Smith Picks Up Preseason All-America Honor

VOORHEES, N.J. – Just less than a week away from the season opener against Fayetteville State at Grace P. Johnson Stadium, the preseason accolades continued for the UNCP football team on Sunday morning as quarterback Cory Smith picked up preseason all-American honors from D2ProDay.com, the online magazine announced.

D2ProDay.com is the nation's first and only Division 2 Pro Day and combine for seniors. The board is made up of college scouts, National Football League and Canadian Football League agents and former NFL coaches and players. Last year, more than 60 top Division I, II and III players attended the pro day, including six all-Americans, one Cactus Bowl participant and 28 all-conference players. The players worked out at the East Preps Regional Combine in New Jersey and, this year, regional combines are set for Philadelphia, Richmond, Chicago and Los Angeles. The top 100 players from those combines will compete in the D2/D3 National Pro Day/Combine televised event.

Smith, a senior from Indian Trail, was named the third team quarterback after leading the Braves to a 9-2 record last season in which he finished among the nation's passing efficiency leaders for the second-straight season. He completed nearly 65 percent (169-of-261) of his pass attempts last season for 1,784 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions and led the Braves with 157.0 yards of total offense per game.

Smith is 19-4 as a starter for the Braves and has been the starting signal caller for all but three of the program's 22 intercollegiate football victories. He has played in 27 games across his three-year career in the Black and Gold, completing 340 of his 533 pass attempts (63.8 pct.) for 4,046 yards, 38 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Smith and the Braves will suit up for the first time in 2010 on Saturday when the Black and Gold hosts region rival Fayetteville State in the second annual Two Rivers Classic at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff has been set for 6 p.m.

2010 D2PRODAY.COM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM

FIRST TEAM                          
Offense
QB Blake Bolles, Northwest Missouri
RB Isaac Odim, Minnesota-Duluth
RB Trevar Deed, Delta State
RB Bobby Humphries, Shepherd
WR Kashif Walls, West Liberty
WR Jacques Robinson, Clarion
TE Ryan Travis, West Liberty
OL Brett Grozinger, Northwest Missouri
OL David Mims, Virginia Union
OL Cameron Bradfield, Grand Valley
OL Brandon Fusco, Slippery Rock
OL Dan Jordan, California

Defense
DL Malcolm Jenkins, Elizabeth City
DL Tyler Roach, Northwest Missouri
DL Xavier Brown, C.W. Post
DL Danny Richard, Grand Valley    
DL Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas
LB Robbie Aurich, Minnesota-Duluth
LB Matt Freed, East Stroudsburg
LB Justin Victor, Grand Valley
DB Ron Parker, Newberry
D Mario Russell, Carson-Newman
DB Nick Sipes, Clarion
DB Mario Fuller, Albany State

Special Teams
K Greg Zuerlein, Nebraska-Omaha
P Joe Kok, Northeastern State
RET Deante Steele, Shepherd

SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB Zach Amedro, West Liberty
RB Winston Thompson, Clark
RB Fred Winborn, Texas A&M-Kingsville
RB John Weichman, So. Conn. St.
WR Kyle Kaiser, Nebraska-Kearney
WR Mico McSwain, North Alabama
TE Mike Higgins, Nebraska-Omaha  
OL Rob Stoner, Edinboro
OL Pat Casey, Bloomsburg
OL Royland Tubbs, Abilene Christian
OL Sam Geldmaker, Gannon
OL Matt Holmes, Newberry

Defense
DL Alex Moore, Southeastern Oklahoma
DL Marc Schiechl, Colorado Mines
DL Eugene Germany, Central Washington
DL Nick Rocco, Dixie State
LB Chad Miller, Millersville        
LB Nathan Uland, Eastern New Mexico
LB Larry Dean, Valdosta State
DB Terence Peete, Bowie State
DB Caleb Singleton, Western Oregon
DB Israel Hughes, Texas A&M-Commerce
DB Ryan Jones, NW Missouri State

Special Teams
K Matt Dineen, Kutztown   
P Mike Langston, Dixie State    
RET Frederick Bruno, Wayne State (NE)

THIRD TEAM       
Offense
QB Zack Eskridge, Midwestern State
QB Cory Smith, UNC Pembroke
RB Kevon Calhoun, West Liberty      
RB Herbert Woodard, Assumption
RB Anthony Boykins, Kentucky State
WR Doug Williams, Panhandle State
WR Jywin Ceasar, Arkansas-Monticello
WR Ryan Tallent, Tusculum     
TE DeMarco Cosby, Central Missouri         
OL Gabe Johnson-Siano, Cheyney      
OL Adam Baxter, Carson-Newman   
OL Joseph Ephrem, Albany State   
OL David Bellmont, Merrimack    
OL Jason Wiseman, NW Missouri State   

Defense
DL Shayne Shade, NW Missouri State   
DL Kalani Zoller, Western Oregon      
DL Marcus Zimmerman, Bloomsburg        
LB Kevin Washington, Abilene Christian      
LB Clay Beeler, West Liberty
LB Carlton Johnson, Arkansas-Monticello   
DB Marquez Gibson, Benedict    
DB Branden Williams, Edinboro
DB Rodney Mitchell, Eastern New Mexico      
DB Justin Hill, Miles 
     
Special Teams
K C.J. Bahr, Slippery Rock       
P Justin Hinson, UNC Pembroke
RET Trevar Deed, Delta State