Sorry about there not being an update yesterday. Two issues - lack of news and internet hosting problem - prevented us from posting. The dearth of news in the summer means we will at times offer full-length press releases from the schools, and search for alternative items to post.

Football News
Football: Eskridge named preseason CDS All American
Courtesy Midwestern State University Sports Information

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State Harlon Hill candidate Zack Eskridge garnered preseason first-team All America honors from the Consensus Draft Service.

The 6-4, 215-pound quarterback, a 2009 Harlon Hill Finalist, completed 71.3 percent of his passes for a school record 3,295 yards last season while helping the Mustangs to a Lone Star Conference championship and to their third trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Eskridge connected for another school record 29 touchdowns and threw six interceptions.

The Rockwall product who earned LSC South Offensive Back of the Year honors in 2009, led NCAA Division II with a 180.2 pass efficiency rating.

The highly decorated Eskridge was an honorable mention All-America selection by D2Football.com and Don Hansen's Football Gazette after earning Daktronics Super Region 4 Offensive Player of the Year accolades last season.

Midwestern State opens its 2010 campaign at New Mexico Highlands on Thursday, Sep. 2 in Las Vegas, N.M. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

2010 CDS Division II Preseason All America Teams

First Team Offense

Pos.	Player	Ht	Wt	Class	Team
QB	Zack Eskridge	6-4	215	Sr.	Midwestern State
RB	Isaac Odim	6-0	215	Sr.	Minnesota-Duluth
RB	Marcus Sims	6-0	233	Sr.	North Alabama
WR	Jake Soy	6-3	210	So.	Northwest Missouri
WR	Kashif Walls	6-3	205	Sr.	West Liberty State
TE	Rran Travis	6-3	245	Sr.	West Liberty State
OT	Trevis Turner	6-7	335	Sr.	Abilene Christian
OG	Cameron Bradfield	6-5	295	Sr.	Grand Valley State
C	Brandon Fusco	6-5	300	Sr.	Slippery Rock
OG	Brett Grozinger	6-4	280	Sr.	Northwest Missouri
OT	David Mims	6-8	335	Sr.	Virginia Union
K	Craig Burgess	5-11	215	Sr.	Indiana (Pa.)
KR	Frederik Bruno	5-8	210	Sr.	Wayne State (Neb.)

First Team Defense

Pos.	Player	Ht.	Wt	Class	Team
DE	Xavier Brown	6-4	255	Sr.	C.W. Post
DL	Cedric Thornton	6-5	266	Sr.	Southern Arkansas
DL	Marc Schiechl	6-3	235	Sr.	Colorado Mines
DE	Danny Richard	6-4	255	Sr.	Grand Valley State
LB	Robbie Aurich	5-11	240	Sr.	Minnesota-Duluth
LB	Clay Beeler	6-1	230	Sr.	West Liberty State
LB	Chad Kilgore	6-1	225	Jr.	Northwest Missouri
CB	Ronnell Tibbs	5-11	190	Sr.	St. Joseph's
S	Ron Parker	6-1	210	Sr.	Newberry
S	Giorgio Durham	6-0	190	Jr.	Central Oklahoma
CB	Pierre Desir	6-2	187	So.	Washburn
P	Justin Hinson	6-2	215	Sr.	North Carolina-Pembroke
PR	Perry Floyd	5-8	165	Sr.	Wingate

Second Team Offense

Pos.	Player	Ht	Wt	Class	Team
QB	Blake Bolles	6-4	210	Sr.	Northwest Missouri
RB	Jonas Randolph	5-10	185	Jr.	Mars Hill
RB	Kevon Calhoun	5-10	185	Sr.	West Liberty State
WR	Thomas Mayo	6-2	184	Sr.	Concord
WR	Joe Horn	6-0	191	Sr.	Ashland
TE	Mike Higgins	6-5	241	Sr.	Nebraska-Omaha
OT	Sam Geldmaker	6-8	290	Sr.	Gannon
OG	Dan Jordan	6-3	305	Sr.	California (Pa.)
C	Taylor Boggs	6-3	285	Sr.	Humboldt State
OG	David Sudderth	6-3	329	Sr.	Texas A&M-Commerce
OT	David Bellmont	6-5	275	Sr.	Merrimack
K	Greg Zuerline	6-0	183	Sr.	Nebraska-Omaha
KR	Trevar Deed	5-11	205	Sr.	Delta State

Second Team Defense

Pos	Player	Ht	Wt	Class	Team
DE	Tyrell Nielsen	6-5	254	Jr.	Central Washington
DT	Malcolm Jenkins	6-5	235	Sr.	Elizabeth City
DT	Eugene Germany	6-3	276	Sr.	Central Washington
DE	Aston Whiteside	6-2	255	Jr.	Abilene Christian
LB	Cory Whitfield	6-2	195	Sr.	Texas A&M-Commerce
LB	Nick Thomas	6-3	237	Jr.	Wayne State (Mich.)
LB	Shawn Losieau	6-1	240	Sr.	Merrimack
LB	David James	6-0	222	Sr.	Kentucky Wesleyan
CB	Jesse Hamilton	5-8	191	Jr.	Minnesota State-Mankato
S	Nate Curran	6-0	215	Sr.	Upper Iowa
S	Marquez Gibson	6-1	185	Sr.	Benedict
CB	Craig Ray	6-1	206	Sr.	Indianapolis
P	Kevin Berg	6-0	180	Sr.	Chadron State
PR	Deante Steele	5-9	185	Sr.	Shepherd

