By: Matthew Bonnette, Associate SID
NATCHITOCHES – A year after becoming the first Northwestern State sophomore linebacker to earn All-America honors, junior linebacker
Derek Rose was named to the 2011 Associated Press Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America Third Team.
Rose, whose 91 tackles and 10 tackles for a loss led the Demons this past season, is the first NSU player to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons since defensive tackle Tory Collins achieved the feat in 2005 and 2006. Rose was named to the Sports Network All-America second team last year in addition to a fourth team selection to the Phil Steele All-America squad.
Rose, a New Orleans-O. Perry Walker product, can become just the second three-time All-America in Demon football history next season, joining College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Gary Reasons, who earned those honors from 1981-83 and was the first three-time All-American in FCS history.
He could also join an elite group of Southland Conference athletes as only two other players – Terry Irving and Shonz LaFrenz of McNeese State – have been named an All-American when competing in the conference.
In addition to his team-leading tackles and TFLs, Rose had one interception, forced three fumbles, recovered a fumble, broke up two passes, and compiled seven quarterback hurries.
He recorded 13 tackles in each of the last three games and had a season-high three tackles for a loss in a comeback win over Delta State to open the season.
Stephen F. Austin offensive lineman George Bias was the only Southland player voted onto the first team while Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders and defensive back Darnell Tayler earned second team honors. SFA all-purpose back Gralyn Crawford and SHSU defensive back Daxton Swanson joined Rose on the third team.
2011 ASSOCIATED PRESS FCS ALL-AMERICA SQUAD
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Bo Levi Mitchell, senior, 6-2, 210, Eastern Washington.
Running backs - Shakir Bell, sophomore, 5-8, 185, Indiana State; Eric Breitenstein, junior, 5-11, 225, Wofford.
Linemen - J.C. Oram, senior, 6-4, 300, Weber State; George Bias, senior, 6-3, 305, Stephen F. Austin; Paul Cornick, senior, 6-6, 309, North Dakota State; Brett Moore, senior, 6-3, 255, Georgia Southern; Tom Compton, senior, 6-6, 314, South Dakota.
Receivers - Rodrick Rumble, junior, 6-2, 201, Idaho State; Aaron Mellette, junior, 6-4, 212, Elon; Ryan Spadola, junior, 6-3, 205, Lehigh.
All-purpose - Jonathan Grimes, senior, 5-10, 201, Williams & Mary.
Kicker - Zach Brown, junior, 6-1, 200, Portland State.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Ben Boothby, senior, 6-0, 280, Northern Iowa; Zack Nash, senior, 6-4, 260, Sacramento State; Ben Obaseki, junior, 6-3, 260, Indiana State; Adrian Hamilton, senior, 6-3, 255, Prairie View A&M.
Linebackers - Tyler Holmes, senior, 6-0, 224, Massachusetts; Kadarron Anderson, senior, 6-1, 234, Furman; Caleb McSurdy, senior, 6-1, 242, Montana.
Defensive backs - Marcus Williams, sophomore, 5-11, 190, North Dakota State; Trumaine Johnson, senior, 6-3, 210, Montana; Ryan Steed, senior, 5-11, 188, Furman; Josh Norman, senior, 6-2, 190, Coastal Carolina.
Punter - David Harrington, senior, 6-2, 1985, Idaho State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Chris Lum, senior, Lehigh.
Running backs - Terrance West, freshman, Towson; Tim Flanders, sophomore, Sam Houston State.
Linemen - Bryan Boerner, senior, Southern Illinois; Gino Gradowski, senior, Delaware; Nate Page, senior, Wofford; Blake Matthews, senior, Norfolk State; Joe Faiella, senior, Stony Brook.
Receivers - Brian Quick, senior, Appalachian State; Mario Louis, senior, Grambling; Nicholas Edwards, junior, Eastern Washington.
All-purpose - Brock Jackloski, senior, Stony Brook.
Kicker - Ryan Estep, senior, Norfolk State.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Brent Russell, junior, Georgia Southern; Blake Olijaro, sophomore, San Diego; Andrew Schaetzke, senior, Georgetown; Ronnie Cameron, senior, Old Dominion.
Linebackers - Matt Evans, junior, New Hampshire; Blake Peiffer, junior, Southeast Missouri State; A.J. Storms, senior, Idaho State.
Defensive backs - Kejuan Riley, junior, Alabama State; Justin Bethel, senior, Presbyterian; Darnell Taylor, junior, Sam Houston State; Bryce Robertson, senior, Bucknell.
Punter - Jonathan Plisco, junior, Old Dominion.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Casey Brockman, junior, Murray State.
Running backs - Nick Schweiger, senior, Dartmouth; Matt Denham, junior, Eastern Kentucky.
Linemen - Scott Schweitzer, senior, Tennessee Tech; Jon Apperud, senior, Montana; Malcolm Boyd, junior, Liberty; Jeff Adams, senior, Columbia; Troy McKenna, junior, Lehigh.
Receivers - Shane Savage, senior, Cornell; Tre Gray, senior, Richmond; Elvis Akpla, senior, Montana State.
All-purpose - Gralyn Crawford, junior, Stephen F. Austin.
Kicker - Tyler Sievertsen, sophomore, Northern Iowa.
DEFENSE
Linemen -Ryan Davis, senior, Bethune-Cookman; Tyler Osborne, senior Southern Utah; Josue Ortiz, senior, Harvard; Joseph Lebeau, junior, Jackson State.
Linebackers - L.J. Fort, senior, Northern Iowa;
Derek Rose, junior, Northwestern State; Keith Pough, junior, Howard.
Defensive backs - Serge Kona, junior, Duquesne; Asa Jackson, junior, Cal Poly; Jeremy Caldwell, senior, Eastern Kentucky; Daxton Swanson, junior, Sam Houston State.
Punter - Patrick Murray, junior, Fordham
