ALL-CAA FOOTBALL TEAM INCLUDES CONFERENCE HIGH 14 TIGERS
CAA Co-Champions Place Five On First Team
RICHMOND, Va. – A group of 14 standouts from Colonial Athletic Association co-champion Towson University, including five first team selections, has been named to the All-CAA team, it has been announced by CAA officials.
The Tigers led all CAA teams with 14 selections as Towson placed five players on the first team, five players on the second team and four players on the third team.
Villanova, one of the CAA’s other co-champions, had 12 players honored while New Hampshire and Richmond each had 11 players on the team.
Old Dominion, James Madison and William & Mary each placed 10 players on the All-CAA teams.
Senior defensive end Frank Beltre (Randolph H.S./Randolph, N.J.), senior safety Jordan Dangerfield (Royal Palm Beach H.S./Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and sophomore running back Terrance West (Northwestern H.S./Baltimore, Md.) were named to the All-CAA first team for the second year in a row.
A pair of offensive linemen, junior tackles Randall Harris (DuVal H.S./Lanham, Md.) and Eric Pike (DuVal H.S./Landover, Md.), were also selected to the first team. Harris earned All-CAA honors for the first time while Pike was named to the All-CAA third team last year.
The Tigers’ five All-CAA first team selections are one more than Towson had during the last six seasons combined. Last year, Towson had three first team picks. Towson and Old Dominion were the only programs with five first team selections.
Senior quarterback Grant Enders (Old Mill H.S./Millersville, Md.) and junior offensive center Doug Shaw(Loyola Blakefield H.S./Woodbine, Md.) represented the Tigers on the second team, along with senior defensive end Romale Tucker (Ballou H.S./Washington, D.C.), junior linebacker Monte Gaddis (Cleveland Central Catholic H.S./Cleveland, Ohio) and junior cornerback Jordan Love (Deep Run H.S./Washington, D.C.).
The All-CAA third team included senior wide receiver Tom Ryan (Father Judge H.S./Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomore kick return specialist Derrick Joseph (Maurice J. McDonough H.S./Waldorf, Md.), senior defensive tackle Matt Morgan (Horseheads H.S./Horseheads, N.Y.) and sophomore cornerback Tye Smith (Wakefield H.S./Raleigh, N.C.).
Towson’s 14 all-conference selections are the most the Tigers have had in one season in program history.
“The greatest respect is earned from one’s peers,” said Towson Coach Rob Ambrose. “To have this many young men earn these impressive accolades speaks to their work ethic and their desire to achieve excellence. I could not be happier to see these men celebrated for their hard work. Towson University is thankful and grateful to have such fine representatives.”
A two-time first team All-CAA selection and an honorable mention All-American, Beltre was seventh on the team with 36 tackles this season. He also tied for the team lead with five quarterback sacks and had 7.5 tackles for lost yardage. A three-year starter on the defensive line, Beltre finished his career with 232 tackles, 20th on Towson’s all-time list.
A two-year co-captain and a three-year starter at free safety, Dangerfield was named first team All-CAA for the second time. Despite missing the final game of the regular season, he was fourth on the team with 69 tackles. Dangerfield, who earned pre-season All-America honors, led the Tigers with six pass breakups and had one fumble recovery. The Tigers’ top tackler as a sophomore and junior, Dangerfield finished his career with 258 tackles, 11thon Towson’s career list.
The second-leading rusher in the CAA, West rushed for 1,046 yards on 195 carries for a 5.4 average. He ran for more than 100 yards in five games and he led the CAA in touchdowns for the second year in a row. Honored as the CAA Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year, he is already the fifth-leading rusher in school history with 2,340 yards. He has scored 44 touchdowns in his 21-game career, just three shy of the school record held by Jason Corle, ’01.
The Tigers’ two starting tackles were also named to the first team. Harris was one of the keys to the Tigers’ offensive success as he started nine games at right tackle. The 6-4, 285-pound veteran started the first two games of the season at left guard. In his career, he has made 19 career starts.
A third team All-CAA pick last year, the 6-5, 298-pound Pike has been a fixture on the Tigers’ offensive line for the last three years. A tremendous team leader, he has started all 34 games of his college career.
Enders leads the Tigers’ group of second team honorees. The third-leading passer in the CAA, he completed 208 of 317 passes for 2,332 yards and 19 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. The Tigers’ second-leading rusher with 615 yards on 105 carries, he also finished second in the CAA in total offense, averaging 267.9 yards per game. In his career, Enders made 22 starts and won 16 of them. In Saturday’s win at New Hampshire, he became the first quarterback in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in his career. He finished his career with 5,415 yards of total offense, the seventh-highest total in school history. His 4,413 passing yards place him ninth.
A second-year starter at offensive center, Shaw is one of three offensive linemen to be honored by the CAA. The 6-1, 265-pound center was one of the Tiger co-captains this season. Over the last two years, he has started 22 of 23 games.
A fixture on the defensive line, Tucker was a four-year starter who earned All-CAA notice for the first time. He made 42 tackles in 10 games as a senior and ranked eighth among all CAA defensive linemen. He was third on the team with four sacks and ranked 11th in the CAA. He finished his career with 191 tackles and 10 sacks.
A pair of newcomers, Gaddis and Love, were also named to the second team. A transfer from Dean Junior College, Gaddis stepped in to the middle linebacker spot and led the Tigers with 74 tackles, tenth in the CAA. Gaddis also led Towson with 12 tackles for lost yardage, a mark that placed him second in the CAA. He also tied for the team lead with five sacks.
