All-American Team

Boxtorow Preseason All-American team Announced
Ten Boxtorow All-American’s from 2010 headline the Boxtorow Preseason HBCU All-American team.

Jackson State QB Casey Therriault

The preseason team is made up of 25 of the top HBCU football players in the country. The voters are comprised of some of America’s top writers and media members who cover HBCU football.

Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault, who was the Boxtorow and SWAC Newcomer of the Year and first team All-SWAC last year has also been tabbed SWAC Pre-season Player of the Year and is on the Payton Watch List. After leading the Tigers to an 8-3 record, he finished 2nd in FCS with 3,436 yards passing and 3rd in the nation averaging 312.0 yards per game. He threw for 31 touchdowns and rushed for another 10 scores. Therriault's 3,600 yards of total offense was 2nd in FCS.

Joining Therriault in the backfield is North Carolina A&T’s Mike Mayhew and Texas Southern’s Marcus Wright. Last year, Mayhew carried the ball 221 times for 1,082 yards and 7 TDs. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry. Mayhew has also earned a spot on the prestigious Walter Payton Watch List for the upcoming 2011 season. Wright was first team All-SWAC last season after leading the SWAC in rushing attempts (261) and placing second in yards (1,212) while rushing for 8 TDs.

The offensive line is led by two Boxtorow All-Americans from a year ago. Grambling’s Sanford Banks helped current Dallas Cowboys running back Frank Warren rush for 1,537 yards, 4th in the nation and 18 TDs. Bethune-Cookman center Natiel Curry helped lead a Wildcats offensive line that enabled Bethune-Cookman 426 yards of total offense per game, which was 12th in the nation and 38 points per game (2nd in the nation).

Joining Banks and Curry on the offensive line is James Dekle of Prairie View A&M, Juavahr Nathan of South Carolina State and Norfolk State’s Kendall Noble.

In a close vote at wide receiver, Jackson State’s Marcellos Wilder and Albany State’s Octavius Staton prevailed. Wilder was first team All-SWAC a year ago and was third in the SWAC in receptions (57) and TDs (8) and fourth in receiving yards (726). Staton caught 32 passes for 518 yards and 6 TDs, averaging 16.2 yards per reception.

The tight end is Fort Valley State's Tony Davis. The 6-4, 220, Sr. from Fort Valley, Ga. was named Boxtorow All-American last year as he recorded50 receptions for 611 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Grambling State linebacker Cliff Exama received all but one vote and leads the defensive unit. Exama was a Boxtorow All-American last year after finishing second in the SWAC in tackles with 106, while recording eight tackles for loss. He also registered 2.5 sacks and three interceptions.

Joining Exama is Bethune-Cookman linebacker Ryan Lewis and Howard linebacker Keith Pough. Lewis has been tabbed the MEAC’s Defensive Player of the Year. In 2010 Lewis recorded 81 tackles (44 solo), 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, and four interceptions on his way to first team All-MEAC honors. Pough was a Boxtorow honorable mention last year after a superb sophomore campaign. His 28.5 tackles for loss led FCS, while his 10.5 sacks led the MEAC. He also recorded 100 tackles which tied for 2nd in the MEAC.

Bethune-Cookman’s Ryan Davis, a Boxtorow All-American last year, leads the defensive line selections. He recorded 57 tackles (31 solo), 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks to go along with 4 passes defended.

Marquis Jackson was the leader on the Texas Southern defensive line which ranked first in total defense in FCS. A first team All-SWAC performer last season, Jackson recorded 61 tackles (21 solo), 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks for losses totaling 61 yards and six pass break-ups.

Charles Deas of Shaw was a dominating force on the defensive line that helped lead Shaw to the CIAA Championship. Deas recorded 62 tackles (24 solo), 12 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Pat Washington of South Carolina State recorded 42 tackles a season ago. He also registered 17 tackles for loss, third in the MEAC while his eight sacks ranked him second in the conference.