Honorable Mention Offense

* QB Zach Amedro, 6'0, 190 West Liberty State
* QB Scott Buisson, 6'0", 180, Arkansas-Monticello
* QB Steven Gachette, 6'1", 180, SW Baptist
* QB Taylor Harris, 6'3", 220, West Texas A&M
* QB Josh Portis, 6'4", 205, California (PA)
* QB Troy Weatherhead, 6'3", 223, Hillsdale
* WR Ricardo Lockette, 6'3", 199, Fort Valley State
* WR Justin Johnson, 6'1", 190, Ft Lewis
* WR Doug Williams, 6'5", 200, Panhandle State
* WR Andre Holmes, 6'5", 206, Hillsdale
* WR Jeremy Franklin, 6'3", 195, Johnson C Smith
* WR Jywin Ceasar, 5'10", 180, Arkansas-Monticello
* WR Kyle Kaiser, 6'0", 170, Nebraska-Kearney
* WR Christian Livingston, 6'2", 214, Ashland
* WR Robert Holland, 6'2", 170 Chowan (So.)
* WR Sharieff Hall, 5'9", 160, New Haven (Jr.)
* RB Winston Thompson, 5'9", 195, Clark Atlanta
* RB Raymond Williams, 6'0", 190, Shaw
* RB Herb Woodard, 5'8", 175, Assumption
* RB Anthony Smalls, 5'8", 170, Merrimack (Jr.)
* RB Brian Kennedy, 5'8", 174, Concord (Jr.)
* RB Rustin Dring, 6'0, 200, Nebraska-Kearney (Jr.)
* RB Derrick Price, 5'8", 185, Bloomsburg (Jr.)
* RB Jake Aberg, 5'11, 203, Minnesota State-Mankato (So.)
* RB Levi Terrell, 6'0", 195, Nebraska-Omaha (So.)
* TE Karvin Gwaltney, 6'4", 220, Elizabeth City
* TE DeMarco Cosby, 6'3", 240, Central Missouri
* TE Phil Supernaw, 6'4", 240 Ouachita Baptist
* TE Mike Kneueven, 6'3", 252, Ashland
* OT Edawn Coughman, 6'6", 300, Shaw
* OT Jeremy Clark, 6'4", 302, Minnesota State-Mankato
* OT Markus Copeland, 6'4", 270, Virginia State
* OT Cory Godbolt, 6'4", 275, Ouachita Baptist (Jr.)
* OT Bill Boyer, 6'4", 312, Washburn
* OT Mike Yoder, 6'5", 280, NE Oklahoma (So.)
* OT Marcus Fowler, 6'10", 320, Gannon (So.)
* OG James Economou, 6'6", 330, Southern Connecticut
* OG Gabe Johnson-Ciano, 6'3", 305, Cheyney
* OG Justin Magruder, 6'3", 283, Ashland
* OG Kevin Martin, 6'2", 290, CW Post
* OG Pat Casey, 6'0", 282, Bloomsburg
* OG Deerick Smith, 6'2", 282, Arkansas Tech
* OG Royland Tubbs, 6'1", 290, Abilene Christian
* C Kyle O'Neil, 6'1", 290, West Chester (Jr.)
* C Matt Webber, 6'1", 275, Abilene Christian (Jr.)
* C Sam Taglialatela, 6'1", 250, SE Oklahoma
* K Matt Dineen, 6'0", 195, Kutztown
* K Justin Porter, 5'9", 170, Virginia State
* K Gregg Berkshire, 6'1", 196, Ashland (Jr.)
* K Austin Turner, 6'2", 240, Fayetteville State (Jr.)
* KR Jeffery Brooks, 5'10", 201, Fayetteville State
* KR Alfonso Hoggard, 5'5", 155, Clarion
* KR James Proctor, 5'9", 152, Bowie State (Jr.)

