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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
SIX DUKES NAMED TO DIVISION I ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
12/19/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va., Dec. 19, 2007 – Six James Madison University football players, including three first-team honorees, were named to the Virginia Sports Information Directors Division I All-State Football Team Wednesday.
Dukes named to the first team were junior quarterback Rodney Landers (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood), junior center Scott Lemn (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) and senior free safety Tony LeZotte (Augusta, Ga./Westside). JMU players on the second team include junior offensive tackle Terrence Apted (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Fagatuio), senior defensive tackle John Baranowsky (Sudbury, Mass./Linclon-Sudbury) and junior strong safety Marcus Haywood (Williamsburg, Va./Bruton).
Sports information directors from throughout Virginia took part in the VaSID voting that in addition to all-state first and second teams on offense and defense chose state offensive and defensive players of the year, state coach of the year, and state rookie of the year.
The top season in team history earned the University of Richmond football program three of the top four awards.
Spiders senior running back Tim Hightower was named offensive player of the year, Richmond redshirt freshman wide receiver Kevin Grayson rookie of the year, and Spider coach Dave Clawson coach of the year. Also recognized University of Virginia senior defensive end Chris Long as defensive player of the year.
Landers in his first season as a JMU starter compiled a team-season-record 2,951 yards of total offense. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes (130-205) for 1,678 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 1,273 yards and 12 scores. Landers was a second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree.
Lemn was a third-year starter on JMU's offensive line that helped the Dukes average 410.0 yards of total offense per game and lead the nation in fewest quarterback sacks allowed. He was first-team All-CAA and led the team in knock-down blocks with 36.
LeZotte was a first-team all-state choice for the fourth straight season after receiving first-team All-America, first-team All-CAA and CAA defensive player of the year recognition. He led the Dukes in tackles with 95 and completed his career first all-time among JMU defensive backs in tackles and ranked sixth among all JMU players. LeZotte started each of JMU's 50 games during his four-year career.
Apted started throughout the 2007 season and was third-team All-CAA, and he was credited with 22 knock-down blocks for the year.
Baranowsky was first-team All-CAA and national defensive player of the week after a four-sack game against Towson. He took part in 43 tackles for the year.
Haywood was third on the JMU team in tackles with 93. He had 53 solo stops, eight tackles for loss and an interception.
JMU in 2007 compiled an 8-4 record and made its third NCAA playoff appearance during the last four seasons. The Dukes, who were ranked seventh in the final Football Championship Subdivision coaches' poll of the season, have a 37-13 record over the last four seasons.
Clawson led Richmond to an 11-3 record, to a share of the CAA title and to the semifinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs.
Hightower ran for Richmond season records of 1,924 yards and 20 touchdowns and twice was national offensive player of the week. He was first-team All-CAA, runner-up for the state's Dudley Award, a first-team Walter Camp All-America and a second-team Associated Press All-America.
Long was a consensus All-America, the Ted Hendricks Award winner as the nation's top defensive end, the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year, and the Dudley Award winner as the state's top player. He had 75 tackles in 12 regular-season games, including 19 for loss and 14 quarterback sacks. He was the ACC's only unanimous first-team all-league performer, and he is third nationally in sacks.
Grayson, the rookie of the year in the CAA, caught 68 passes for 970 yards and seven scores. He had four 100-yard receiving games, including a 122-yard, two-touchdown effort at Appalachian State in NCAA play, and he was second-team All-CAA.
Virginia Tech, which earned an Orange Bowl invitation by winning the ACC title, led the overall all-state voting with 13 honorees, including six to the first team. Liberty had eight selections, Virginia seven, James Madison six, Richmond five, Hampton four, Norfolk State three, William & Mary three, and Virginia Military Institute one.
Seven players were repeat selections to the all-state first team, including LeZotte. Repeat honorees on offense include Virginia tight end Tom Santi and guard Branden Albert and Virginia Tech tackle Duane Brown. Joining LeZotte as repeat choices on defense were Long, Hampton lineman Kendall Langford, and Virginia Tech back Brandon Flowers.
VaSID Division I All-State Football Teams
First-Team Offense
Position, Name, School, Year
QB, Rodney Landers, James Madison, Junior
RB, Tim Hightower, Richmond, Senior
RB, Rashad Jennings, Liberty, Junior
WR, Jeremy Gilchrist, Hampton, Junior
WR, Kevin Grayson, Richmond, r-Freshman
TE, Tom Santi, Virginia, Senior
C, Scott Lemn, James Madison, Junior
G, Branden Albert, Virginia, Junior
G, Stephen Sene, Liberty, Senior
T, Marshall Ausberry, Liberty, Senior
T, Duane Brown, Virginia Tech, Senior
Second-Team Offense
Position, Name, School, Year
QB, Sean Glennon, Virginia Tech, Junior
RB, Daryl Jones, Norfolk State, Senior
RB, Branden Ore, Virginia Tech, Junior
WR, Elliott Mack, William & Mary, Junior
WR, Josh Morgan, Virginia Tech, Senior
TE, Drew Atchison, William & Mary, Senior
C, Jordy Lipsey, Virginia, Senior
G, Eddie Pinigis, Liberty, Senior
G, Sergio Render, Virginia Tech, Senior
T, Terrence Apted, James Madison, Junior
T, Eugene Monroe, Virginia, Junior
First-Team Defense
Position, Name, School, Year
L, Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech, Senior
L, Kendall Langford, Hampton, Senior
L, Chris Long, Virginia, Senior
L, Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond, Junior
LB, Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech, Senior
LB, Marquez Davis, Norfolk State, Senior
LB, Eric McBride, Richmond, r-Freshman
B, Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech, Junior
B, Victor "Macho" Harris, Virginia Tech, Junior
B, Tony LeZotte, James Madison, Senior
B, Terrell Whitehead, Norfolk State, Sophomore
Second-Team Defense
Position, Name, School, Year
L, John Baranowsky, James Madison, Senior
L, Barry Booker, Virginia Tech, Senior
L, Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Virginia, Sophomore
L, Tommy Lloyd, Virginia Military Institute, Senior
LB, Vince Hall, Virginia Tech, Senior
LB, Stevie Ray Lloyd, Liberty, Senior
LB, Vince Redd, Liberty, Senior
B, Patrick Calvary, Liberty, Junior
B, Derek Cox, William & Mary, Junior
B, Marcus Haywood, James Madison, Junior
B, Stephen Howell, Richmond, Senior
First-Team Specialists
Position, Name, School, Year
PK, Jud Dunlevy, Virginia Tech, Senior
P, Ryan Weigand, Virginia, Senior
RS, Jeremy Gilchrist, Hampton, Junior
Second-Team Specialists
Position, Name, School, Year
PK, Noah Greenbaum, Liberty, Senior
P, Jahmal Blanchard, Hampton, Sophomore
RS, Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech, Senior
Offensive Player Of The Year: Tim Hightower (Richmond)
Defensive Player Of The Year: Chris Long (Virginia)
Coach Of The Year: Dave Clawson (Richmond)
Rookie Of The Year: Kevin Grayson (Richmond)
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