Prairie View A&M DB Moses Ellis

The secondary is led by two 2010 Boxtorow All-American’s in Prairie View A&M’s Moses Ellis and Bethune-Cookman’s Michael Williams. Ellis, the SWAC’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 41 tackles while leading FCS in interceptions (8) and passes defended (22). Williams’ six interceptions were 2nd in the MEAC. He also registered 44 tackles (25 solo) and three tackles for loss.

Joining Ellis and Williams is Alabama State’s Kejuan Riley and South Carolina State’s Dominique Ellis. Riley was first team All-SWAC last season and his seven interceptions were 2nd in the SWAC and tied for ninth in the nation. He also recorded 63 tackles (32 solo) and six pass break-ups. Dominique Ellis was second team All-MEAC last year and recorded 52 tackles, three pass break-ups and one interception.

The specialists were all Boxtorow All-American’s last year. South Carolina State kicker Blake Erickson (5-10, 165, Sr., Cantonment, Fla.) connected on 18-of-21 field goals, an 85.7 percent connect rate and led the MEAC in scoring for the second-straight year with 93 points.

Stillman’s Ronnie Partridge is the punter. Last year’s Boxtorow All-American led the nation in punting average (45.5). He recorded 17 punts of 50 yards or more and had 16 punts downed inside the 20.

North Carolina A&T’s Justin Ferrell returned 26 kickoffs for 694 yards. His 26.7 yards per return led the MEAC and he also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.

This is the fifth year of the Boxtorow Preseason HBCU Football All-American team. FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW is the sports talk show which places major emphasis on HBCU Sports. For more information log onto www.boxtorow.com.

2011 Boxtorow Preseason HBCU All-American Team

Offense
QB: Casey Therriault, Jackson State, 6-3, 205, Sr., Wyoming Park, Mich.
RB: Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T 5-10, 205, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
RB: Marcus Wright, Texas Southern, 5-10, 210, Sr., Dayton, Ohio
OL: Sanford Banks , Grambling State, 6-4, 319, r-soph., Columbus, Ga.
OL: Natiel Curry, Bethune-Cookman, 6-2, 280, Sr., Miami, Fla.
OL: James Dekle, Prairie View A&M, 6-2, 275, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
OL: Juavahr Nathan, South Carolina St., 6-2, 260, r-Sr., Ladson, S.C.
OL: Kendall Noble, Norfolk State, 6-4, 290, r-Sr., Rocky Mount, N.C.
TE: Tony Davis, Fort Valley State , 6-4, 220, Sr., Fort Valley, Ga.
WR: Octavius Staton, Albany State, 6-2, 195, Sr., Greenville, N.C.
WR: Marcellos Wilder, Jackson State, 6-3, 195, Sr., Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Defense
DL: Ryan Davis, Bethune-Cookman, 6-4, 240, Sr., Tampa. Fla.
DL: Charles Deas, Shaw, 6-6, 305, Sr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
DL: Marquis Jackson, Texas Southern, 6-5, 275, Jr., Inglewood, Calif.
DL: Pat Washington, South Carolina St., 6-2, 240, Sr., Hollywood, S.C.
LB: Cliff Exama, Grambling State, 6-0, 230, Sr., North Miami Beach, Fla.
LB: Ryan Lewis, Bethune-Cookman, 6-1, 220, Sr., Pompano Beach, Fla.
LB: Keith Pough, Howard, 6-3, 225, r-Jr., Orangeburg, S.C.
DB: Dominique Ellis, South Carolina St., 5-11, 195, r-Sr., Wendell, S.C.
DB: Moses Ellis, Prairie View A&M, 5-9, 175, r-Sr., Fort Worth, Texas
DB: Kejuan Riley, Alabama State, 6-0, 182, Jr., Wetumpka, Ala.
DB: Michael Williams, Bethune-Cookman, 6-3, 190, r-Sr., Miami, Fla.

Specialists
PK: Blake Erickson, S.C. State, 5-10, 165, Sr., Pensacola, Fla.
P: Ronnie Partridge, Stillman, 5-10, 183, Sr., Red Springs, S.C.
RS: Justin Ferrell, North Carolina A&T 5-9, 185, Sr., Danville, Va.