TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn's
Zach Watkins was named to the 2009 AFCA Division II Coaches All-America and earned second team All-American honors on the Daktronics team as well which was released today. He is also extend his collegiate career by one game as he was selected to play in the 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl which will take place on Jan. 8 at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.
Watkins is the fourth Ichabod to be named to the AFCA All-America team joining Cary Williams (2007), Trey Lewis (2006) and Troy Slusser (1988). The AFCA's Division II All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
In addition to being named the Daktronics All-South Central Region most valuable defensive player, Watkins earned first team linebacker honors as well. Watkins, who finished his career with a school record 470 total tackles was named the joined Trey Lewis (2006) as the only Ichabods to receive the league's top defensive honor. Watkins led the MIAA in tackles with 108 and a 9.8 tackles per game average was also named to the MIAA's first team defensive unit for the third time in his career.
Watkins is the sixth Ichabod to receive Daktronics All-American honors joining Cary Williams (1st, 2007), Fletcher Terrell (1st, 2005), Rudy Sué (2nd, 2005), Grant Gould (2nd, 2005) and Michael Dritlein (2nd, 1995).
Watkins will be the eighth Ichabod to play in a postseason bowl and the seventh to play in the Cactus Bowl (or Snow Bowl up until the 2000 season). He joins Cary Williams (2007), Eric Roth (2002), Colon McNeal (2001), Marc Nardella (1999), Joe Busby (1998) and Michael Dritlein (1995) to play in the Cactus/Snow Bowl. Trey Lewis took part in the first Texas vs the Nation All-Star game following the 2006 season.
2009 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team
Offense
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| WR |
Frederick Bruno |
5-8 |
205 |
Jr. |
Wayne St. (Neb.) |
Dan McLaughlin |
Miami, Fla. (Miami Springs) |
| WR |
Mike Harris |
6-1 |
192 |
Sr. |
Shippensburg |
Rocky Rees |
East Earl, Pa. (Garden Spot) |
| OL |
Nick McDonald |
6-5 |
310 |
Sr. |
Grand Valley St. |
Chuck Martin |
Sterling Heights, Mich. (Henry Ford II) |
| OL |
Andy Schoonover |
6-3 |
301 |
Sr. |
Minnesota St.-Mankato |
Todd Hoffner |
Boyceville, Wis. (Boyceville) |
| C |
Jack Hiett |
6-2 |
255 |
Sr. |
Nebraska-Kearney |
Darrell Morris |
Arvada, Colo. (Arvada West) |
| OL |
Jared Veldheer |
6-9 |
321 |
Sr. |
Hillsdale |
Keith Otterbein |
Grand Rapids, Mich. (Forest Hills Northern) |
| OL |
Tony Washington |
6-7 |
305 |
Sr. |
Abilene Christian |
Chris Thomsen |
New Orleans, La. (Alcee Fortier) |
| QB |
Nick Graziano |
6-2 |
227 |
Sr. |
Arkansas Tech |
Steve Mullins |
Moraga, Calif. (Campolindo) |
| RB |
Joique Bell* |
6-1 |
223 |
Sr. |
Wayne St. (Mich.) |
Paul Winters |
Benton Harbor, Mich. (Benton Harbor) |
| RB |
Isaac Odim |
6-0 |
215 |
Jr. |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Bob Nielson |
Rochester, Minn. (Century) |
| RB |
Jonas Randolph |
5-10 |
185 |
So. |
Mars Hill |
Tim Clifton |
Daleville, Ala. (Daleville) |
Defense
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| DL |
Xavier Brown |
6-5 |
245 |
Jr. |
C.W. Post |
Bryan Collins |
Bay Shore, N.Y. (Brentwood) |
| DL |
Marc Schiechl |
6-3 |
255 |
Jr. |
Colorado Mines |
Bob Stitt |
Lakewood, Colo. (Bear Creek) |
| DL |
Eugene Sims |
6-6 |
235 |
Sr. |
West Texas A&M |
Don Carthel |
Mt. Olive, Miss. (Mize) |
| DL |
Cedric Thornton |
6-5 |
266 |
Jr. |
Southern Arkansas |
Bill Keopple |
Star City, Ark. (Star City) |
| LB |
Lardester Hicks-Green |
6-1 |
235 |
Sr. |
Delta St. |
Ron Roberts |
Chicago, Ill. (Steinmetz) |
| LB |
John Jacobs |
6-2 |
230 |
Sr. |
Saginaw Valley St. |
Jim Collins |
Prudenville, Mich. (Midland Dow) |
| LB |
Zach Watkins |
6-0 |
235 |
Sr. |
Washburn |
Craig Schurig |
Independence, Mo. (Truman) |
| LB |
Buddy Wood |
6-3 |
214 |
Sr. |
Central Washington |
Blaine Bennett |
Chattaroy, Wash. (Riverside) |
| DB |
Myles Burnsides |
5-11 |
195 |
Sr. |
Northwest Missouri St. |
Mel Tjeerdsma |
Maryville, Mo. (Maryville) |
| DB |
Josh Jones |
5-10 |
185 |
Sr. |
Harding |
Ronnie Huckeba |
Carson, Calif. (Bishop Montgomery) |
| DB |
Quintez Smith |
6-0 |
186 |
Sr. |
Shaw |
Darrell Asberry |
Dublin, Ga. (Dublin) |
Specialists
| Pos |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
School |
Coach |
Hometown (High School) |
| P |
Kevin Berg |
6-0 |
180 |
Jr. |
Chadron St. |
Bill O'Boyle |
Longmont, Colo. (Longmont) |
| PK |
Greg Zuerlein |
6-0 |
183 |
Jr. |
Nebraska-Omaha |
Pat Behrns |
Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X) |
| AP |
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah |
6-1 |
205 |
Sr. |
Indiana (Pa.) |
Lou Tepper |
Columbus, Ohio (Whetstone) |
