University of Massachusets Athletics
Four UMass Football Players Honored By New England Writers
November 30, 2005 | Football
Nov. 30, 2005
BOSTON - UMass had four players named to the New England Football Writers Division I-AA All-Star Team. Senior safety Shannon James (Stratford, Conn.) was named to the team for the second year in a row. Joining him on the team were senior defensive end Keron Williams (Lake Park, Fla.), senior linebacker Serge Tikum (Silver Spring, Md.) and junior punter Christian Koegel (Deerfield Beach, Fla.).
All four players were also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Teams.
All-American James had a strong season with 55 tackles and four interceptions also earning A-10 First Team honors. He finished his UMass career as the all-time leading in interceptions with 20 and fourth in career solo tackles with 253. He was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 in addition to being a First Team pick.
Williams was stellar up front finishing with 56 tackles, four sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss of yards. He was named to the A-10 First Team in 2005. In his career, he had 33 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He was an A-10 Third Team selection in 2004.
Senior captain Tikum has been the model of consistency and finished his career with 54 tackles in the 2005. He was also named to the A-10 Secon Team. He also had his first career interception. He finished his career with 255 tackles.
The A-10's Special Teams Player of the Year, Koegel led the Atlantic 10 and ranks fourth nationally with a 43.0 average on 49 punts. The junior dropped 18 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line and has boomed at least one 50-yard punt in 14 of his last 19 contests. He is UMass' all-time leader in career punting average as well at 40.95.
The team, which represents 10 schools, will be honored at the annual New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thurs., Dec. 8, at the Lantana Restaurant in Randolph, Mass.
Defense DL Derek Stank New Hampshire Sr. DL Mike Berg Harvard Jr. DL Anthony Gargiulo Dartmouth Sr. DL Keron Williams Massachusetts Sr. LB Jermaine Walker Maine Sr. LB Zak DeOssie Brown Jr. LB Matt Thomas Harvard Jr. LB Serge Tikum Massachusetts Sr. DB Shannon James Massachusetts Sr. DB Jamie Gasparella Brown Sr. DB Corey Graham New Hampshire Jr. DB Jarrod Gomes Maine Sr. P Christian Koegel Massachusetts Jr.
Offense QB Ricky Santos New Hampshire So. RB Clifton Dawson Harvard Jr. RB Nick Hartigan Brown Sr. WR David Ball New Hampshire Jr. WR Cory Parks Northeastern Sr. WR Ashley Wright Yale Jr. TE Jonathan Williams New Hampshire Sr. OL David Cannon Holy Cross Sr. OL Ryan Gibbons Northeastern Sr. OL Will Johnson Harvard Sr. OL Alex Jury Brown Sr. OL Ben Lazarski Maine Sr. OL Shamel Lewis Rhode Island Jr. K Steve Morgan Brown So. RS Steve Silva Holy Cross Sr.
