ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Seven Tusculum College student-athletes have been named to the 2009 All-South Atlantic Conference Football Team, while rookie quarterback Bo Cordell was tabbed the SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year.

Ryan Tallent, Jarrell NeSmith, John Gregory, Gareth Rowlands and Skylar West were named to the All-SAC First Team, while Marcus Foster and Hannibal Ruiz earned Second Team recognition.

Cordell, a 6-1, 205-pound native from Cincinnati, Ohio, becomes the first player in Tusculum history to earn SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year accolades. He had a remarkable first year with the Pioneers as he passed for 3,458 yards and 23 touchdowns. His passing yardage tally is the second-best in school history and fourth most passing yards in SAC history (1st by a freshman in both categories). His 3,355 total offensive yards are the second most in TC single-season history and fourth in the SAC Record Book. In Saturday's season-finale at No. 14 Carson-Newman College, Cordell threw for a school record 524 yards, which were also the second most in conference history. His 88-yard TD toss to NeSmith in a 45-35 road win at Urbana University is the longest recorded pass play in Tusculum history.

Tallent, a 5-10, 200-pound senior receiver, has wrapped up one of the finest playing careers in school history. The Maryville, Tenn. product returns to the All-SAC First Team for a third consecutive year. He currently leads the SAC in receptions per game, averaging 5.9 per contest, leading the conference in catches the last three seasons. During his career, the 2008 All-American has established two school records, including all-purpose yards (3,838) and receptions (214). Tallent is also second in TC history in receiving yards (2,341) and

NeSmith, a 6-2, 225-pound senior tight end from Russellville, Ala., earns All-SAC First Team honors for a second straight season. NeSmith currently leads the league in receiving yards averaging 67.8 per game. The 2008 consensus All-American recorded 56 receptions for 678 yards, the fifth most receiving yards in school history. The 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American® finished his senior campaign with three touchdown catches, giving him a dozen for his career. NeSmith ends his career with 158 receptions (3rd in TC history) for 1,670 yards (4th in TC history), both school records for a tight end.

Gregory, a 6-2, 210-pound senior punter from Ooltewah, Tenn., becomes the first Tusculum football player to earn All-SAC recognition four times in his career. This marks the third time he has been named to the All-SAC First Team. He ends his career as the greatest punter in school history, establishing TC marks in punt attempts (219), punting yards (9,120) and average career average (41.64). He currently leads the SAC in punting average at 41.5 and is looking to claim his third league statistical title. The 2008 All-American has pinned the opposition inside its respective 20-yard line on 15 occasions, including four times in this year's home finale win over Mars Hill College, earning him D2football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Rowlands, a 6-1, 195-pound junior placekicker from Wales, Great Britain, leads the league in field goals per game, averaging 1.2 per contest. Rowlands finished 2009 as his team's top scorer with 66 points, while are the third-most kicking points in school history. The King's Academy (Tenn.) graduate connected on 12 of his 16 field goal attempts, while going 30-of-31 on extra points. Of his dozen field goals, eight were from 40 more yards, including a school-record 52-yarder at Elizabeth City State University. Only a junior, Rowlands is Tusculum's all-time leading kick scorer with 159 points, which are third in all-time TC scoring.

West was the first team long snapper on this year's All-Conference squad. West, a 6-5, 190-pound freshman from Oneida, Tenn., becomes the first TC rookie to earn All-SAC long-snapping honors. In the seven years that the league has recognized this position, a Tusculum player has garnered First Team honors five times (Matt Ball - 2003; Robby Kelly - 2005-07).

Foster, a 5-6, 175-pound junior running back from Siloam, Ga., returns to the All-SAC Second Team after leading the Pioneers with 1,428 all-purpose yards, the second-most in school history. Foster finished third on the team with 54 receptions and fourth with 554 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He also led TC with 176 rushing yards, while accounting for 32 kickoff returns for 698 yards (both 2nd in TC history).

Ruiz, a 6-2, 300-pound guard from Atlanta, Ga., is anchoring the offensive line for the top passing offense in the conference, which is averaging 358.8 yards per game (3rd in NCAA Division II).

The All-South Atlantic Conference Team is selected by the league's nine head football coaches.

