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JMU PROMINENT IN CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON RECOGNITIONS
7/25/2007 7:30:00 PM | Football
BALTIMORE, Md., July 25, 2007 – The James Madison University football team was tabbed as the favorite in the Colonial Athletic Association Southern Division, and Dukes' senior free safety Tony LeZotte (Augusta, Ga./Westside) was named the league's preseason defensive player of the year, the CAA announced Wednesday at its preseason media event.
In a vote of the conference's 12 head coaches and selected media members, JMU edged Delaware 12-11 in balloting to select the Southern Division's top team. The two squads received all but two of the first-place ballots.
The results of the team poll, along with the 2007 All-CAA preseason squad, were announced during Wednesday's CAA football media day at the ESPNZone in Baltimore. Defending league champion Massachusetts, which reached the finals of last season's NCAA playoffs, was chosen as the Northern Division's and the league's overall team preseason favorite.
LeZotte, the 2004 league defensive rookie of the year and 2005 defensive player of the year, in 2007 will be attempting to become the conference's first four-time first-team all-league honoree. He shared the conference's player top billing with New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos, the preseason offensive player of the year and last season's Walter Payton Award winner as national offensive player of the year.
LeZotte also was named to the preseason all-conference squad, one of five positions garnered by JMU players. Senior L.C. Baker (Richmond, Va./Armstrong) was named to the preseason all-league squad as both a wide receiver and kick returner, and senior tailback Eugene Holloman (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) and senior defensive tackle John Baranowsky (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury) also were named. Only a first-team preseason all-league team was named.
LeZotte last season took part in 82 tackles, and he has been involved in 321 stops in three JMU seasons. He will enter play in 2007 needing only 20 tackles to move onto JMU's top-10 career tackles list and 42 to become the all-time leader among JMU defensive backs.
Baker a year ago caught 46 passes, including eight for touchdowns. He was first-team all-conference as a punt returner and second team as a receiver, and he has 80 career receptions and an 11.4-yard career punt return average.
Holloman in 2006 ran for 1,085 yards and eight touchdowns while appearing in 10 JMU games. His 1,085 rushing yards are JMU's No. 6 all-time season total, and he had six 100-yard games while earning first-team all-league recognition.
Baranowsky in 2006 took part in 35 tackles, including 17 solo stops and six quarterback sacks. He started all but one JMU game and was second-team all-conference.
Delaware, which returns 10 starters, placed three on the preseason offensive squad, including running back Omar Cuff, wide receiver Aaron Love and lineman Mike Byrne. Towson, which picked up a first-place vote in the South, was picked to finish third in the division and garnered a preseason all-conference honoree in linebacker Brian Bradford.
Richmond came in fourth in the South Division voting and had four preseason all-conference team members. Wide receiver Arman Shields and offensive lineman Tim Silver represented the Spiders on offense while defensive lineman Sherman Logan and cornerback David Horton were defensive honorees.
Villanova and William & Mary rounded out the preseason voting, chosen to finish fifth and sixth, respectively, in the division.
Massachusetts, which returns 12 starters and received a record 20 all-conference honors in 2006 (three postseason teams), placed seven players on the preseason all-conference squad. Offensive linemen Matt Austin and Nick Diana, joined tight end Brad Listorti to represent the Minutemen on offense. Defensive lineman David Burris and Charles Walker and preseason All-America Jason Hatchell, both linebackers, represent Massachusetts on the defensive front. Cornerback Sean Smalls is the seventh Minuteman selected.
New Hampshire earned eight first-place votes to finish second in the preseason poll's North Division. Santos is one of two Wildcats on the preseason squad, joined by safety Jeff Pammer.
Maine, selected third among the North Division, placed two on the preseason squad, including offensive lineman Shawn Demaray and defensive lineman Bruno Dorismond. Northeastern came in fourth in the North voting, and was followed by Hofstra and Rhode Island, respectively. Hofstra had two among the preseason honorees, including linebacker Gian Villante and preseason All-America kicker Rob Zarrilli. Rhode Island fullback Joe Casey and punter Bryan Giannecchini also received preseason honors.
The inaugural season of CAA football begins Aug. 30, when Delaware and William & Mary meet in Williamsburg, Va. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., and the game will televised by CN8.
2007 CAA Football Predicted Order Of Finish
Overall Champion
Massachusetts
South Division (First-place votes)
1. James Madison (11)
2. Delaware (10)
3. Towson (1)
4. Richmond
5. Villanova (1)
6. William & Mary
North Division (First-place votes)
1. Massachusetts (15)
2. New Hampshire (8)
3. Maine
4. Northeastern
5. Hofstra
6. Rhode Island
Preseason Offensive Player Of The Year
Position, Name, Yr., Ht., Wt., School
Quarterback, Ricky Santos, Senior, 6-2, 215, New Hampshire
Preseason Defensive Player Of The Year
Position, Name, Yr, Ht., Wt., School
Safety, Tony LeZotte, Senior, 6-0, 200, JMU
Preseason All-Conference Team
Offense
Position
Name
Yr.
Ht.
Wt.
School
QB
Ricky Santos
Sr.
6-2
215
New Hampshire
RB
Omar Cuff
Sr.
5-10
195
Delaware
RB
Eugene Holloman
Sr.
5-11
170
JMU
FB
Joe Casey
Jr.
5-10
210
Rhode Island
WR
L.C. Baker
Sr.
5-7
155
JMU
WR
Aaron Love
Jr.
5-9
160
Delaware
WR
Arman Shields
Sr.
6-2
185
Richmond
TE
Brad Listorti
Sr.
6-4
255
Massachusetts
OL
Matt Austin
Sr.
6-5
285
Massachusetts
OL
Mike Byrne
Sr.
6-6
295
Delaware
OL
Shawn Demaray
Sr.
6-2
280
Maine
OL
Nick Diana
Sr.
6-3
300
Massachusetts
OL
Tim Silver
Sr.
6-6
300
Richmond
Defense
Position
Name
Yr.
Ht.
Wt.
School
DL
John Baranowsky
Sr.
6-3
290
JMU
DL
David Burris
Sr.
6-0
242
Massachusetts
DL
Bruno Dorismond
Sr.
6-4
283
Maine
DL
Sherman Logan
Sr.
6-3
250
Richmond
LB
Brian Bradford
Sr.
6-2
240
Towson
LB
Jason Hatchell
Sr.
6-0
240
Massachusetts
LB
Gian Villante
Sr.
6-2
234
Hofstra
LB
Charles Walker
Sr.
6-1
220
Massachusetts
S
Tony LeZotte
Sr.
6-0
200
JMU
S
Jeff Pammer
Sr.
6-0
210
New Hampshire
CB
David Horton
So.
5-11
195
Richmond
CB
Sean Smalls
Jr.
6-1
190
Massachusetts
Specialists
Position
Name
Yr.
Ht.
Wt.
School
RS
L.C. Baker
Sr.
5-7
155
JMU
PK
Rob Zarrilli
Sr.
6-0
203
Hofstra
P
Bryan Giannecchini
Sr.
5-11
200
Rhode Island
#
Players Mentioned
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