NEW YORK --- Tusculum College's Bo Cordell and Michael Rodriquez have been named to the 2011 Sporting News Preseason Division II Football All-America Team. The Pioneers are also ranked No. 22 in the publication's Preseason Top 25 Poll.
Cordell is named to his second preseason All-America Team, while Rodriquez garners his inaugural honor this year.
Cordell, a 6-1, 185-pound junior quarterback from Cincinnati, Ohio, led all NCAA divisions (FBS, FCS, II, III) in total offensive yards per game, passing yards per game and completions per game last season. He was named the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and finished fourth in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the Division II National Player of the Year.
Cordell was also named the 2010 Tennessee Sportswriters Association's State College Football Player of the Year. He was named the NCAA II National Statistical Champion for total offensive yards per game (425.45 ypg), passing yards per game (423.36 ypg), completions per game (35.82 cpg) and points responsible for per game (26.00 ppg).
The 2010 Daktronics and Football Gazette All-Super Region 2 First Team honoree passed for a school and SAC record 4,657 yards, which was third in NCAA II and fifth most for all NCAA divisions. Cordell threw for 38 touchdowns, a new school single-season mark and the 25th most in NCAA II history. He also established school and SAC records with 394 completions (3rd in NCAA II history), 605 pass attempts (3rd in NCAA II history) and 702 total offensive attempts (3rd in NCAA II history). He was also named to the D2Football.com and Football Gazette All-America teams.
The Indian Hill High School graduate passed for over 400 yards in nine consecutive games this season, which is a new TC, SAC and NCAA II record. He was named SAC Offensive Player of the Week four times this year and twice honored as national offensive player of the week by D2football.com and D2 Sports Insider.
Rodriguez, a 6-2, 200-pound senior from Columbia, S.C., became the second tight end in school history to garner All-America honors a year ago.
The Hargrave Military Academy graduate finished tied for 21st in the country in receptions per game, averaging seven catches per outing, while earning a spot on the All-South Atlantic Conference squad. Rodriquez also posted a school single-season best nine TD receptions and finished with 727 yards in his 10 starts. His yardage tally was the seventh-best in school history, while his 70 receptions are the fifth-most by a Pioneer, and the most by a tight end.
Rodriquez was named to the 2010 Football Gazette All-America Third Team, while also garnering All-Region First Team honors by Daktronics and Football Gazette.
Minnesota-Duluth is the Sporting News preseason favorite, followed by Grand Valley State, Abilene Christian, Northwest Missouri State, Delta State, Augustana, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Mercyhurst, Wayne State (Mich.), Bloomsburg, St. Cloud State, Colorado School of Mines, Albany State, Wingate, Central Missouri, California (Pa.), Nebraska-Kearney, Hillsdale, North Alabama, Kutztown, Tusculum, West Texas A&M, Washburn and Slippery Rock.
Tusculum will kick off the 2011 campaign on Sept. 3 as the Pioneers host West Georgia for a 1 p.m. contest at the Niswonger Sports Complex and Pioneer Field.
- TC -
Sporting News Preseason Division II Football
Top 25
Rk. School
1. Minnesota-Duluth
2. Grand Valley State
3. Abilene Christian
4. Northwest Missouri State
5. Delta State
6. Augustana
7. Texas A&M-Kingsville
8. Mercyhurst
9. Wayne State (Mich.)
10. Bloomsburg
11. St. Cloud State
12. Colorado School of Mines
13. Albany State
14. Shepherd
15. Wingate
16. Central Missouri
17. California (Pa.)
18. Nebraska-Kearney
19. Hillsdale
20. North Alabama
21. Kutztown
22. TUSCULUM
23. West Texas A&M
24. Washburn
25. Slippery Rock
Tusculum Opponents in Italics
Sporting News Preseason Division II All-America
Football Team
Offense
QB - Bo Cordell, Tusculum
RB - Franklyn Quiteh, Bloomsburg
RB - Tommy Addison, Shepherd
RB - Akeem Satterfield, Slippery Rock
OL - Kyle Thornton, North Alabama
OL - Tyler Hendrickson, Concordia-St. Paul
OL - Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State
OL - Chandler Rearden, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL - Garth Heikkinen. Minnesota-Duluth
WR - Jake Soy, Northwest Missouri State
WR - Thomas Mayo, California (Pa.)
WR - Tyson Williams, West Texas A&M
TE - Michael Rodriquez, Tusculum
K - Michael Ziola, Chadron State
Defense
DL - Danny Richard, Grand Valley State
DL - Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern
DL - Armonty Bryant, East Central
DL - Richard Daniel, Wayne State (Neb.)
LB - Nate Dreilling, Pittsburg State
LB - Shawn Loiseau. Merrimack
LB - Lee Meisner, Colorado State-Pueblo
LB - Billy O'Connor, C.W. Post
DB - Logan Kerr, Ashland
DB - Keon Robinson, Shepherd
DB - Stan Langlow, Central Washington
DB - Zack Kallas, Augustana
P - Ronnie Partridge, Stillman