Three Coyotes named as VSN Football All-Americans
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Three Kansas Wesleyan football players have been named as Victory Sports Network (VSN) NAIA Football All-Americans for the 2006 season. Eric Williams was named to the first team defense, while Darell Grames and Willie Johnson pulled down honorable mention honors at their respective positions.

Victory Sports Network released their 2006 NAIA All-American football team, with help of coaches from across the NAIA. It was the first year of incorporating NAIA Coaches into the selection process with much success.

 

Williams

Williams (6-3, 275, Sr., DL, Red Bluff, Calif. / Shasta JC) was named to the VSN First Team All-NAIA Defense at Defensive Line. Williams was named First Team All-KCAC at defensive lineman position for the second consecutive season last month. Williams was also named as the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year. He was second on the team in tackles with 65, and had 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

Earlier this month, Williams was named to the first-ever AFCA NAIA All-American team. The AFCA team honors the top-25 football players in the NAIA.

Grames

Grames (6-0, 215, Sr., RB, Red Bluff, Calif. / Shasta JC) earned honorable mention honors this season after being named First Team All-American by VSN last season. He was named All-KCAC for the second straight season. He was a unanimous pick this season. Grames carried 264 times this season for 1328 yards (132.8 avg.) and scored 13 touchdowns, including four in the final game against Bethany, which Grames was honored with NAIA National Player of the Week honors. Grames finished his career at KWU ranked third on the all-time rushing list at KWU with 2,956 yards.

Johnson

Johnson (6-1, 190, Jr., DB, Redding, Calif. / Shasta JC) earned honorable mention honors at defensive back. He was named First Team All-KCAC defensive back in his first season with the Coyotes in November. Johnson led the KCAC in interceptions with six, which also tied him for fifth in the NAIA. He was sixth on the team in tackles with 43, and had eight pass break ups and two fumble recoveries.

“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.

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.

View complete VSN All-America Team

--KWU SI --