FERRIS STATE’S MYERS SELECTED TO LITTLE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Two-Time FSU Tackles Leader Honored By The Associated Press
Junior outside linebacker Kevin Myers (Midland) of the 2003 Ferris State University football team picked up another post-season honor Thursday (Dec. 18) as a result of being named to The Associated Press’ (AP) Little All-America team as announced by The AP.
The AP Little All-America team annually recognizes the top players in Divisions II and III along with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 25-member team features 22 seniors, two juniors and one sophomore. Highlighting the All-America squad besides Myers were kicker David Hendrix from two-time national champion Grand Valley State, cornerback Toure Carter of Ashland and North Alabama quarterback Will Hall, the 2003 winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation’s top Division II football player.
Myers, who has already been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II All-America team and the D2Football.com Northeast Region First Team within the last week, is the first FSU player since two-time (2000 and 2001) AP All-America flanker Clarence Coleman to achieve such recognition. With Myers' selection, Ferris State now has 11 players in its program’s history who have garnered AP All-America team(s) recognition since 1963.
 |
| Ferris State's Kevin Myers has been named to The Associated Press' Little All-America Team. |
The Bulldogs’ leading tackler for the second consecutive season, Myers registered a career-high and conference-leading 141 stops (87 solo) in 11 contests this campaign en route to garnering first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) accolades. His season tackles total this fall 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. In 2003 NCAA-II individual statistics to date, Myers is second in solo tackles (7.9 avg.) and 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 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, 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 to date at FSU, Myers has accumulated 302 tackles (174 solos) to currently rank 14th on the Bulldogs’ all-time leaders list while producing 16 double-digit game tackle efforts. He had 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 finished the 2003 season with a 6-5 overall record, which included a fourth-place tying 5-5 GLIAC mark.
2003 The Associated Press' Little All-America Team
Offense
Will Hall, Quarterback - North Alabama
Justin Kammrad, Running Back - Nebraska-Omaha
Tony Sutton, Running Back - Wooster
Blake Hall, Wide Receiver - St. John's (Minn.)
Randell Knapp, Wide Receiver - Mount Union
Ellis Debrow, Wide Receiver - Delta State
Larry Kinnard, Offensive Line - Mount Union
Ben Knepper, Offensive Line - Wisconsin-Stout
Britt Lively, Offensive Line - Abilene Christian
Ben Olson, Offensive Line - North Dakota
Joe Valvoda, Offensive Line - Edinboro
Nik Lewis, All-Purpose - Southern Arkansas
David Hendrix, Kicker - Grand Valley State
Defense
Aaron McConnell, Defensive Line - Pittsburg State
Thomas DeMoss, Defensive Line - Widener
Tommy Edwards, Defensive Line - Arkansas Tech
Jarrod Smith, Defensive Line - Trinity (Texas)
Dan Holland, Linebacker - Mansfield
Kevin Myers, Linebacker - Ferris State
Jermaine Taylor, Linebacker - Bridgewater
Pierre Thomas, Defensive Back - Missouri Western
Toure Carter, Defensive Back - Ashland
Richard Colclough, Defensive Back - Tusculum
Sam Lacy, Defensive Back - Bethel (Minn.)
Joe Smith, Punter - Central Washington
|
