Dec. 18, 2006
2006 All-America Team
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Ricky Santos of New Hampshire, the 2006 Walter Payton Award winner, was one of a league-record eight student-athletes from the Atlantic 10 Football Conference named to The Sports Network All-America first-team, it was announced on Monday. In all, 15 players were named All-Americans by The Sports Network.
The fifth player and second quarterback in A-10 history to win the Walter Payton Award, presented to the nation's top player, Santos is joined on the All-America offensive first-team All-America by teammate David Ball, senior tight end Ben Patrick of Delaware and Massachusetts senior lineman Alex Miller. It marks the third consecutive year Ball has been named to The Sports Network All-America team and second time he earned first-team distinction.
Maine senior defensive lineman Matt King, who led the A-10 in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (18) in 2006, is joined on the first-team defense by James Madison senior teammates Kevin Winston (DL) and Akeem Jordam (LB), along with senior defensive back James Ihedigbo of Massachusetts.
One of three players in league history to have four seasons of 1,000 rushing yards, A-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year Steve Baylark of Massachusetts was named to the second-team. The senior running back is joined on the second-team offense by James Madison senior lineman Corey Davis and junior placekicker Rob Zarrilli of Hofstra. Junior safety Tony LeZotte of James Madison earned second-team defensive honors, his third appearance on The Sports Network All-America team.
Junior offensive lineman Matt Austin of Massachusetts, New Hampshire senior offensive lineman Tucker Peterson and Villanova senior safety Allyn Bacchus were named to the third-team.
James Madison and Massachusetts each had three players selected and seven different A-10 teams had at least one student-athlete earn All-America distinction. The eight first-team selections to The Sports Network All-America team are a league record, eclipsing the previous high of seven in 1998. The A-10 led all conferences with 15 honorees.
THE SPORTS NETWORK TOP 25
(Final)
1. Appalachian State (69) - 1,749
2. MASSACHUSETTS - 1,677
3. Montana - 1,586
4. Youngstown State - 1,515
5. North Dakota State (1) - 1,452
6. NEW HAMPSHIRE - 1,357
7. Southern Illinois - 1,266
8. Illinois State - 1,234
9. JAMES MADISON - 1,225
10. Montana State - 1,060
11. Hampton - 978
12. Furman - 976
13. Tennessee-Martin - 851
14. Coastal Carolina - 826
15. Eastern Illinois - 754
16. Cal Poly - 680
17. Northern Iowa - 509
18. Princeton - 505
19. Portland State - 500
20. San Diego - 427
21. McNeese State - 415
22. South Dakota State - 366
23. Wofford - 235
24. Central Arkansas - 119
25. Yale - 96
First-place votes in parentheses