A transfer from the University of Georgia, Love made an immediate impact on the Tigers’ defense from his cornerback position. He made 35 tackles and was second on the team with five pass breakups. Love also had a team high two interceptions and averaged 20.6 yards on nine kickoff returns.
The Tiger defense, which led the CAA by allowing 313.2 yards per game, had a total of seven All-CAA players. Morgan and Smith complete the defensive contingent. A four-year starter on the defensive line, Morgan made 30 tackles as a senior defensive tackle. He also had three sacks. He finished his career with 97 tackles, including 10.5 sacks. After starting at defensive end in 2009 and 2010, he started at tackle the last two seasons.
A two-year starter at cornerback, Smith was second on the team with 74 tackles. He was fifth among all CAA defensive backs in tackles and broke up five passes. He also had one interception and forced two fumbles.
A second team All-CAA selection in 2011, Joseph made the third team as a kick returner. He averaged 26.3 yards per kickoff return and had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Tigers’ win over Saint Francis. In his career, he has two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
The Tigers’ top pass receiver the last two years, Ryan completes Towson’s All-CAA honorees. As a senior, he caught 44 passes for 533 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his career as the 13th-leading receiver in Towson history with 127 receptions for 1528 yards and eight touchdowns.
Towson finished the season with a 7-4 record and shared the CAA championship with New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova. All four teams posted 6-2 records in CAA play.
2012 CAA Football Major Awards
Coach of the Year:
Offensive Player of the Year: Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion, Soph., Quarterback
Defensive Player of the Year: Stephon Robertson, James Madison, Jr., Linebacker
Special Teams Co-Player of the Year: B.W. Webb, William and Mary, Sr., Punt Returner
Special Teams Co-Player of the Year: Albert Wilson, Georgia State, Jr., Kick Returner
Offensive Rookie of the Year: John Robertson, Villanova, R-Fr., Quarterback
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jeff Williams, Delaware, R-Fr., Linebacker
2012 All-CAA Football First Team (as voted on by the head coaches)
OFFENSE
Position Player
QB Taylor Heinicke
RB Kevin Monangai
RB Terrance West
FB/HB Kendall Gaskins
WR Ben Edwards
WR R.J. Harris New Hampshire Sophomore
WR Nick Mayers Old Dominion Senior
TE Justin Perillo Maine
OL Randall Harris Towson Junior
OL Chris Howley Maine Senior
OL Seamus O’Neill New Hampshire Junior
OL Eric Pike Towson Junior
OL Earl Watford James Madison Senior
PK Jarod Brown
KR Albert Wilson Georgia State Junior
PR Ryan Smith James Madison Senior
DEFENSE
Position Player
DL Frank Beltre
DL Chris Burnette
DL Rakim Cox
DL Antoine Lewis
DL Jared Smith
LB Donte Dennis
LB Matt Evans
LB Stephon Robertson James Madison Junior
LB Paul Worrilow
CB Eric Loper
CB B.W. Webb
S Jordan Dangerfield
S Dean Marlowe
S Cooper Taylor
P Jonathan Plisco Old Dominion Senior
2012 All-CAA Football Second Team (as voted on by the head coaches)
OFFENSE
Position Player
QB Grant Enders Towson Senior
RB Dae’Quan Scott James Madison Junior
RB Nico Steriti
FB/HB Brian Barlow
WR Tre McBride
WR Antonio Vaughan
WR Nihja White
TE Kevin Finney
OL David Born
OL Josh Bucci
OL Bobby Kennedy
OL Mike Salazar
OL Doug Shaw
OL Josh Spearin
PK Cameron Starke James Madison Junior
KR Justin Grant
PR B.W. Webb
DEFENSE
Position Player
DL Marlon Johnson Villanova Senior
DL Evan Kelly
DL Zach Kerr
DL Romale Tucker
LB Devon Bridges
LB Monte Gaddis
LB Darius McMillan
LB Jabrel Mines
LB Craig Wilkins
CB Darlos James
CB Jordan Love
CB Dontra Peters
S Manny Asam
S Brian Thompson
P Matt Hubbard
2012 All-CAA Football Third Team (as voted on by the head coaches)
OFFENSE
Position Player
QB John Robertson
RB Andrew Pierce
RB Donald Russell
WR Stephen Barnette Richmond Sophomore
WR Brandon Johnson-Farrell Rhode Island Senior
WR Tom Ryan
WR Norman White
WR Albert Wilson
TE Harold Spears
OL Mike Coccia
OL Brandon Heath Delaware Junior
OL Vince Kowalski
OL Jack Lowney
OL Nick Ritcher
OL Chris Zarkoskie
PK Mike MacArthur
KR Derrick Joseph
PR Poppy Livers
DEFENSE
Position Player
DL Dominique Guinn-Bailey Old Dominion Sophomore
DL Matt Morgan
DL Tyler Snow
DL Nick Zaremba
LB Andrew Bose
LB Luke Rhodes
LB Jeff Williams
LB Eric Wright
CB Jamaal Bess
CB Darryl Hamilton
CB Tye Smith
S Jerome Couplin
S Jakarie Jackson James Madison Senior
S Joe Sarnese
P Drake Kuhn
P David Skahn
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