Dec. 14, 2005
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Wednesday, December 14, 2005) Junior punter David Simonhoff (Coral Gables, Fla./Coral Gables) has been named first team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association.
The AFCA selects a 25-player team in each of its four divisions. The team is made up of 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players, a punter, a placekicker and a return specialist. The offensive unit normally consists of two wide receivers, one tight end, four offensive linemen, one center, one quarterback and two runningbacks. On defense, four defensive linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs are normally chosen.
"It is an honor to be chosen for the Coaches Association All-America team," Simonhoff said. "I really didn't have the year I hoped to have, but I was punting well at the end of the season. I'm thrilled to make the All-America team."
Simonhoff averaged 42.8 yards per punt to lead the Ohio Valley Conference. He had a long punt of 80 yards giving him four punts of 80 yards or longer during his career at Southeast. Simonhoff had 16 punts inside the 20.
A consensus preseason All-America pick, Simonhoff was selected as the OVC Specialist of the Week three times and was honored as the National Specialist of the Week twice.
Simonhoff joins Willie Ponder and Eugene Amano as the only Southeast players to be selected to the AFCA All-America team. Ponder, a return specialist with the New York Giants was honored in 2002 and Amano, an offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans was selected in 2003.
2005 AFCA Division I-AA Coaches' All-America Team
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
WR David Ball 6-3 185 Jr. New Hampshire Sean McDonnell Orange, Vt. (Worcester Academy)
WR Laurent Robinson 6-2 193 Jr. Illinois St. Denver Johnson Rockledge, Fla. (Rockledge)
TE Corey Roberts 6-5 237 Sr. Sam Houston St. Todd Whitten Carthage, Tex. (Carthage)
OL Willie Colon 6-3 315 Sr. Hofstra Joe Gardi Bronx, N.Y. (Cardinal Hayes)
OL Kevin Boothe 6-4 327 Sr. Cornell Jim Knowles Plantation, Fla. (Pine Crest School)
OL Stafford Davis 6-2 302 Sr. Illinois St. Denver Johnson Orange Park, Fla. (Clay)
OL Paul McQuistan 6-6 315 Sr. Weber St. Ron McBride Lebanon, Ore. (Lebanon)
OL Erik Losey 6-2 290 Sr. Western Kentucky David Elson Hixson, Tenn. (Soddy-Daisy)
QB Bruce Eugene 6-1 260 Sr. Grambling St. Melvin Spears New Orleans, La. (Walter L. Cohen)
RB Nick Hartigan 6-2 220 Sr. Brown Phil Estes Fairfax Station, Va. (W.T. Woodson)
RB Arkee Whitlock 5-9 200 Jr. Southern Illinois Jerry Kill Rock Hill, S.C. (Rock Hill)
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL Michael Ononibaku 6-1 235 Sr. Georgetown Bob Benson Amherst, Mass. (Amherst)
DL Katon Bethay 6-2 285 Sr. Wofford Mike Ayers Milton, Wis. (Milton)
DL Chris Gocong 6-3 265 Sr. Cal Poly Rich Ellerson Santa Barbara, Calif. (Carpinteria)
DL Fred Evans 6-5 307 Sr. Texas St. David Bailiff Chicago, Ill. (Morgan Park)
LB Brian Hulea 6-1 235 Sr. Villanova Andy Talley Canfield, Ohio (Canfield)
LB Jared Nepa 6-1 229 Sr. Colgate Dick Biddle Carbondale, Pa. (Carbondale Area)
LB William Freeman 6-3 235 Sr. Furman Bobby Lamb Swansea, S.C. (Swansea)
LB Clint Sellers 6-1 220 Jr. Eastern Illinois Bob Spoo Chariton, Iowa (Chariton)
DB Shannon James 5-10 196 Sr. Massachusetts Don Brown Stratford, Conn. (Bunnell)
DB Cortland Finnegan 5-11 195 Sr. Samford Bill Gray Milton, Fla. (Milton)
DB Reed Doughty 6-1 210 Sr. Northern Colorado Kay Dalton Johnstown, Colo. (Roosevelt)
SPECIALISTS
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
P David Simonhoff 6-2 200 Jr. Southeast Missouri Tim Billings Miami, Fla. (Coral Gables)
PK Andrew Paterini 6-0 195 Jr. Hampton Joe Taylor Gladstone, Mo. (Rockhurst)
RS Steve Silva 6-0 215 Sr. Holy Cross Tom Gilmore East Providence, R.I. (East Providence)
