July 12, 2006

Nine Blue Raiders honored by CFN
Gross and Marks make first team
MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee landed a total of nine players, including five first-team selections, to the CollegeFootballNews.com preseason All-Sun Belt teams, released this week.

Four of the nine Blue Raiders selected were rated among the top 15 players in the league, according to a ranking of the Sun Belt's top performers - more than any other school in the conference.

Quarterback Clint Marks and running back Eugene Gross were named to the All-Sun Belt offense first team, while linebacker J.K. Sabb and defensive back Bradley Robinson were selected to the first team defense, and Colby Smith was recognized as the punter on the first team.

Receiver Bobby Williams, tight end Stephen Chicola, and offensive linemen Franklin Dunbar and Germayle Franklin were named to the second team, along with Robinson, who was named second-team punt returner.

"I'm proud of these young men and they deserve the recognition they have garnered based on their past successes in the league," said Middle Tennessee first-year coach Rick Stockstill. "These awards are primarily based on what the players did the previous season. I would like to see each of them, and more, named to the All-Sun Belt teams at the end of the season."

Along with selecting a first- and second-team, CollegeFootballNews.com also compiled a ranking of the league's top 30 players. Marks was rated the league's seventh-best player and the top quarterback on the list. Sabb was rated ninth among all players and third among linebackers, while Robinson was rated 10th overall and second among Sun Belt corners. Gross was rated 13th and second among tailbacks behind North Texas' Jamario Thomas.

Marks enters his senior season third all-time in pass attempts and completions, as well as third on the all-time passing list at Middle Tennessee. He is tied for sixth all-time in touchdown passes and ranks first all-time in completion percentage. The Fort Myers, Fla., native has started 21 consecutive games and he's the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Gross enjoyed his finest spring as a Blue Raider and enters his senior season with high expectations. In addition to his most recent honor, Gross also has been selected Preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and first-team running back by Sporting News. Gross is fourth all-time in touchdowns at Middle Tennessee.

Sabb started 10 of 11 games at linebacker in 2005 and was voted second-team All-Sun Belt. He led the team with 71 tackles to go along with a team-best 13 tackles for loss, which is tied for eighth most in school history. He also has been selected first-team All-SBC by Sporting News and Blue Ribbon College Yearbook.

Robinson started every game at left corner as a sophomore and helped bolster the Blue Raider secondary. He was named honorable mention All-SBC after turning in 41 tackles and five interceptions, along with seven pass breakups. He tied for the SBC lead in interceptions and ranked second in passes defended with 12. Robinson also was named to the Preseason All-SBC team by Sporting News.

Smith was named second-team All-SBC as a punter in 2005 after averaging a career-best 42.1 yards a punt and placing a personal-high 19 inside the opponent's 20. He was named to the Ray Guy Watch List for the nation's top punter, and also is a preseason first-team All-SBC selection by Sporting News and Blue Ribbon College Yearbook.

ALL-SUN BELT OFFENSE
Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jamario Thomas, North Texas
QB Clint Marks, Sr. Middle Tennessee
RB Eugene Gross, Sr. Middle Tennessee
RB Jamario Thomas, Jr North Texas
WR Johnny Quinn, Sr. North Texas
WR Chandler Williams, Sr. FIU
TE Samuel Smith, Sr. FIU
OL Kyle Cunningham, Jr. UL Monroe
OL Brandon Cox, Sr. UL Lafayette
OL Nello Faulk, Sr. Florida Atlantic
OL Dylan Lineberry, Sr. North Texas
OL Aaron Schutz, Soph. UL Monroe
PK Greg Whibbs, Jr. Troy
KR Leodis McKelvin, Jr. Troy

