KEVIN MYERS HONORED AGAIN AS AN AFCA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN

Ferris State Linebacker One Of Two Repeat AFCA All-America Selections

For the second consecutive season, senior outside linebacker Kevin Myers (Midland) of the Ferris State University football team has been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches’ All-America Team as announced Thursday (Dec. 9) by the AFCA.

Myers is one of two repeat AFCA All-Americans from last season, sharing the distinction with Northwest Missouri State wide receiver Jamaica Rector. This year’s AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team consisted of 20 seniors, four juniors and one sophomore as a combined 24 individuals were named to the offensive, defensive, and specialty teams.

Ferris State's Kevin Myers was one of only two players to repeat as an AFCA Division II Coaches' All-American this season.

The AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team is comprised of players from NCAA Division II and NAIA institutions. The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all four of its divisions. Members of the AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team receive a plaque commemorating their selection to the team.

Besides Myers, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) was represented on the 2004 AFCA All-America Team by offensive linemen Joe Berger of Michigan Tech and Saginaw Valley State’s Todd Herremans while the defensive unit featured linemen Keyonta Marshall of Grand Valley State and Chris Wilson of Northwood.

A season ago, Myers became the first Ferris State football player to garner AFCA All-America accolades since 2001 when flanker Clarence Coleman achieved the honor. Past FSU AFCA All-Americans include running back Chuck Evans (1976), outside linebacker Monty Brown (1992), defensive tackle Ed Philion (1993), tailback Tyree Dye (1994), quarterback Bill Love (1995), defensive tackle Kelly Chisholm (1996) and kicker-punter Doc Proctor (1999).

A two-time (2003-04) first-team All-GLIAC honoree, Myers compiled a team second-place 133 total tackles (83 solos) in 11 games this season. The Bulldog defensive co-captain’s tackles output this fall ranks 19th best on Ferris State’s single-season tackles bests list. He also had seven tackles for a loss of 19 yards, which included a pass sack for minus six yards, to go with two pass interceptions, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble. Myers, the 2004 FSU Most Valuable Player and twice (2003-04) the squad’s Most Valuable Defensive Player Skill Award recipient, registered seven double-digit tackle game performances in 2004 highlighted by a career-high 26 stops (15 solos) in the season opener (8/28) versus two-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion Grand Valley State and 15 tackles at 2003 national champion runner-up North Dakota. A 2004 All-Northwest Region First-Team selection by both D2Football.com and Daktronics, Inc., Myers presently ranks ninth nationally in solo stops (6.5 avg.) and 15th in total tackles (11.5 avg.).

Last season, the 2003 AFCA and Associated Press All-America First-Teamer produced both a career-high and conference-leading 141 stops (87 solos) in 11 contests, which represented the most by a Ferris State player since 1996 and was the 13th highest total among the school’s single-season all-time leaders.

Myers, who garnered over 100 tackles in each of his last three seasons, closed out his career with 435 tackles (257 solos) in 42 games which marked the fifth-highest output in FSU history and was one stop shy of placing tied for fourth place. The 5-11, 210-pound linebacker also racked up 23 career double-digit game tackle efforts.

Ferris State concluded its 2004 campaign with a 6-5 overall record while placing fifth in the GLIAC standings at 5-5. The Bulldogs notched their third winning season in the last four years.