College Fanz Sports Network - Football

The Victory Sports Network 2006 NAIA All-American Team

Posted by Jason Dannelly - Thu, Jan 11, 2007 - [Football] - Viewed 9885 times

Sioux Falls' Chad Cavender (left)
St. Francis' Brian Kurtz (right)

Grand Island, Neb - The Victory Sports Network has released their 2006 NAIA All-American football team. With help of coaches from across the NAIA, VSN has now completed their first year of incorporating NAIA Coaches into the selection process with much success.

“With the NAIA and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) joining to create an elite team of All-Americans, we decided it would best serve the fans and players of the NAIA if the coaches and VSN came together on an All-American team,” said Jason Dannelly Owner/CEO of the Victory Sports Network.

The University of Sioux Falls came away with two of the three highest awards given by the Victory Sports Network. Quarterback Chad Cavender was named VSN’s Offensive Player of the Year while Coach Kalen DeBoer was crowned VSN’s Coach of the Year.

Brian Kurtz, a linebacker for the University of Saint Francis, was named defensive player of the year in the NAIA by VSN. Last Friday Kurtz was named the NAIA’s overall player of the year at the Champions Banquet prior to the NAIA National Title game in Savannah, TN.

“I am extremely pleased with the way this year’s team was selected,” said Dannelly. “To bring in the opinions of 11 NAIA coaches plus our extensive knowledge of these NAIA players brings a lot of credibility to this year’s team.”

Previously the NAIA Coaches voted for their own All-American team through the NAIA and their sports information department while VSN conducted their own media All-American team. However the coaches All-Americans were never recognized by the AFCA in the same light as the other divisions of college football. Rather, some of the NAIA All-Americans would be put together with NCAA Division II players preventing many great NAIA athletes from receiving national recognition by the AFCA.

In the previous off-season NAIA AFCA Coaches Association President Bill Cronin of Georgetown College worked with AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff to ensure the NAIA would have a team that would be recognized by the AFCA. That team was released last week via the AFCA web site taking the place of any team officially released by the NAIA. The coaches then chose to work with and endorse the VSN All-American team as a more complete All-American team while viewing the AFCA team as the elite team.

There is no doubt some of the best football players in the country are represented on the VSN team. Four Sioux Falls Cougars top the VSN First Team All-American list leading the way for the entire division. Several schools are tied with two first team All-Americans.

This is the fifth season that the Victory Sports Network, formerly NAIAFOOTBALL.NET, has released an All-American team. The team has been presented each season by Engravers Edge of Sioux Falls, SD who also provides the awards for the players and schools to display.

The Victory Sports Network’s 2006 NAIA All American Team
Presented by Engravers Edge

Offensive Player of the Year: Chad Cavender-QB-Sioux Falls (SD)
Defensive Player of the Year: Brian Kurtz-LB-Saint Francis (Ind)

Coach of the Year: Kalen DeBoer-University of Sioux Falls

First Team Offensive
Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr Hometown

