FERRIS STATE’S KEVIN MYERS NAMED TO DAKTRONICS ALL-AMERICA TEAM

Bulldog Defensive Standout Awarded Second-Team Accolades

Junior Kevin Myers (Midland), an outside linebacker on the 2003 Ferris State University football team, has earned a spot on the 2003 Daktronics, Inc., All-America Football Team in a recent announcement.

Myers was among four linebackers to garner second-team honors and owned the distinction of being the Bulldogs’ lone representative on either the first or second team. Football student-athletes from 39 NCAA Division II institutions were represented, including four representatives from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) schools – Ashland (one), Ferris State (one), Grand Valley State (five) and Michigan Tech (one).

Junior outside linebacker Kevin Myers continues to reap the rewards of a productive 2003 gridiron season.

This season represented the 11th year in which the All-America team was selected by a vote of sports information directors from NCAA Division II football playing members. The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

Myers has been honored with several postseason awards in 2003. He previously has received D2Football.com All-America Honorable Mention honors after attaining D2Football.com All-Northeast Region First-Team accolades. Myers has also been recognized as an All-American this season by both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and The Associated Press (AP). The 2003 All-GLIAC First-Team performer was also a first-team All-Northeast Region selection by both Daktronics, Inc. and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette.

Ferris State’s top tackles leader for the second consecutive season, Myers posted a career-high and conference-leading 141 stops (87 solo) in 11 contests this fall. His season tackles total this season represented the most by a FSU player since 1996 and that figure marks the 13th highest total among the school’s single-season all-time bests. On a NCAA-II national scale, Myers ranks second in solo tackles (7.9 avg.) and is listed fourth in both total tackles (12.8 avg.) and forced fumbles (0.45 avg.). He recorded eight double-figure tackle game performances this campaign, which included a career-best 23 tackles (15 solos) against Findlay (11/1) and had 16 stops (12 solo) at nationally top-ranked Saginaw Valley State (10/25). The 5-11, 210-pound linebacker also registered his first career touchdown on a 40-yard fumble recovery return versus Northwood (10/4). Myers, who was honored as FSU’s Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player this season, averaged 16.5 tackles (66 total) in his last four outings with double-digit tackles in each contest.

As a sophomore in 2002, Myers posted a team-high 112 tackles (66 solos) in 10 games en route to garnering all-conference second-team laurels. He finished the campaign tied for 12th nationally in tackles (11.1 avg.) while placing second among the GLIAC’s leaders. The 5-11, 210-pound defender made 49 tackles as a freshman in 2001 and was recognized as the squad’s Outstanding Defensive Rookie.

In 31 career appearances at FSU, Myers has accumulated 302 tackles (174 solos) to rank 14th on the Bulldogs’ all-time leaders list while producing 16 career double-digit game tackle efforts. During his Ferris career, Myers has recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss of 17 yards, one quarterback sack for minus five yards, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 17 pass deflections and six pass interceptions for 41 yards.

Ferris State concluded the 2003 campaign at 6-5 overall and tied for fourth place in the GLIAC stadnings with a 5-5 conference record.