Dec. 18, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Southeast Missouri State senior wide receiver Willie Ponder is on a roll. In the past three days, he has been named first-team All-American by three different organizations.

The latest to name the senior from Tulsa Oklahoma first-team Div. I-AA All-American is the Sports Network. Previously Ponder was named to the American Football Coaches Associaion and the Associated Press teams.

Ponder, who finished fifth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award which is the I-AA equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, was second in the nation in total receiving yards and third in receiving yards per game.

A first team all-OVC selection, Ponder led the OVC in every receiving category. He had 87 catches for 1,453 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Ponder was one of four players from the OVC named to the AP first team. He is joined by three players from league champion Eastern Illinois, quarterbackTony Romo, running back J.R. Taylor and linebacker Nick Ricks.

"Willie is very deserving of every award he receives," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "He was certainly the top receiver in Division I-AA and I feel confident he will have the opportunity to play at the next level."

The AFCA has selected a I-AA All-America team every year since 1996. The AFCA's I-AA All-America committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA;s nine districts.

The AFCA team has only 11 offensive and 11 defensive players in addition to three specialists. Quarterback Tony Romo of Eastern Illinois was the only other player honored from the OVC.