Nov. 28, 2007
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University middle linebacker Shane Simmons was a first-team pick to the 2007 Daktronics Northwest Region Football All-Star Team announced today.
A senior from Kent (graduate of Kentlake High School), Simmons led the NCC and ranked fourth nationally in total tackles (125), averaging 12.5 per game. He also ranked ninth nationally in solo stops with 63.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Simmons had double-figure stops in nine of 10 games. That included a career-high 18 versus Minnesota Duluth when he was named co-NCC Defensive Player of the Week.
In Western's 18-15 win over St. Cloud State, Simmons forced a fumble in the final seconds after the Huskies drove inside the WWU 25-yard line. He also had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in the Vikings' 28-21 upset of NCAA Division I-FCS UC Davis.
A preseason D2Football.com second-team All-American, Simmons also was listed as one of the website's 15 Pro Hopefuls.
Western finished 2-8 overall and tied for eighth in the NCC with a 1-7 record.
2007 Daktronics, Inc. Division II Football All-Northwest Region Team
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 Contact: Jonathan Gordon, Northwest Region Coordinator (509-963-1485; gordonj@cwu.edu)
Daktronics Division II Football All-Northwest Region Teams Announced
Nebraska-Omaha Has Five First-Team Honorees; Grand Valley State, North Dakota Land Four on First Team
ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- (Nov. 28) A total of 53 student-athletes from 22 institutions have been named to either the first or second team of the 2007 Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-Northwest Region Football Team, announced Wednesday.
Three institutions -- Central Washington, Hillsdale (Mich.), and Nebraska-Omaha -- have a total of six student-athletes represented, with UNO leading all institutions with five first-team selections. Grand Valley State (Mich.) and North Dakota have four first-team players each, while Hillsdale has three.
Both of the Northwest Region's national finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy are on the Daktronics all-region team, although only one -- wide receiver Weston Dressler of North Dakota -- is on the first team. The region's other Hill finalist, Grand Valley State quarterback Brad Iciek, ended up on the second team in a closely-contested battle for the top quarterback spot. Mark Nicolet of Hillsdale edged out Iciek and Central Washington's Mike Reilly for the first team spot at quarterback.
The top vote-getter at any position was Grand Valley State offensive tackle Brandon Barnes, who received votes on all but one of the 23 ballots submitted by sports information directors from the Northwest Region. Four other players -- Dressler, South Dakota running back Amos Allen, Nebraska-Omaha offensive tackle Ben Hochstein, and UNO safety Randy Kush -- were also near unanimous picks with votes on 20 of 23 ballots.
First team all-region honorees are now eligible for Daktronics, Inc. Division II Football All-American selection. The announcement of those All-American teams is expected in mid-December, preceding the NCAA Division II Football Championship, which takes place Dec. 15 in Florence, Ala.
Eleven of the Daktronics all-region players will be competing in the Northwest Region championship (and NCAA Division II national quarterfinal) this Saturday at Allendale, Mich., as fourth-seeded Central Washington (10-2) takes on the region's number two seed, two-time defending national champion Grand Valley State (11-0).
FIRST TEAM
Quarterback: Mark Nicolet, Sr., Hillsdale (Mich.)
Running Back: *Amos Allen, Sr., South Dakota; +Joique Bell, So., Wayne State (Mich.); +Brian McNeill, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha
Wide Receiver: *Weston Dressler, Sr., North Dakota; Scott Peters, Sr., Winona State (Minn.)
Tight End: Jared Bronson, Jr., Central Washington
Offensive Line: *Brandon Barnes, Sr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Mitch Braegelmann, Jr., North Dakota; Vince Cashdollar, Sr., Ashland (Ohio); Ben Hochstein, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha; Christian Morton, Sr., South Dakota
Defensive Line: *Rob Lewis, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha; *Dan Skuta, Jr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); *Jake Visser, Jr., Ferris State (Mich.)
Linebacker: *Anthony Adams, Sr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Tom Korte, Jr., Hillsdale (Mich.); Shane Simmons, Sr., Western Washington; Jeff Souder, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha
Cornerback: *Brandon Carr, Sr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Dustin Rice, Sr., Augustana (S.D.)
Safety: *Randy Kush, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha; Tyler Reed, Jr., Southwest Minnesota State
Kicker: Brandon Hellevang, So., North Dakota
Punter: Matt Vanover, Sr., Hillsdale (Mich.)
All-Purpose Back: Ryan Chappell, So., North Dakota
SECOND TEAM
Quarterback: +Brad Iciek, So., Grand Valley State (Mich.); +Mike Reilly, Jr., Central Washington
Running Back: Alex Wiese, Sr., Winona State (Minn.)
Wide Receiver: Johnny Spevak, So., Central Washington; Aaron Waldie, Jr., Hillsdale (Mich.)
Tight End: Brandon Hill, Sr., Mercyhurst (Pa.)
Offensive Line: Bill Bourdlais, Sr., Ferris State (Mich.), Sam Himmelman, Sr., Central Washington; Jake Krause, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha; Nick Urban, Jr., Winona State (Minn.); +Brian Okonofua, Jr., Wayne State (Mich.); +Tim Schneider, Sr., South Dakota; +Jared Veldheer, So., Hillsdale (Mich.)
Defensive Line: Randy Earl, So., Minnesota State Mankato; Ryan Kees, Jr., Saint Cloud State (Minn.); Troy Pribnow, Jr., Wayne State (Neb.)
Linebacker: Nick Baldetti, Sr., Wayne State (Neb.); Dion Harvey, Sr., Findlay (Ohio); Buddy Wood, So., Central Washington; Steven Yarbrough, Sr., Tiffin (Ohio)
Cornerback: Shawn Cunningham, Sr., Winona State (Minn.); DeQwan Young, Sr., Saint Joseph's (Ind.)
Safety: Chris Hemphill, Sr., Central Washington; Cheyne Nelson, Sr., Michigan Tech
Kicker: Paul Potemra, Fr., Bemidji State (Minn.)
Punter: Paul Potemra, Fr., Bemidji State (Minn.)
All-Purpose Back: Anthony Schreiber, Sr., Bemidji State (Minn.)
* Top vote-getter at position (where multiple players are selected) ... + Tied for final spot at position on that team
Breakdown by School (first team/second team in parenthesis)
Ashland 1 (1/0), Augustana 1 (1/0); Bemidji State 3 (0/3); Central Washington 6 (1/5); Ferris State 2 (1/1); Findlay 2 (1/1); Grand Valley State 5 (4/1); Hillsdale 6 (3/3); Mercyhurst 1 (0/1); Michigan Tech 1 (0/1); Minnesota State Mankato 1 (0/1); Nebraska-Omaha 6 (5/1); North Dakota 4 (4/0); Saint Cloud State 1 (0/1); Saint Joseph's 1 (0/1); South Dakota 3 (2/1); Southwest Minnesota State 1 (1/0); Tiffin 1 (0/1); Wayne State (Mich.) 1 (1/0); Wayne State (Neb.) 3 (0/3); Western Washington 1 (1/0); Winona State 3 (1/2)