Honorable Mention Defense

* DE Jermaine Blanchard, 6'1", 220, Harding
* DE Alex Moore, 6'2", 220, SE Oklahoma
* DE Eric Bergman, 6'3", 252, Augustana
* DE Bryan Schmid, 6'2", 247, Minnesota State-Mankato
* DE Travis Ford-Bey, 6'2", 240, West Chester
* DL Justin Philpy, 6'4", 265, Missouri S&T
* DL Josh Rohde, 6'2", 255, Nebraska-Kearney
* DL Cody Smith, 6'2", 260, Angelo State
* DL Melquan Fair, 6'1", 280, Catawba
* DL Demario Jones, 5'10", 328, Valdosta State
* DL Brandon Cornell, 6'4", 260, Findlay (Jr.)
* LB Quinton Scott, 6'0", 212, Ashland
* LB Justin Victor, 6'1", 225, Grand Valley State
* LB Brett Diamond, 6'2", 230, California (PA)
* LB Sean Whiters, 6'2", 220, Missouri Western
* LB Carlton Johnson, 6'2", 190, Arkansas-Monticello
* LB Corey Robinson, 6'1", 220, Miles (Jr.)
* DB Devonta Harmon, 6'0", 185, Livingstone (Jr.)
* DB Mario Fuller, 6'0", 226, Albany State
* DB Lucas Wolfe, 5'10", 190, Winona State
* DB Alex Woodley, 5'10", 180, East Central
* DB Oscar Rivera, 5'8", 180, Bloomsburg (Jr.)
* DB Carlton Downs, 5'6", 175, Saginaw Valley State (Jr.)
* S Lonnie Buchanan, 6'2", 210, Tarleton State
* S Terence Peete, 6'4, 237, Bowie State
* S Kyle Goracke, 6'3, 200, Colorado School of Mines
* S Alex Kuhlman, 6'3", 186, Pittsburgh State
* S Marcus Shuford, 6'1", 190, Lenoir-Rhyne
* S Mario Russell, 6'1", 187 Carson Newman
* S Guy Ricciardulli, 5'11", 200, Humboldt State
* S Zach Breen, 5'10", 200, Grand Valley State (Jr.)
* P Mike Langston, 6'2", 200, Dixie
* P Garrett Peck, 6'4", 200, Northern Michigan (Jr.)
* P Derek Jambon, 5'9", 180, Arkansas-Monticello (Jr.)
* P Brian Schmiedebusch, 6'4", 205, Findlay (So.)
* PR Kendell Coleman, 5'6", 160, Kutztown
* PR Dominique Budd, 5'9", 172, Bowie State (Jr.)
* PR Josh Renel, 5'9, 177, Wayne State (MI) (Jr.)

Visit msumustangs.com for the latest news and info on Midwestern State University Athletics.

Texas A&M University-Commerce offensive lineman David Sudderth and linebacker Cory Whitfield were recently selected to the Consensus Draft Services Second Team Preseason All-American Team.

Sudderth, an offensive lineman from Leonard, Texas, earned first team all-Lone Star Conference North Division honors in 2009. He will be a part of an offensive line that returns three starters in 2010.

Whitfield, a linebacker from Palestine, Texas, had a breakout season in 2009 earning Lone Star Conference North Division Linebacker of the Year and first team all-LSC North Division recognition. He also led the Lions with 111 tackles, including six-straight games of double digit tackles; plus he was third on the team with 13.5 tackles for minus yardage in 2009.

Former Cowboy Ready To Get Back on Field

Artrell Woods can probably tell you not only the number of days but also the number of hours until the Central Oklahoma football team kicks off its season on Saturday, Aug. 28. The former OSU wide receiver has played in just five games the past three seasons, and is eager to get back on the football field. GoPokes.com recently caught up with the ex-Cowboy to talk about his college football future.

The 6-1, 205-pound Woods says he has put behind him the terrible weight-lifting accident that occurred nearly three years ago (July 13, 2007), and is looking forward to a new start since

Ex-A&I star Bailey battling cancer in prison hospital

by David Flores / Kens5.com

This is a story I wasn’t looking forward to writing.

I wish I could report that former Texas A&I All-American Johnny Bailey, who finished his career in 1989 as college football’s most prolific running back, is settling into his 40s as a productive citizen and enjoying life.

But as the adage goes, life is what it is – and not always what we want it to be.

The sad truth is that Bailey, who played six seasons in the NFL, is in a Texas prison hospital fighting an uphill battle against a killer disease.

Bailey was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April, while serving a nine-month sentence for a burglary in Harris County, and is currently a patient at Young Medical Facility in Dickinson.

“It goes to show you how fragile life can be,” said former A&I center Ed Latouf, who played four seasons with Bailey. “You just never know.”

Warren High School assistant coach Richard Cundiff was defensive coordinator at A&I when Bailey, a 1986 Houston Yates graduate, played for the Javelinas.

“I was saddened to hear about Johnny,” Cundiff said. “But he was always a fighter and I know he’ll battle this thing. He was always in a class of his own.”

Bailey, who helped lead Yates to the Class 5A state title in 1985, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Ten years later, Bailey is in the fight of his life.

Recruiting News

Steed to play at A&M-Kingsville

Texas A&M-Kingsville is adding one more former Rams weapon to its growing arsenal.

Recent Del Rio High School graduate John Steed has signed a letter of intent to play football at A&M-Kingsville. He’s the third member of the 2009-10 Rams varsity football team to announce their intentions to play football at the school, joining teammates Josh Washington and Cody Brooks.

Steed, the 18-year-old son of Mike and Dot Steed, said he plans on studying business with an eye on working in sports management or owning a sporting goods store.

“A&M-Kingsville has a winning tradition and it helps that there are two other people going there that I know,” Steed said. “The coaches there really made me feel like I can make something of myself there.”

Steed was one of two Rams to gain more than 1,000 yards rushing this past season as he carried the ball 176 times for 1,083 yards. He also scored 12 touchdowns. His efforts earned him an all-district first team selection. He was also an honorable mention selection at running back his junior year.

Off Topic

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