AUSTIN, Texas --- Five Tusculum University student-athletes have been named to the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Academic All-Super Region 2 first team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Earning CoSIDA Academic All-Super Region honors from Tusculum are Bailey Herring, Javon Green, Devin Woodson, Jackson Cauthen and Andrew Cantrell. TU's five honorees are the most in the region and ties a school record, matching the five selections in 2007.
All five Pioneers advance to the Academic All-America® national ballot with the winners being announced in December. The Academic All-Super Region 2 Team is selected by members of CoSIDA representing colleges and universities in the South Atlantic Conference, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Gulf South Conference and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2019-20 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CoSIDA Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.
Herring, a 6-3, 315-pound junior from Merritt Island, Florida, has a 3.44 cumulative grade point average while majoring in sports science. He has started in all 10 games this season on the offensive front line, all at center. Since transferring from Hampton University two years ago, Herring has started in 20 straight contests on the offensive front. Herring is also a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll and Dean's List.
Green, a 6-1, 230-pound senior from Savannah, Georgia, has a 3.45 GPA as an English literature major. He has played in all 10 games this season with eight starts at the "bandit" position. Green has accounted for 15 tackles this year including five for loss and two sacks. He has recovered three fumbles this year, including two last week. One of those recoveries was a four-yard scoop-and-score for his first collegiate touchdown in Tusculum's 24-7 home finale win over Mars Hill University. Green is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Woodson, a 6-2, 300-pound senior defensive tackle from Central, South Carolina, returns to the CoSIDA Academic All-Super Region Team for a second straight season. He has a 3.60 GPA while majoring in exercise science. In 2019, he has tallied 13 tackles including two sacks and two quarterback hurries. For his career, Woodson has accumulated 72 tackles with 11 for loss and five sacks. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Dean's List, Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
Cauthen, a 6-1, 220-pound sophomore from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, boasts a 3.96 GPA and is majoring in nursing. He is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Dean's List, President's List, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. He is second on the team in tackles with 66 stops and is the team-leader with 13 tackles for loss while playing in all 10 games at linebacker. Cauthen has recorded two interceptions including one returned for a 31-yard touchdown in TU's 23-20 win versus UNC Pembroke. In that game, he made a fourth-down stop in the final minute to preserve the win and was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Cantrell, a 5-11, 175-pound sophomore punter from Sparta, Tennessee rounds out the Academic All-Super Region team. Cantrell has a 3.65 GPA as a double major in chemistry and pre-pharmacy. He is averaging 35.5 yards per punt this season with a long of 51 yards. He has pinned the opposition inside the 20-yard line on 13 occasions along with 11 fair catches. In his 21-game career, Cantrell is already sixth in program history with 106 punt attempts, seventh with 3,937 punting yards and nine with his 37.14 career punting average.
Andrew and his older brother Hunter, who punted for Tusculum from 2014-2017, become first siblings to garner CoSIDA Academic All-Region Football honors in TU history.
The Pioneers (5-5, 4-3 SAC) have won their last four games close out the season this Saturday as they travel to Jefferson City to face arch-rival Carson-Newman University for a 1 p.m. kickoff from Burke-Tarr Stadium.
CoSIDA NCAA II Academic All-Super Region 2 Team
QB – Grayson Willingham, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB – Drew Croegaert, Mississippi College
RB – Antonio Wimbush, Carson-Newman
WR – Tate Lehito, West Florida
WR – Brian Saunds, Valdosta St.
TE – Austin Gordon, Newberry
OL – Connor Baraoniunas, Wingate
OL – Ronnie Clifton, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL – Bailey Herring, Tusculum
OL – Tyler Lindsay, Newberry
OL – Adonis Sealey, Valdosta St.
OL – Andrew Strickland, Wingate
ST – Pippin Davis, Valdosta St.
DL – Javon Green, Tusculum
DL – Ty Kelly, Newberry
DL – Drew Sprouse, Newberry
DL – Devin Woodson, Tusculum
LB – Jackson Cauthen, Tusculum
LB – Clayton Horn, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB – Thomas Roman, Florida Tech
DB – Luke Brooks, UNC Pembroke
DB – Mannie Ogletree, Limestone
P – Andrew Cantrell, Tusculum