
Northern Colorado's Vincent Jackson is considered a possible first-round NFL draft choice. He caught 80 passes for 1,382 yards.
"In summation, he's as good as we've ever had," Northern Colorado coach Kay Dalton said. "He's the kind of guy you build a game plan around."
Dustin Long of Sam Houston State, a transfer from Texas A&M, was the second-team quarterback.
Campbell, Fowlkes and Long were the finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the best player in I-AA and will be handed out Thursday night in Chattanooga, Tenn.
"I'd love to get it," Campbell said. "Any national recognition like this, they are team awards because not everyone can see every player play."
James Madison and Montana, who will play in the Division I-AA championship game on Saturday in Chattanooga, each had two players on the three AP All-America teams.
Besides Magerko, James Madison had freshman defensive back Tony LeZotte on the second team.
LeZotte and Drake running back Scott Phaydavong, a third-teamer, were the only freshmen on the teams.
Montana was represented by offensive lineman Cory Procter and defensive lineman Mike Murphy on the second team.
Harvard running back Clifton Dawson, Lehigh tight end Adam Bergen and offensive linemen Ben Bainbridge of Furman and Elmer McDaniel of Southern Illinois completed the first-team offense.
Jerome Mathis of Hampton, who returned an NCAA record five kickoffs for touchdowns was picked as an all-purpose player. Jon Scifres of Missouri State is the All-American kicker and Paul Ernster of Northern Arizona is the punter.
Tad Kornegay of Fordham and Southern's Ahmad Treaudo, who leads the nation with nine interceptions, round out the first-team secondary. Linemen Brady Forsmark of Weber State and Harold Wells of Gardner-Webb complete the first-team defense.
2004 AP I-AA All-America team
First Team
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Lang Campbell, William & Mary, senior.
Running backs: Charles Anthony, Tennessee State, senior; Clifton Dawson, Harvard, sophomore.
Wide receivers: DaVon Fowlkes, Appalachian State, senior; Vincent Jackson, Northern Colorado, senior.
Tight end: Adam Bergen, Lehigh, senior.
Linemen: Ben Bainbridge, Furman, senior; Eric Deutsch, Wofford, senior; Buster Ashley, Western Kentucky, senior; Elmer McDaniel, Southern Illinois, senior; Matt Magerko, James Madison, junior.
All-purpose: Jerome Mathis, Hampton, senior
Kicker: Jon Scifres, Southwest Missouri State, junior.
DEFENSE
Linemen: Brady Forsmark, Weber State, junior; Harold Wells, Gardner-Webb, senior; Chris Gocong, Cal Poly, junior; Lee Basinger, Wofford, senior.
Linebackers: Boomer Grigsby, Illinois State, senior; Jamall Johnson, Northwestern State, senior; Liam Ezekiel, Northeastern, senior.
Defensive backs: Tad Kornegay, Fordham, senior; Shannon James, Massachusetts, junior; Kenny Chicoine, Cal Poly, sophomore; Ahmad Treaudo, Southern, senior.
Punter: Paul Ernster, Northern Arizona, senior.
Second Team
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Dustin Long, Sam Houston State, senior.
Running backs: Oscar Bonds, Jacksonville State, senior; Jamal Branch, Colgate, senior.
Wide receivers: David Ball, New Hampshire, sophomore; Dominique Thompson, William & Mary, senior.
Tight end: Ray Goodson, Southeast Missouri, senior.
Linemen: Jeff Bolton, Montana State, junior; Chad Motte, Georgia Southern, junior; Adam Bourget, Northeastern, senior; Cory Procter, Montana, senior; Mike Roos, Eastern Washington, senior.
All-purpose: Eric Kimble, Eastern Washington, junior
Kicker: Craig Coffin, Southern Illinois, sophomore.
DEFENSE
Linemen: Tom Alfsen, Lehigh, senior; Sean Conover, Bucknell, junior; Mike Murphy, Montana, sophomore; Marcus Lorick, Eastern Illinois, senior.
Linebackers: Jordan Beck, Cal Poly, senior; Kevin Talley, Norfolk State, senior; Gian Villante, Hoftsra, sophomore.
Defensive backs: Pierre Wright, Eastern Kentucky, senior; Alexis Moreland, Southern Illinois, senior; Sidney Haugabrook, Delaware, senior; Tony LeZotte, James Madison, freshman.
Punter: David Simonhoff, Southeast Missouri, sophomore.
Third Team
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks: Erik Meyer, Eastern Washington, junior.
Running backs: Travis Glasford, Western Illinois, junior; Scott Phaydavong, Drake, freshman.
Wide receivers: Felton Huggins, Southeastern Louisiana, junior; Jarrod Fuller, Sam Houston State, senior.
Tight end: Wade Fletcher, Columbia, senior.
Linemen: Albert Turner, Georgia Southern, senior; Dustin Bayer, Rhode Island, senior; Jelani Clement, Hampton, senior; John Pettus, Jacksonville State, senior; Chris Louvier, Sam Houston State, senior.
All-purpose: Brian Edwards, Harvard, senior.
Kicker: Greg Kuehn, William & Mary, junior.
DEFENSE
Linemen: Roy Ravenell, Furman, sophomore; Tom Parks, Delaware, junior; Jamil Butler, Villanova, senior; Adam Connor, William & Mary, junior.
Linebackers: William Freeman, Furman, junior; Roger Cooper, Montana State, senior; Nick DiPadova, Southern Utah, senior.
Defensive backs: Darren Barnett, Southwest Missouri State, junior; A.J. Bryant, Georgia Southern, junior; Nick Collins, Bethune-Cookman, senior; Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado, junior.
Punter: Brian Claybourn, Western Kentucky, senior.
