Deonte? Gist named to Daktronics All-America Football Team

Deonte? Gist named to Daktronics All-America Football Team

WICHITA FALLS, Texas --- Tusculum College return specialist Deonte Gist has been named to the 2011 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Football Second Team announced officials Wednesday.

Gist, a 5-9, 175-pound senior from Wellford, S.C., earns All-America honors as a return specialist for the first time in his career. He shined on Tusculum's special teams, where he led the South Atlantic Conference in kickoff return average at 29.43 yards per return, which is seventh in the country. Of his 21 returns, two were for touchdowns, including a 94-yarder against Brevard earlier this season. He also returned a 92-yarder at Newberry, for his school-record fourth career kickoff return for touchdown.

Gist also shined at receiver, where he led the league in receptions for a second straight year, averaging 8.1 catches per contest, which are second in the nation (NCAA II). The 2010 consensus All-America receiver capped his outstanding career with 81 receptions for 900 yards and four touchdowns this season. His 81 catches are tied for the fourth most in school history, while his 900 yards are eighth-best in TC history and 31st in the country. His 90 receiving yards per game average is also 24th in DII.

Gist ends his Tusculum career as the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yards (4,374) and kickoff returns yards (1,593). His 2,540 career receiving yards are second in TC history, while his 12 career games with 100 receiving yards are a Tusculum-best. He also posted 20 outings with 100 all-purpose yards, including eight straight games in 2011. His 1,642 all-purpose yards in 2011 are the third-most in school history, while his 164.2 yards per game average is second in the league and 12th in the country.

Gist and 2011 All-Region First Team honoree Rashaad Carter established a NCAA II record this year for the most career receptions by two players from the same team. Carter (210) and Gist (207) combined for 417 catches between them from 2008-2011. The TC duo was the top two receivers for a Tusculum offense that averages 311 passing yards per game (7th in NCAA II).

The Daktronics NCAA DII All-America teams are selected by the NCAA Division II members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA). The online nomination and voting process is powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM. The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

- TC -

2011 Daktronics Division II All-America Football Team
First Team Offense
TE - David Cannon, Central Missouri
OL - Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State
OL - Joe Long, Wayne State (Mich.)
OL - Rod Williams, Northwest Missouri State
OL - Gareth Heikkinen, Minnesota-Duluth
OL - Darrell Leopold, Delta State
WR - Trey McVay, Northeastern State
WR - Thomas Mayo, California (Pa.)
QB - Dane Simoneau, Washburn
RB - Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill
RB - Joe Glendening, Hillsdale
RS - John Brown, Pittsburg State
PK - Greg Zuerlein, Missouri Western

First Team Defense
DL - David Bass, Missouri Western
DL - Connor Wright, Colorado Mesa
DL - Jonas Celian, West Virginia Wesleyan
LB - Marcus Dowtin, North Alabama
LB - Nate Dreiling, Pittsburg State
LB - Alex Whitehill, Fort Hays State
LB - Jamarkus Gaskins, Albany State
S - Clarence Laster, Southwestern Oklahoma State
S - Brody Scheff, Bemidji State
CB - Arthur Hobbs, Nebraska-Kearney
CB - Elijah Davis, Shepherd
P - Taylor Accardi, Colorado School of Mines

Second Team Offense
TE - Brian Leonhardt, Bemidji State
OL - Kyle Thornton, North Alabama
OL - Cody Johnson, Northwest Missouri State
OL - Tyler Hendrickson, Concordia (Minn.)
OL - Stephen Goodin, Nebraska-Kearney
OL - Chandler Rearden, Lenoir-Rhyne
WR - Trevor Kennedy, Mercyhurst
WR - Troy Burrell, Wayne State (Mich.)
QB - Adam Neugebauer, West Virginia Wesleyan
RB - Jonathan Woodson, Texas A&M-Kingsville
RB - Travis Daniels, UNC Pembroke
RS - Deonte Gist, Tusculum
PK - Kyle Major, Colorado State-Pueblo

Second Team Defense
DL - Aston Whiteside, Abilene Christian
DL - Todd Storm, Michigan Tech
DL - Randy Colling, Gannon
LB - Jordan Campbell, New Mexico Highlands
LB - Lee Meisner, Colorado State-Pueblo
LB - Jeremy Aguilar, Texas A&M-Kingsville
LB - Chad Kilgore, Northwest Missouri State
S - Jeremy Jones, Wayne State (Neb.)
S - Bryce Peila, Western Oregon
CB - Dominique Davenport, Delta State
CB - Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
P - Ethan Kosker, Fort Hays State

Ron Lenz Division II Offensive Player of the Year: Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill
Ron Lenz Division II Defensive Player of the Year: Jamarkus Gaskins, Albany State