Jan. 17, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University middle linebacker Shane Simmons received honorable mention recognition on the 2007 D2Football.com All-America Team announced today.

A senior from Kent (graduate of Kentlake High School), Simmons led the North Central Conference and ranked fourth nationally in total tackles (125), averaging 12.5 per game. He also ranked ninth nationally in solo stops with 63.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Simmons had double-figure stops in nine of 10 games. That included a career-high 18 tackles versus Minnesota Duluth.

Simmons played in the 2008 Cactus Bowl Division II Senior All-Star Game on Jan. 11. He was a first-team Daktronics and third-team Don Hansen's Football Gazette Northwest Region All-Star and a first-team all-NCC choice.

In Western's 18-15 win over St. Cloud State, Simmons forced a fumble in the final seconds after the Huskies drove inside the WWU 25-yard line. He also had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in the Vikings' 28-21 upset of NCAA Division I-FCS UC Davis.

A preseason D2Football.com second-team All-American, Simmons was listed as one of the website's 15 Pro Hopefuls.

Western finished 2-8 overall and tied for eighth in the NCC with a 1-7 record.

2007 D2Football.com All-America Team

Northwest Missouri running back Xavier Omon and Delta State linebacker Michael Eubanks highlight the 100 players named to the 2007 D2Football.com All-America Team.

There were 54 schools represented. Grand Valley, who carried a 40-game winning streak into the national semifinals, had the most first-team selections with three. Abilene Christian led with six overall selections.

After being the first running back in history to rush for 1500 yards in four different seasons, Omon was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Eubanks, the all-time sack leader in Division II history, was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Valdosta State coach David Dean, who led the Blazers to a championship in his first season as head coach, was named Coach of the Year.

The D2Football.com All-America Team was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from coaches and sports information directors from around the country.

D2Football.com has named an All-America Team since its inception in 2000.

