Five GLIAC Players Named D-II Football Daktronics All-Americans

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Wichita Falls, Texas - Five GLIAC football players, led by Ferris State University's Jake Visser and Grand Valley State University's Dan Skuta, were named to the 2008 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America Football team. Skuta joins GVSU teammates Billy Eisenhardt and Sam Allen as All-Americans.  Saginaw Valley State University's John Jacobs rounded out the list of GLIAC players to earn All-America accolades.

Eisenhardt, a senior offensive center, and Skuta, a senior defensive tackle, were first-team honorees, while Allen, a senior offensive tackle, was a second-team selection.

Eisenhardt and Allen were the anchors of one of the most balanced offensive lines in the country. Eisenhardt, a 2007 and 2008 First-Team All-GLIAC honoree, was a key figure in a Laker offense that is averaging 234.0 yards per game rushing and 214.6 yards per game passing. In addition, Eisenhardt is part of an offensive line that has yielded just 12 QB sacks and is averaging 448.6 yards per game and 7.4 yards per play.

Skuta leads the GLIAC and ranks fourth in the nation in QB sacks with 10.5 (-68). Skuta, a 2007 and 2008 First-Team All-GLIAC honoree, has tallied 38 total tackles (15 solo/23 assisted), four pass breakups, 11 QB hurries, recovered a fumble, forced a fumble and blocked one kick on the year. In addition, Skuta has a QB sack in 9-of-11 games played and a tackle for loss in 10-of-11 games played. Dan moved into first on the all-time GVSU sacks list and fifth on the all-time DII list in career QB sacks (32.5).  

Visser, the Super Region No. 3 "Defensive Player of the Year," led the Bulldogs with 105 total tackles (56 solo), 16.0 tackles for loss (-71 yards) in addition to 7.5 sacks (-54 yards), two fumble recoveries, four blocked kicks and a forced fumble in 11 contests. He also notched his first career touchdown with a 34-yard interception return at Hillsdale (Nov. 1). The returning All-America pick and two-time (2007-08) team Most Valuable Player Award recipient finished the year ranked third among the GLIAC leaders in tackles for loss (1.45 pg.), third in sacks (.68 pg.) along with seventh in total tackles (9.5 tpg.).

Jacobs, who was selected to the Daktronics Super Region 3 First Team as the leading vote getter at the linebacker position, was also selected to the all-defense first team for the GLIAC for the 2008 campaign.  He led the nation and GLIAC in tackles this past season with 13.1 per contest. Jacobs also intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble and had one sack.  He posted double digit tackles in eight of the team's 10 games this season, moving him into 12th on the Saginaw Valley State career tackles list with 273.

2008 Daktronics, Inc. Division II
All-America Football Team
Selected by Division II Sports Information Directors

OFFENSE

TIGHT END
First Team
+Jarrell NeSmith, 6-2, 215, Jr, Tusculum (Tenn.)
Second Team
Jared Bronson, 6-4, 255, Sr, Central Washington

WIDE RECEIVER
First Team
+Charly Martin, 6-2, 210, Sr, West Texas A&M
Mike Washington, 6-0, 190, Sr, West Chester (Pa.)
Second Team
Johnny Knox, 6-1, 190, Sr., Abilene Christian (Texas)
Garrett Manning, 6-4, 210, Sr, Henderson State (Ark.)

OFFENSIVE LINE
First Team
Thomas Battle, 6-3, 315, Sr, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
Sam Collins, 6-2, 270, Sr, Abilene Christian (Texas)
+Jeremy Davis, 6-3, 300, Sr, Northwest Missouri State
Billy Eisenhardt, 6-2, 275, Sr, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Tony Washington, 6-7, 300, Jr, Abilene Christian (Texas)
Second Team
Sam Allen, 6-5, 305, Sr, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Nate Baier, 6-3, 290, Sr, Minnesota-Duluth
Sam Hathorn, 6-2, 255, Jr, North Alabama
Kendall Molz, 6-4, 275, Sr, Pittsburg State (Kan.)
Joseph Thompson, 6-3, 315, Sr, Abilene Christian (Texas)

QUARTERBACK
First Team
+Mike Reilly, 6-3, 212, Sr, Central Washington
Second Team
Corey Russell, 6-4, 190, Sr, Tusculum (Tenn.)

RUNNING BACK
First Team
LaRon Council, 5-10, 210, Jr, Northwest Missouri State
+Bernard Scott, 5-11, 200, Sr., Abilene Christian (Texas)
Second Team
Bobby Coy, 5-10, 205, Jr, Mesa State (Colo.)
Jerry Seymour, 5-7, 205, Sr, Glenville State (W.Va.)

RETURN SPECIALIST
First Team
+Deante Steele, 5-7, 175, So, Shepherd (W.Va.)
Second Team
Kendall Wright, 5-11, 175, Sr, Northwest Missouri State

PLACE KICKER
First Team
+Tom Schneider, 6-0, 195, Sr, North Alabama
Second Team
Matt Adams, 5-10, 180, Sr, Abilene Christian (Texas)

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE
First Team
Sean Paddock, 6-2, 255, Jr, Northwest Missouri State
+Dan Skuta, 6-3, 265, Sr, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
Jake Visser, 6-2, 275, Sr, Ferris State (Mich.)
Second Team
Louis Ellis, 6-3, 312, Sr, Shaw (N.C.)
Ricky Hope, 6-1, 250, Sr, Texas A&M-Commerce
Troy Pribnow, 6-3, 250, Sr, Wayne State (Neb.)

LINEBACKER
First Team
Jared Brock, 6-1, 232, Sr, West Texas A&M
Matt Freed, 5-10, 205, So, East Stroudsburg (Pa.)
+Lardester Hicks-Green, 6-1, 235, Jr, Delta State (Miss.)
Mike Johnson, 6-4, 250, Jr, North Alabama
Second Team
Jared Brawner, 6-1, 237, Jr, Missouri Southern
Jeffrey Cargile, 5-9, 200, Sr, Morehouse (Ga.)
John Jacobs, 6-2, 225, Jr, Saginaw Valley State (Mich.)
Gary Pack, 6-1, 230, Sr, West Alabama

CORNERBACK
First Team
+Darren Banks, 5-10, 188, Sr, West Liberty State (W.Va.)
David Raymond, 5-11, 190, Sr, North Alabama
Second Team
Devon Hughes, 5-11, 180, Sr, Henderson State (Ark.)
Terrence Johnson, 6-0, 195, Jr, California (Pa.)

SAFETY
First Team
+Myles Burnsides, 5-11, 195, Jr, Northwest Missouri State
Sherard Reynolds, 5-10, 182, Sr, Valdosta State (Ga.)
Second Team
Jabir Perkins, 6-0, 200, Sr, Texas A&M-Kingsville
Tyler Yelk, 6-0, 200, Sr, Minnesota-Duluth

PUNTER
First Team
+Nick Krut, 5-11, 185, Sr, East Stroudsburg (Pa.)
Second Team
Will Batson, 6-4, 210, Jr, North Alabama

+ indicates top vote getter at a position

RON LENZ OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bernard Scott, RB, 5-11, 200, Sr, Abilene Christian (Texas)

RON LENZ DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Myles Burnsides, S, 5-11, 195, Jr, Northwest Missouri State