OL Truman Ashby Benedictine College (KS) 6’3 270 SR St. Louis, MO

OL John Wolf Saint Francis (Ind) 6’3 312 SR Indianapolis, IN

OL Brad Cook Saint Ambrose (IA) 6’1 250 SR Bettendorf, IA

OL Max Milne Minot State (ND) 6’4 275 SR Richey, MT

OL Chad Erwin Montana Tech (MT) 6’2 267 SR Butte, MT

TE Buck Reed Bethel College (TN) 6’6 260 JR Eight Mile, AL

QB Chad Cavender Sioux Falls (SD) 6’2 205 JR Redding, CA

RB Mike Dvoracek Sioux Falls (SD) 5’11 205 SR Wagner, SD

RB Ra’shad Morgan UVA-Wise (VA) 5’10 208 JR Chestfield, VA

RB Beau Cox Bethel College (KS) 5’9 180 SO Weskan, KS

WR Dusty Hovorka Sioux Falls (SD) 6’2 205 SR McCook Lake, SD

WR Phoenix Thompson Belhaven College (MS) 6’2 195 SR Columbia, MS

WR Andy Ricca St. Xavier (IL) 6’1 200 SR LaPorte, IN

ATH Trey Erickson Sioux Falls (SD) 6’0 215 JR Yankton, SD

First Team Defensive

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr Hometown

DL JJ Perino Montana Tech (MT) 6’1 221 JR Helena, MT

DL Joe Maresh Valley City State (ND) 6’0 210 SR Glencoe, MN

DL Larry Wentzel Missouri Valley 6’2 240 SO St. Louis, MO

DL Eric Williams Kansas Wesleyan 6’3 275 SR Red Bluff, CA

LB Brian Kurtz Saint Francis (Ind) 6’0 212 SR Fort Wayne, IN

LB Seamus Malloy Carroll College (MT) 6’2 220 SR Helena, MT

LB Austin Janssen Northwestern (IA) 6’0 203 SR Orange City, IA

LB Reggie Singletary Missouri Valley 6’0 240 JR Kansas City, MO

DB Dan Kontz Friends University (KS) 6’1 205 SR Derby, KS

DB Clay Hamblen Georgetown College (KY) 5’11 185 JR Danville, IN

DB Chad Hustdedt Morningside College (IA) 6’2 190 JR Galva, IA

DB Tanner Tetrault Black Hills State (SD) 6’2 205 JR St. Onge, SD

K Rick Lebeda Dana College (NE) 6’3 190 SR Omaha, NE

P Ben Chaet Carroll College (MT) 6’0 195 SR Helena, MT

RS Rob Lash Walsh University (OH) 5’11 190 JR Shelby, OH

Second Team Offensive

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr Hometown

OL Mike Polly Georgetown College (KY) 6’2 266 SR Erlanger, KY

OL Phil Kooistra Northwestern College (IA) 6’3 275 SR Rock Valley, IA

OL Bruce Slusser Bethel College (TN) 6’3 300 SO Dresden, TN

OL Darnell Whitaker Southern Nazarene (OK) 6’1 290 SR Tulsa, OK

OL Grant Myers Tabor College (KS) 6’1 280 SR Bakersfield, CA

TE Ryan Ross Missouri Valley 6’4 230 SR St. Petersburg, FL

QB Cris Reisert Ohio Dominican 6’2 205 SO Cincinnati, OH

RB Thez Robinson NW Oklahoma State 6’0 200 JR Lyons, GA

RB Adrain Smith Bethel College (TN) 5’10 190 JR Ocala, FL

RB James Jackson William Penn (IA) 5’9 220 SR Brockton, MA

WR James Perry MidAmerica Nazarene 6’0 180 JR Lee’s Summit, MO

WR Deon Duke Trinity International (IL) 5’11 165 JR Compton, CA

WR Jarod Stace Ohio Dominican 5’9 185 JR Whitehall, OH

ATH Bernard Payton Malone College (OH) 6’1 205 JR Pomona, CA

Second Team Defensive

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr Hometown

DL William Knepper Saint Francis (Ind) 6’3 341 JR Warsaw, IN

DL Andy Wulf Saint Ambrose (IA) 6’0 270 SR Tipton, IA

DL Courtney White Georgetown College (KY) 6’2 290 JR Georgetown, KY

DL Ryan Miles Texas College 6’2 238 SO Livingston, TX

LB Clint Peery William Penn (IA) 6’2 250 JR Payson, UT

LB Patrick O’Neal Union (KY) 6’2 225 JR West Hall, GA

LB B.J. Hodshire NW Oklahoma State 6’3 225 JR Pawnee, OK

LB Shad Schneider Black Hills State (SD) 6’1 200 SR Gillette, WY

DB Mike Harrison McKendree College (IL) 5’9 185 SR Bloomington, IL

DB Dathan Brown Texas College 6’2 201 JR LaMarque, TX

DB Hunter Pingston Bethel College (TN) 5’11 205 SR Rockledge, FL

DB Loren Henry William Jewell (MO) 6’0 219 SR Seneca, KS

K Shane Longest Saint Xavier (IL) 5’11 180 JR Wilmington, IL

P Clink Bontempo Saint Francis (Ind) 6’0 214 SR Fort Wayne, IN

RS Fabian Daniel Shorter College (GA) 5’9 170 SO Fitzgerald, GA

VSN Honorable Mention

Offensive Line:

