Roster | Schedule | News | Archives | Home

Dec. 8, 2009

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M defensive end, Eugene Sims, has been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America team, the organization announced Tuesday.

A native of Mt. Olive, Miss., Sims (6-6, 235, Sr-3L), Sims was the Buffs' leading tackler among down linemen, recording 56 total tackles (19 solo, 37 assists). He also had a team-high 13.5 tackles for minus-89 yards in losses, as well as 7.0 sacks for minus-57 yards, five pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, four blocked kicks, three forced fumbles and one safety. Earlier this season, Sims was named Lone Star Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year for a second-consecutive season, as well as being a first-team all-LSC South Division selection.

Sims becomes the seventh Buffalo to have garnered AFCA all-America recognition. Previous selections were Stan Carroway (WR, 1986), Mark Bounds (P, 1990), Brian Hurley (1994, OT), Pat McCoy (OL, 2005), Brandon Swain (2007, DE) and Jared Brock (2008, LB). 2008 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team

OFFENSE

Pos Name, Ht., Wt., Class, School, Coach, Hometown

WR Frederick Bruno, 5-8, 205, Jr., Wayne State (Neb.), Dan McLaughlin, Miami, Fla.

WR Mike Harris, 6-1, 192, Sr., Shippensburg, Rocky Rees, East Earl, Pa.

OL Nick McDonald, 6-5, 310, Sr., Grand Valley State, Chuck Martin, Sterling Heights, Mich.

OL Andy Schoonover, 6-3, 301, Sr., Minnesota St.-Mankato, Todd Hoffner, Boyceville, Wis.

C Jack Hiett, 6-2, 255, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney, Darrell Morris, Arvada, Colo.,

 OL Jared Veldheer, 6-9, 321, Sr., Hillsdale, Keith Otterbein, Grand Rapids, Mich.

QB Nick Graziano, 6-2, 227, Sr., Arkansas Tech, Steve Mullins, Moraga, Calif.

RB Joique Bell, 6-1, 223, Sr., Wayne State (Mich.), Paul Winters, Benton Harbor, Mich.

RB Isaac Odim, 6-0, 215, Jr., Minnesota-Duluth, Bob Nielson, Rochester, Minn.

RB Jonas Randolph, 5-10, 185, So., Mars Hill, Tim Clifton, Daleville, Ala.

 

DEFENSE

DL Xavier Brown, 6-5, 245, Jr., C.W. Post, Bryan Collins, Bay Shore, N.Y.

DL Marc Schiechl, 6-3, 255, Jr., Colorado Mines, Bob Stitt, Lakewood, Colo.

DL Eugene Sims, 6-6, 235, Sr., West Texas A&M, Don Carthel, Mt. Olive, Miss.

DL Cedric Thornton , 6-5, 266, Jr., Southern Arkansas, Bill Keopple, Star City, Ark.

LB Lardester Hicks-Green, 6-1, 235, Sr., Delta State, Ron Roberts, Chicago, Ill.

LB John Jacobs, 6-2, 230, Sr., Saginaw Valley State, Jim Collins, Prudenville, Mich.

LB Zach Watkins, 6-0, 235, Sr., Washburn, Craig Schurig, Independence, Mo.

LB Buddy Wood, 6-3, 214, Sr., Central Washington, Blaine Bennett, Chattaroy, Wash.

DB Myles Burnside, 5-11, 195, Sr., Northwest Missouri State, Mel Tjeerdsma, Maryville, Mo.

DB Josh Jones, 5-10, 185, Sr., Harding, Ronnie Huckeba, Carson, Calif.

DB Quintez Smith, 6-0, 186, Sr., Shaw, Darrell Asberry, Dublin, Ga.

 

SPECIALISTS

P Kevin Berg, 6-0, 180, Jr., Chadron State, Bill O'Boyle, Longmont, Colo.

PK Greg Zuerlein, 6-0, 183, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha, Pat Behrns, Lincoln, Neb.

AP Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, 6-1, 205, Sr., Indiana (Pa.), Lou Tepper, Columbus, Ohio

 

Team Background: The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. The team is chosen by head coaches.

The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams -- FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III respectively. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.

From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 offensive, 11 defensive) team was chosen. In 1982, a punter and placekicker were added to the team. In 1997, a return specialist was added, giving us the current 25-player team. The return specialist position was replaced by an all-purpose player in 2006.

Selection Process: 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.