Killsback
December 14th, 2005, 09:28 AM
WACO, Texas - Southern Illinois running back Arkee Whitlock became the first Saluki to be named All-American by the American Football Coaches Association since Cornell Craig earned the honor in 1999.
What makes the AFCA recognition so special is that it is the only All-America team chosen exclusively by the coaches themselves, and only a first team is selected.
Whitlock is the fifth Saluki to be chosen by the AFCA, which has named an All-America team annually since 1945. Lionel Antoine (1970, 1971), Terry Taylor (1983), Mark Gagliano (1996) and Craig were the other SIU players to earn All-America status from the AFCA.
"It's a tremendous accomplishment," Saluki head coach Jerry Kill said. "Arkee is an extremely talented player, and opposing coaches recognized that better than anyone."
Whitlock, a junior from Rock Hill, S.C., rushed for 1,454 yards this season. It was the third-best single-season total in school history. He also caught 24 passes and returned 19 kickoffs. He totaled 2,104 all-purpose yards, which ranked third in the nation.
Whitlock led the team with 14 touchdowns and had eight, 100-yard rushing games. He was named national player-of-the-week after carrying for 207 yards in Southern's win over #1-ranked Western Kentucky on Oct. 27.
In just two seasons, Whitlock already ranks fifth in career rushing yards at SIU with 2,413.
The AFCA's Division I-AA All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee.
The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
2005 AFCA Division I-AA Coaches' All-America Team
Offense
WR David Ball, New Hampshire
WR Laurent Robinson, Illinois St.
TE Corey Roberts, Sam Houston St.
OL Willie Colon, Hofstra
OL Kevin Boothe, Cornell
OL Stafford Davis, Illinois St.
OL Paul McQuistan, Weber St.
OL Erik Losey, Western Kentucky
QB Bruce Eugene, Grambling St.
RB Nick Hartigan, Brown
RB Arkee Whitlock, Southern Illinois
Defense
DL Michael Ononibaku, Georgetown
DL Katon Bethay, Wofford
DL Chris Gocong, Cal Poly
DL Fred Evans, Texas St.
LB Brian Hulea, Villanova
LB Jared Nepa, Colgate
LB William Freeman, Furman
LB Clint Sellers, Eastern Illinois
DB Shannon James, Massachusetts
DB Cortland Finnegan, Samford
DB Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado
Specialists
P David Simonhoff, Southeast Missouri St.
PK Andrew Paterini, Hampton
RS Steve Silva, Holy Cross
What makes the AFCA recognition so special is that it is the only All-America team chosen exclusively by the coaches themselves, and only a first team is selected.
Whitlock is the fifth Saluki to be chosen by the AFCA, which has named an All-America team annually since 1945. Lionel Antoine (1970, 1971), Terry Taylor (1983), Mark Gagliano (1996) and Craig were the other SIU players to earn All-America status from the AFCA.
"It's a tremendous accomplishment," Saluki head coach Jerry Kill said. "Arkee is an extremely talented player, and opposing coaches recognized that better than anyone."
Whitlock, a junior from Rock Hill, S.C., rushed for 1,454 yards this season. It was the third-best single-season total in school history. He also caught 24 passes and returned 19 kickoffs. He totaled 2,104 all-purpose yards, which ranked third in the nation.
Whitlock led the team with 14 touchdowns and had eight, 100-yard rushing games. He was named national player-of-the-week after carrying for 207 yards in Southern's win over #1-ranked Western Kentucky on Oct. 27.
In just two seasons, Whitlock already ranks fifth in career rushing yards at SIU with 2,413.
The AFCA's Division I-AA All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA's nine districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee.
The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts prior to a conference call between the district chairmen and the committee chairman on which the team is chosen.
2005 AFCA Division I-AA Coaches' All-America Team
Offense
WR David Ball, New Hampshire
WR Laurent Robinson, Illinois St.
TE Corey Roberts, Sam Houston St.
OL Willie Colon, Hofstra
OL Kevin Boothe, Cornell
OL Stafford Davis, Illinois St.
OL Paul McQuistan, Weber St.
OL Erik Losey, Western Kentucky
QB Bruce Eugene, Grambling St.
RB Nick Hartigan, Brown
RB Arkee Whitlock, Southern Illinois
Defense
DL Michael Ononibaku, Georgetown
DL Katon Bethay, Wofford
DL Chris Gocong, Cal Poly
DL Fred Evans, Texas St.
LB Brian Hulea, Villanova
LB Jared Nepa, Colgate
LB William Freeman, Furman
LB Clint Sellers, Eastern Illinois
DB Shannon James, Massachusetts
DB Cortland Finnegan, Samford
DB Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado
Specialists
P David Simonhoff, Southeast Missouri St.
PK Andrew Paterini, Hampton
RS Steve Silva, Holy Cross