Jeremiah Hays-Evangel, Robert Spencer-Jamestown College, Zach Campbell-Sioux Falls, Jon Mullins-UVA Wise, Charlie Russ-Saint Xavier, Joey Gilsdorf-Sterling College, Mike Galassi-Walsh, Marshall Hunt-Webber International, Henry Potter-UVA Wise, Stephen Morgan-Haskell Indian Nations, Scott Holbrook-Carroll College, Josh Ekovich -Saint Francis (Ind), Mike Siverly-McKendree, Brandon Jacobitz-Hastings, Kris Vasquez-Missouri Valley

Quarterbacks:

Randy Hippeard-UVA Wise, Kyle Samson-MSU-Northern, Jason Shoulders-Missouri Valley

Runningbacks:

Teague Egan-Montana Tech, Darell Grames-Kansas Wesleyan, Vernon Reed-St. Ambrose, Deshawn Goldsmith-MidAmerica Nazarene, Kirk Hannah-Urbana (OH), Eric Dirk-Jamestown College, Ryan Grosulak-Carroll College, Lee Dyson-Belhaven College, Keith Sietstra-Northwestern, Marcus Lampkin-Azusa Pacific

Tight Ends:

Josiah Fenceroy-Sioux Falls, Justin Carter-Texas College, Joe Farfsing -Ohio Dominican

Wide Receivers:

Casey Kelly-Montana Tech, Aric Evans-UVA Wise, Tyler Greff-Dickinson State, Zach Edwards-NWOSU, Zach Rainey -Saint Francis (Ind), Robert Bieger-Bethany College, Graylin Allison-Belhaven College, Hunter Smith-Haskell Indian Nations

Defensive Backs:

Marc Samson-MSU Northern, Chancey Calhoun-Valley City State, Andre Shaw-MidAmerica Nazarene, Montreal Wade-Walsh (OH), Willie Johnson-Kansas Wesleyan, Jamarcus Watkins-Webber International, Jordan Van Otterloo-Northwestern (IA), Chance Jenkins-St. Ambrose, Brandon Kaufman-Bethel College KS, Brandon Blackerby-Georgetown College, Rayshaun Kizer-Walsh, Jason Glasco-Sioux Falls

Defensive Line:

Tim Martin-Northwestern (IA), John Praeuner-Southern Nazarene, Cliff Barna-Bethel College (TN), Chase Spencer-Minot State, Josh Zeno-Azusa Pacific, Phil Lenoue-Carroll College, Willis Cooley-Southern Oregon, Ryan Whalen-Georgetown College, David Gladney-Lindenwood, Omar Humphrey-Friends University, Alex Wallace-Tabor, Letarius Lee-Sioux Falls

Linebackers:

Bryan Howe -Walsh, Brian Hall-Geneva, Jason Hoath-Lambuth University, Eric Potochney-Webber International, Noah Morford-Friends University, Travis Bengard-Azusa Pacific, Owen Koeppen-Carroll College, Oscar Guerrero-Southwestern College, Adam Gabriel-Bethel College KS, Gabe Guthrie-Georgetown College, Casey Conway-Jamestown College, Logen Wright-Lindenwood, Adam Paulson-Sioux Falls

Athletes:

Clayton Braddock-Graceland, Adam Clapp-McKendree, Chad Hershberger-Bethel College KS

Kickers:

Kyle Chilton-Pikeville College, Dempsey Schlueter-Georgetown College, Marcus Miller-Carroll College

Punters:

Zac Atterberry-Lindenwood, Travis Tubbs-Webber International, Brad Hollen-University of Montana Western

Return Specialists:

Jeff Neujahr-Concordia (NE), Jake Stoltz-Jamestown College, Allen Bufford-Olivet Nazarene

For more information contact:

The Victory Sports Network

PO Box 5384

Grand Island, NE 68803

(PH) 308 383-1431

mail@victorysportsnetwork.com