- SAC -

2009 All-South Atlantic Conference Football Team
First Team Offense
QB - Alex Good, Carson-Newman
WR - David Smith, Newberry
WR - Ryan Tallent, Tusculum
WR - Reggie Hubbard, Carson-Newman
RB - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill
RB - Buck Wakefield, Carson-Newman
RB - Vince Jordan, Wingate
TE - Jarrell NeSmith, Tusculum
OL - Michael Tribue, Carson-Newman
OL - Terence Crosby, Catawba
OL - Josh Sims, Mars Hill
OL - Matt Holmes, Newberry
OL - Ben Benshoof, Wingate
PK - Gareth Rowlands, Tusculum
LS - Skylar West, Tusculum

First Team Defense
DL - Zeke Andrews, Carson-Newman
DL - Melquan Fair, Catawba
DL - Lance Clark, Newberry
DL - Antwan Murchinson, Mars Hill
LB - Stanley Jones, Brevard
LB - Andre Moyd, Newberry
LB - Brian Brown, Carson-Newman
LB - Josh Baker, Mars Hill
DB - Ron Parker, Newberry
DB - Mario Russell, Carson-Newman
DB - Marcus Shuford, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB - Michael Gist, Brevard
P - John Gregory, Tusculum
RS - Perry Floyd, Wingate

Second Team Offense
QB - Brandon Gantt, Newberry
WR - Kelton Tindal, Newberry
WR - Delric Ellington, Wingate
WR - Brandon Bunn, Catawba
RB - S.J. Worrell, Newberry
RB - Marcus Foster, Tusculum
RB - Nate Inman, Carson-Newman
TE - Ryan Webber, Wingate
OL - Tilmon Hollingshed, Carson-Newman
OL - Hannibal Ruiz, Tusculum
OL - Harrison Smith, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL - Charlie Byers, Brevard
OL - Adam Baxter, Carson-Newman
PK - Carlos Lopez, Carson-Newman
LS - Miles Hite, Carson-Newman

Second Team Defense
DL - Josh Jefferson, Brevard
DL - Maurice Harris, Mars Hill
DL - Brandon Harmon, Carson-Newman
DL - Brandon Sutton, Catawba
LB - Cory Johnson, Catawba
LB - Elliette Jackson, Carson-Newman
LB - Prince Simunyu, Brevard
LB - Aaron Plyler, Wingate
DB - Tylan Merkerson, Wingate
DB - P.J. Woods, Carson-Newman
DB - Keadran Pinckney, Mars Hill
DB - Kamaal McIlwain, Newberry
P - Chris Jones, Carson-Newman
RS - Antonio Patton, Newberry

SAC Co-Offensive Players Of The Year - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill, and Alex Good, Carson-Newman
SAC Defensive Player Of The Year - Ron Parker, Newberry
SAC Freshman Offensive Player Of The Year - Bo Cordell, Tusculum
SAC Freshman Defensive Player Of The Year - Qua Jackson, Carson-Newman
SAC Coach Of The Year - Ken Sparks, Carson-Newman
Jacobs Blocking Trophy - Michael Tribue, Carson-Newman

Statistical Champions
Individual
Rushing per game - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill, 180.4
Passing Avg. per game - Bo Cordell, Tusculum, 345.8
Total Offense per game - Bo Cordell, Tusculum, 335.5
Receptions per game - Ryan Tallent, Tusculum, 5.90
Receiving yards per game - Jarrell NeSmith, Tusculum, 67.8
All-Purpose yards per game - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill, 187.9
Interceptions per game - Ron Parker, Newberry, 0.60
Pass Efficiency - Alex Good, Carson-Newman, 159.2
Punt Return Avg. - Antonio Patton, Newberry, 12.7
Kick Return Avg. - Perry Floyd, Wingate, 30.4
Punting Avg. - John Gregory, Tusculum, 41.5
Scoring Avg. (TDs) - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill, 11.4
Scoring Avg. (Kick) -Carlos Lopez, Carson-Newman, 7.0
Field Goal Pct. - Carlos Lopez, Carson-Newman, 88.9
Tackles per game - Stanley Jones, Brevard, 10.5
Sacks per game - Melquan Fair, Catawba, 0.90
Tackles for loss per game - Prince Simunyu, Brevard, 1.32

Team
Scoring offense - Carson-Newman, 38.8
Scoring defense - Carson-Newman, 20.1
Passing offense - Tusculum, 355.1
Passing defense - Newberry, 131.2
Rushing offense - Carson-Newman, 354.0
Rushing defense - Carson-Newman, 104.8
Total offense - Carson-Newman, 489.5
Total defense - Newberry, 302.3