Newberry, S.C.----Two Wingate University football student-athletes have been named to the 2009 Daktronics All-Super Region 2 football second team, officials announced this week. Wingate redshirt senior offensive lineman
Ben Benshoof (Huntersville, N.C.) and senior tight end
Ryan Webber (Concord, N.C.) were recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for this prestigious honor.
A first team All-South Atlantic Conference performer, Benshoof did not allow a sack this season. He averaged an 89 percent pass blocking efficiency. Benshoof allowed only one QB pressure this season. An offensive captain and three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Benshoof and his teammates helped Wingate average 395.3 total offense yards per game this season. In 2008, Benshoof helped Wingate place second in the SAC (and ninth in the NCAA) in passing offense with 238.4 yards per game.
Webber earned second team All-SAC honors for the second consecutive year following the 2009 season. Webber finished his senior year with 20 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown. The Jay M. Robinson graduate had a season high four receptions for 45 yards in Wingate’s season-opening win over West Georgia. Webber capped the year with his touchdown reception at Mars Hill in the season finale.
Webber was a semifinalist for the 20th anniversary William V. Campbell Trophy presented by the National Football Foundation. He is a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III first team selection. In 2008, Webber had 26 receptions for 408 yards and six touchdowns. He earned the 2008 Charlotte Touchdown Club Scholarship.
Arkansas Tech quarterback
Nick Graziano and North Alabama linebacker
Michael Johnson have been named the 2009 Daktronics Super Region 2 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Johnson, Tusculum tight end
Jarrell NeSmith, Carson-Newman running back
Buck Wakefield, Delta State linebacker
Lardester Hicks-Green and North Alabama punter
Will Batson all repeated as first team all-region selections. North Greenville defensive end
Andre Bernardi and Tusculum punter
John Gregory each earned all-region honors for the third consecutive year.
First team all-region selections are eligible for the 2009 Daktronics All-American team. Regional finalist North Alabama led the way with nine total selections, including six first-teamers. Fellow regional finalists Carson-Newman had five total selections, as did playoff teams Arkansas Tech and West Alabama.
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. The team is voted on by the members of CoSIDA. The online nomination and voting processes are powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.
Wingate offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past three years.
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.
2009 Daktronics All-Super Region 2 teams
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Pos.-Name, School, Yr.
TE-Jarrell NeSmith, Tusculum, Sr.
WR-Frantz Simeon, Arkansas Tech, Sr.
WR-Landon Turner, Arkansas Tech, Sr.
OL-Torrence Wright, Arkansas Tech, Sr.
OL-Michael Tribue, Carson-Newman, Sr.
OL-Calvin Wilson, North Alabama, Sr.
OL-Matt Holmes, Newberry, Jr.
OL-Josh Sims, Mars Hill, Sr.
QB-Nick Graziano, Arkansas Tech, Sr.
RB-Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill, So.
RB-Buck Wakefield, Carson-Newman, Sr.
RS-Terry Allen, West Alabama, Jr.
PK-Kenny Spencer, North Alabama, Sr.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Pos.-Name, School, Yr.
DL-Montrell Craft, North Alabama, Sr.
DL-Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas, Jr.
DL-Andre Bernardi, North Greenville, Sr.
LB-Michael Johnson, North Alabama, Sr.
LB-Lardester Hicks-Green, Delta State, Grad.
LB-Tariq Ali, West Alabama, Sr.
LB-Jonathan Hall, Tuskegee, Sr.
CB-Jason Tate, North Alabama, Sr.
CB-Shontral Ford, West Alabama, R-Fr.
S-Josh Jones, Harding, Sr.
S-Ron Parker, Newberry, Jr.
P-Will Batson, North Alabama, Sr.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Pos.-Name, School, Yr.
TE-Ryan Webber, Wingate, Sr.
WR-Mico McSwain, North Alabama, Jr.
WR-Jeremy Young, Ouachita Baptist, Sr.
OL-Brad Latham, Delta State, Sr.
OL-Terence Crosby, Catawba, Sr.
OL-Ben Benshoof, Wingate, R-Sr.
OL-Justin Moore, West Alabama, Jr.
OL-Jarod Porter, West Alabama, Jr.
QB-Alex Good, Carson-Newman, Sr.
RB-Keldrick Johnson, Ouachita Baptist, Sr.
RB-Demetrice Johnson, Albany State, Sr.
RS-Frantz Simeon, Arkansas Tech, Sr.
K-Gareth Rowlands, Tusculum, Jr.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Pos.-Name, School, Yr.
DL-Danny Anderson, Tuskegee, Jr.
DL-Zeke Andrews, Carson-Newman, So.
DL-Jerry McNeil, Ouachita Baptist, Sr.
LB-William Hollis, Clark Atlanta, Jr.
LB-Nicholas Walker, North Alabama, Sr.
LB-Charlie Wilson, Morehouse, So.
LB-Brian Brown, Carson-Newman, Sr.
CB-Justin Hannah, Tuskegee, Sr.
CB-Antonio Patton, Newberry, Sr.
S-Quinton Andrews, North Alabama, Sr.
S-Mario Fuller, Albany State, Jr.
P-John Gregory, Tusculum, Sr.