Football | 8/24/2010 11:29:30 AM
LIBERTY, Mo. – Four senior members of the West Liberty University football team have been selected as NCAA Division II Preseason All-Americans by the D2Football.com website.
D2Football.com has been covering the NCAA Division II football scene for more than a decade. With more than 3 million visitors in 2009, it is the nation's most popular site for Division II football information.
The Hilltoppers' Ryan Travis, a combination tight end/H-Back, was a first-team honoree while quarterback Zach Amedro, center Nick Madia and linebacker Clay Beeler were second-team selections.
Defending NCAA Division II champion Northwest Missouri State led the way with six All-Americans. West Liberty and Nebraska-Omaha were the only teams with four players honored.
Travis, a 6-3, 235-pounder from Massillon, Ohio, was a consensus NCAA Division II All-American last fall after setting a West Liberty school record with 104 catches en route to amassing 1,250 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He also threw for 109 yards and two more TDs on option passes.
Amedro, a 6-0, 200-pounder from Moundsville, W.Va., was the runnerup for the 2009 Harlon Hill Award as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year after passing for 4,945 yards and 49 TDs last fall. The WVIAC and Super Region One Offensive Player of the Year enters the 2010 season just 3,675 passing yards away from the NCAA Division II career record of 14,350.
Madia, a 6-1, 300-pounder from Valencia, Calif., anchored a West Liberty offensive line which produced three first-team All-WVIAC performers, two All-Region selections and the Division II Lineman of the Year (Ben Staggs) last fall. In his first season at West Liberty, Madia earned All-WVIAC and All-Region laurels while handling every snap with Amedro during the record-setting year.
Beeler, a 6-1, 225-pounder from Waverly, Ohio, earned All-Region and All-WVIAC honors for the second straight season a year ago. The hard-nosed inside linebacker led the Hilltoppers in tackles while posting his second consecutive 100-tackle campaign.
D2FOOTBALL.COM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB - Blake Bolles, NW Missouri State (SR)
RB - Isaac Odim, Minnesota-Duluth (SR)
RB - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill (JR)
WR - Jake Soy, NW Missouri State (JR)
WR - Thomas Mayo, Concord (JR)
TE - RYAN TRAVIS, WEST LIBERTY (SR)
OL - David Mims, Virginia Union (SR)
OL - Cameron Bradfield, Grand Valley State (SR)
OL - Trevis Turner, Abilene Christian (SR)
OL - Brett Grozinger, NW Missouri State (SR)
OL - Brandon Fusco, Slippery Rock (SR)
Defense
DL - Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas (SR)
DL - Danny Richard, Grand Valley State (SR)
DL - Xavier Brown, C.W. Post (SR)
DL - Aston Whiteside, Abilene Christian (JR)
LB - Justin Victor, Grand Valley State (SR)
LB - Robbie Aurich, Minnesota-Duluth (SR)
LB - Matt Freed, East Stroudsburg (SR)
DB - Pierre Desir, Washburn (SO)
DB - Ron Parker, Newberry (SR)
DB - Mario Russell, Carson-Newman (SR)
DB - Ryan Jones, NW Missouri State (SR)
Special Teams
Ret - Deante Steele, Shepherd (SR)
PK - Greg Zuerlein, Nebraska-Omaha (SR)
P - Kevin Berg, Chadron State (SR)
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB - ZACH AMEDRO, WEST LIBERTY (SR)
RB - Levi Terrell, Nebraska-Omaha (SO)
RB - Alfonso Hoggard, Clarion (SR)
WR - Andre Holmes, Hillsdale (SR)
WR - Terrance Moore, California (PA) (SR)
TE - Mike Higgins, Nebraska-Omaha (SR)
OL - Jason Wiseman, NW Missouri State (SR)
OL - NICK MADIA, WEST LIBERTY (SR)
OL - Harrison Lingenfelter, Nebraska-Omaha (SR)
OL - Michael Tribue, Carson-Newman (SR)
OL - Dan Jordan, California (PA) (SR)
Defense
DL - Marc Schiechl, Colo. School of Mines (SR)
DL - Bryan Barman, West Texas A&M (SR)
DL - Malcolm Jenkins, Elizabeth City State (SR)
DL - Alex Cook, Fort Valley State (SR)
LB - Chad Kilgore, NW Missouri State (JR)
LB - Nick Thomas, Wayne State (MI) (JR)
LB - CLAY BEELER, WEST LIBERTY (SR)
DB - Branden Williams, Edinboro (JR)
DB - Rodney Mitchell, Eastern New Mexico (SR)
DB - Jesse Hamilton, Minnesota State-Mankato (JR)
DB - Curtis Jefferson, West Texas A&M (SR)
Special Teams
Ret - Trevar Deed, Delta State (SR)
PK - David Van Voris, Adams State (SO)
P - Justin Hinson, UNC-Pembroke (SR)
