JMU FOOTBALL STANDOUT JORDAN NAMED TO COACHES' ALL-AMERICA TEAM

JMU FOOTBALL STANDOUT JORDAN NAMED TO COACHES' ALL-AMERICA TEAM

JMU senior linebacker Akeem Jordan has been named to the national football coaches' association All-America team

HARRISONBURG, Va., Dec. 12, 2006 ? James Madison University senior Akeem Jordan (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) Tuesday was named to the American Football Coaches Association Division I-AA All-America Football Team.

A linebacker, Jordan was among 25 players honored in voting by an AFCA committee. The team includes a first team on offense and defense and three specialists.

The first-team All-America honor is the second recently for Jordan, who during the weekend was named to the Walter Camp All-America. JMU offensive tackle Corey Davis (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan) also was a first-team selection to the Walter Camp team.

Jordan was a fourth-year player in the JMU program in 2006, and he played a leading role during an outstanding period in team history. The Dukes were 35-15 during his career, made two NCAA playoff appearances, and won the 2004 Division I-AA national title.

Jordan in 2006 was the Atlantic 10 defensive player of the year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award that is presented to Division I-AA's top defensive player and for the Bill Dudley Award that is presented to Virginia's top Division I-A or Division I-AA performer.

Jordan in 2006 took part in a team-high 140 tackles, including 69 unassisted, 17 for loss, and 5.5 quarterback sacks. He led the Atlantic 10 and was third nationally in tackles per game and led a defense that allowed averages of only 16.8 points, 280.4 yards and 84.8 rushing yards. JMU in 2006 was fourth nationally in rushing defense, ninth in scoring defense and 21st in total defense.

The 2006 Dukes compiled a 9-3 overall record and competed in the NCAA playoffs.

Players named to the coaches association All-America team on offense included wide receivers David Ball of New Hampshire and Bruce Hocker of Duquesne, tight end Ben Patrick of Delaware, linemen Ed McCarthy of Yale, Jackie Skipper of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alex Miller of Massachusetts, Mike Saint Germain of Lafayette and Kerry Brown of Appalachian State, quarterback Tyler Thigpen of Coastal Carolina, and running backs Marcus Mason of Youngstown State and Justise Hairston of Central Connecticut State.

Named on defense were linemen Marques Murrell of Appalachian State, Matt King of Maine, Tory Collins of Northwestern (La.) State, Mike Murphy of Montana, and Chris White of Cal Poly, linebackers Jordan, Colin Disch of Albany, and John Mohring of Georgia Southern, and backs Dre Dokes of Northern Iowa, Stacy Thomas of Texas Southern and Tristan Burge of Eastern Illinois.

Team specialists included punter Breck Ackley of Southern, placekicker Andrew Paterini of Hampton, and all-purpose performer Arkee Whitlock of Southern Illinois.