ALL-SUN BELT DEFENSE
Defensive Player of the Year: LB Keyonvis Bouie, FIU
DL Antwan Barnes, Sr. FIU
DL Jeremiah Chapman, Jr. North Texas
DL Kenny Mainor, Soph. Troy
DL Ricky Williams, Jr. UL Monroe
LB Keyonvis Bouie, Sr. FIU
LB J.K. Sabb, Sr. Middle Tennessee
LB Josh Williams, Jr. Arkansas State
DB Tyrell Johnson, Jr. Arkansas
DB Kevin Payne, Sr. UL Monroe State
DB Bradley Robinson, Jr. Middle Tennessee
DB Chaz Williams, Jr. UL Monroe
P Colby Smith, Sr. Middle Tennessee
PR Leodis McKelvin, Jr. Troy

ALL-SUN BELT SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB Josh Padrick, Sr. FIU
RB DiIvory Edgecomb, Soph. Florida Atlantic
RB Tyrell Fenroy, Soph. UL Lafayette
WR Levi Dejohnette, Jr. Arkansas State
WR Bobby Williams, Soph. Middle Tennessee
TE Stephen Chicola, Jr. Middle Tennessee
OL Franklin Dunbar, Soph. Middle Tennessee
OL Germayle Franklin, Sr. Middle Tennessee
OL Tanner Jenkins, Sr. Arkansas State
OL Matt Mandich, Soph. Arkansas State
OL Jesse Newman, Jr. UL Lafayette
PK Ragan Walters, Jr. UL Monroe
KR Johnny Quinn, Sr. North Texas

ALL-SUN BELT SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL Anthony Hills, Sr. UL Lafayette
DL Jervonte Jackson, Soph. Florida Atlantic
DL Jamarrow James, Jr. Arkansas State
DL Jonas Murrell, Soph. FIU
LB Maurice Holman, Jr. North Texas
LB Marcus Richardson, Jr. Troy
LB Devrett Wade, Sr. Arkansas State
DB Michael Adams, Sr. UL Lafayette
DB Khyyam Burns, Jr. Arkansas State
DB Brannon Condren, Sr. Troy
DB Sherrod Martin, Jr. Troy
P Truman Spencer, Soph. North Texas
PR Bradley Robinson, Jr. Middle Tennessee

Top 30
1. RB Jamario Thomas, Jr North Texas
2. LB Keyonvis Bouie, Sr. FIU
3. LB Josh Williams, Jr. Arkansas State
4. SS Tyrell Johnson, Jr. Arkansas State
5. FS Kevin Payne, Sr. UL Monroe
6. OG Dylan Lineberry, Sr. North Texas
7. QB Clint Marks, Sr. Middle Tennessee
8. CB Chaz Williams, Jr. UL Monroe
9. LB J.K. Sabb, Sr. Middle Tennessee
10. CB Bradley Robinson, Jr. Middle Tennessee
11. OT Kyle Cunningham, Jr. UL Monroe
12. FS Sherrod Martin, Jr. Troy
13. RB Eugene Gross, Sr. Middle Tennessee
14. QB Josh Padrick, Sr. FIU
15. DE Antwan Barnes, Sr. FIU
16. OT Brandon Cox, Sr. UL Lafayette
17. OG Aaron Schutz, Soph. UL Monroe
18. RB Tyrell Fenroy, Soph. UL Lafayette
19. TE Samuel Smith, Sr. FIU
20. RB DiIvory Edgecomb, Soph. Florida Atlantic
21. DE Kenny Mainor, Soph. Troy
22. FS Khyyam Burns, Jr. Arkansas State
23 CB Michael Adams, Sr. UL Lafayette
24. QB Jerry Babb, Sr. UL Lafayette
25. NT Ricky Williams, Jr. UL Monroe
26. SS Aaron Weathers, Jr. North Texas
27. OT Nello Faulk, Sr. Florida Atlantic
28. WR Chandler Williams, Sr. FIU
29. WR Johnny Quinn, Sr. North Texas
30. FB Oren O'Neal, Sr., Arkansas State


Nine Blue Raiders honored by CFN