2007 D2Football.com All-America Team

First Team
QB
 Mike Reilly
 6-3, 212, Jr.
 Central Washington
RB
 Xavier Omon
 5-11, 220, Sr.
 Northwest Missouri
RB
 Danny Woodhead
 5-9, 200, Sr.
 Chadron State
WR
 Almonzo Banks
 6-2, 220, Sr.
 West Liberty
WR
 Weston Dressler
 5-7, 165, Sr.
 North Dakota
TE
 Mike Peterson
 6-3, 250, Sr.
 Northwest Missouri
OL
 Heath Benedict
 6-6, 330, Sr.
 Newberry
OL
 Mackenzy Bernadeau
 6-4, 303, Sr.
 Bentley
OL
 Tim McCutcheon
 6-4, 305, Sr.
 California
OL
 Brandon Barnes
 6-2, 315, Sr.
 Grand Valley
OL
 Ben Hochstein
 6-4, 298, Sr.
 Nebraska-Omaha
DL
 Brandon Swain
 6-4, 255, Jr.
 West Texas A&M
DL
 Jake Visser
 6-2, 275, Jr.
 Ferris State
DL
 Alex Hall
 6-5, 225, Sr.
 St. Augustine's
DL
 Curtis Johnson
 6-4, 245, Sr.
 Clark Atlanta
LB
 Michael Eubanks
 6-2, 225, Sr.
 Delta State
LB
 Anthony Adams
 6-2, 234, Sr.
 Grand Valley
LB
 Eric Rice
 5-11, 205, Sr.
 Carson-Newman
DB
 Darren Banks
 5-10, 185, Sr.
 West Liberty
DB
 Sherard Reynolds
 5-10, 175, Jr.
 Valdosta State
DB
 Kendall Ricketts
 5-10, 190, Sr.
 Central Missouri
DB
 Brandon Carr
 6-1, 206, Sr.
 Grand Valley
AP
 De'Audra Dix
 5-10, 160, Sr.
 Johnson C. Smith
K
 Jared Keating
 6-0, 185, Jr.
 Mesa State
P
 Michael Podobnik
 6-0, 230, Jr
 Arkansas Tech
Second Team
QB
 Mark Nicolet
 6-1, 220, Sr.
 Hillsdale
RB
 Bernard Scott
 5-11, 190, Jr.
 Abilene Christian
RB
 Dervon Wallace
 5-6, 177, Sr.
 Shepherd
WR
 Cedric Jones
 6-0, 180, So.
 Valdosta State
WR
 Elfren Quiles
 6-2, 205, Sr.
 Kutztown
TE
 Kolo Kapanui
 6-5, 255, Sr.
 West Texas A&M
OL
 Nathan Young
 6-4, 295, Sr.
 Abilene Christian
OL
 Vince Cashdollar
 6-2, 297, Sr.
 Ashland
OL
 Christian Morton
 6-5, 290 Sr.
 South Dakota
OL
 Tony Burson
 6-4, 280, Sr.
 Midwestern State
OL
 Reid Kirby
 6-4, 300, Jr.
 Northwest Missouri
DL
 Kurt Kissner
 6-3, 235, Sr.
 Mesa State
DL
 Louis Ellis
 6-4, 295, Jr.
 Shaw
DL
 Kirby Griffin
 6-2, 275, Jr
 California
DL
 Dan Skuta
 6-3, 255, Jr.
 Grand Valley
LB
 Jared Brock
 6-1, 232, Jr.
 West Texas A&M
LB
 William Montford
 5-11, 215, Sr.
 Valdosta State
LB
 Gary Butler
 6-1, 235, Sr.
 California
DB
 Cary Williams
 6-2, 190, Sr.
 Washburn
DB
 Chris Hemphill
 6-5, 240, Sr.
 Central Washington
DB
 Randy Kush
 5-10, 189, Sr.
 Nebraska-Omaha
DB
 Monterio James
 6-1, 195, Jr.
 Delta State
AP
 Ryan Chappell
 5-11, 193, So.
 North Dakota
K
 Jared Guberman
 5-9, 197, Jr.
 West Georgia
P
 Wayne Durham
 6-4, 195, Sr.
 Adams State
Honorable Mention
QB
 Brad Iciek
 6-1, 195, So.
 Grand Valley
QB
 David Knighton
 6-1, 225, Jr.
 Harding
QB
 Billy Malone
 6-3, 235, Jr.
 Abilene Christian
QB
 Daniel Polk
 6-2, 202, Sr.
 Midwestern State
QB
 Brad Roach
 6-6, 245, Sr.
 Catawba
RB
 Amos Allen
 5-8, 180, Sr.
 South Dakota
RB
 Joique Bell
 6-0, 215, So.
 Wayne State (Mi)
RB
 Jamar Brittingham
 6-0, 203, Sr.
 Bloomsburg
RB
 Kory Fisher
 5-10, 195, Sr.
 Catawba
RB
 Alex Haynes
 5-11, 215, Sr.
 Newberry
RB
 Brian McNeill
 5-9, 180, Jr
 Nebraska-Omaha
WR
 Brent Johnson
 6-2, 180, Sr.
 Catawba
WR
 Johnny Knox
 6-0, 180, Jr.
 Abilene Christian
WR
 Charly Martin
 6-2, 210, Jr.
 West Texas A&M
WR
 Nick Smart
 6-1, 185, Sr.
 Southwest Baptist
WR
 Michael Washington
 6-0, 190, Jr.
 West Chester
TE
 Jared Bronson
 6-4, 260, Jr.
 Central Washington
TE
 Chris Conklin
 6-4, 255, Sr.
 Wingate
TE
 Dan Pickens
 6-4, 240, Sr.
 IUP
OL
 Roger Allen
 6-3, 310, Jr.
 Missouri Western
OL
 Bill Bourdlais
 6-4, 290, Sr.
 Ferris State
OL
 Mitch Braegelmann
 6-1, 280, Jr.
 North Dakota
OL
 Mike Butterworth
 6-7, 320, Sr.
 Slippery Rock
OL
 Sam Collins
 6-0, 265, Jr.
 Abilene Christian
OL
 Pat Gildea
 6-6, 325, Sr.
 Southern Connecticut
OL
 Kurt Kutscher
 6-7, 315, Sr.
 Henderson State
OL
 Zac Robinson
 6-5, 290, Sr.
 Pittsburg State
DL
 Chris Amico
 6-0, 267, Sr.
 Edinboro
DL
 Maurice Baker
 6-4, 260, Sr.
 C.W. Post
DL
 Ron Ellington
 6-5, 215, Sr.
 Catawba
DL
 Tim Hunt
 6-5, 274, Sr.
 North Alabama
DL
 Rob Lewis
 6-5, 286, Sr.
 Nebraska-Omaha
DL
 Tywain Myles
 6-2, 305, Sr.
 Tarleton State
LB
 Vince Black
 6-2, 245, Sr.
 Fairmont State
LB
 Will Clewis
 6-1, 240, Jr.
 Central Oklahoma
LB
 Jared Erspamer
 6-0, 235, Sr.
 Northwest Missouri
LB
 Lateef Ferguson
 6-0, 245, Sr.
 West Chester
LB
 Shane Simmons
 6-1, 230, Sr.
 Western Washington
LB
 Jeff Souder
 6-0, 200, Jr.
 Nebraska-Omaha
LB
 Cody Stutts
 6-1, 235, Sr.
 Abilene Christian
DB
 Donovan Alexander
 6-0, 180, Sr.
 North Dakota
DB
 Brian Bingnear
 6-0, 200, Sr.
 Kutztown
DB
 Craig Fox
 6-0, 185, Sr.
 North Alabama
DB
 Dre'Mail Hardin
 6-1, 195, Jr.
 Stillman
DB
 Devon Hughes
 5-10, 175, Jr.
 Henderson State
DB
 Ranardrick Phillips
 5-10, 202, Sr.
 Tarleton State
AP
 Ashton Gronewold
 5-10, 190, Sr.
 Missouri S&T
K
 Tyler Lorenz
 5-11, 175, So.
 California
P
 Matt Vanover
 5-10, 195, Sr.
 Hillsdale
P
 Brandon Larkin
 6-2, 195, Sr.
 Clark Atlanta