Associated Press Names Alexis Moreland All-American
12/18/2003 | 12:00:00 | Football
Dec 17, 2003
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Football Writer
Southern Illinois University safety Alexis Moreland became just the fourth player in school history to earn Associated Press I-AA All-American honors. He joined an elite list of Saluki All-Americans that includes DB Donnell Daniel (1983), P Mark Gagliano and WR Cornell Craig.
Moreland led Southern Illinois with 91 tackles and also recorded a pair of interceptions. In the preseason, the junior defensive back predicted the Salukis would go from "worst to first," and they did just that, claiming a share of the Gateway Conference regular season title and advancing to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years, finishing with a 10-2 record.
Colgate's running back headlined The Associated Press' I-AA All-America team after setting NCAA season marks for yards rushing, touchdowns and carries.
Branch has 430 carries for 2,271 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Raiders (15-0) into the Division I-AA championship game Friday night against Delaware (14-1).
Branch, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in Division I-AA, was joined on the team by one of his offensive linemen, Marc Sclafani.
Delaware put three players on the first team, including Walter Payton finalist Andy Hall, who threw for 2,581 yards and 23 touchdowns. Hall is joined by offensive lineman Jason Nerys and defensive lineman Shawn Johnson.
Grambling State quarterback Bruce Eugene, the third finalist for the Payton award, made the second team, and Southern's Quincy Richard was the third-team QB.
Three other teams had multiple selections on the 25-man roster. Offensive lineman Eric Deutsch and defensive back Matt Nelson represented Wofford; all-purpose player Corey Smith and defensive back Kane Ioane were chosen from Montana State; and offensive lineman Dwight Hudler and linebacker Roderick Royal were picked from McNeese State.
Royal was the only repeat choice on the first team.
Joining Branch at running back was Tennessee State's Charles Anthony, who ran for 1,708 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Fordham's Javarus Dudley and Samford's Efrem Hill were picked at receiver. Dudley leads the nation with 101 receptions for 1,439 yards and 14 touchdowns. Hill has 92 catches for 1,387 yards and 15 scores.
Yale's Nate Lawrie was picked at tight end after 72 catches for 810 yards.
Buster Ashley of Western Kentucky is the other offensive lineman.
Idaho State defensive lineman Jared Allen, who leads the nation with 17? sacks, headlines the defense. Steve Baggs of Bethune-Cookman and K.T. Stovall of Appalachian State were also picked on the defensive line.
Illinois State's Boomer Grigsby, second in the nation with 179 tackles, is joined at linebacker by Northeastern's Liam Ezekiel.
Montana's Chris Snyder was picked as the kicker after leading the nation with 25 field goals, and Northern Arizona's Mark Gould was chosen at punter for averaging 45 yards per kick.
The Big Sky led all conferences with five selections, followed by four for the Atlantic 10, and three apiece for the Gateway, Patriot, Southern and Southland conferences.
There were 17 seniors and eight juniors on the team.
