HAMMOND – Two days after becoming Southeastern Louisiana University's first football All-American since 2008, defensive back
Robert Alford was one of six players from the Southland Conference named Wednesday to the Associated Press FCS All-America football team.
Alford, who was named as a second-team All-American on Monday by The Sports Network, again earned second-team notice where he became Southeastern's third AP All-American since the school resumed football in 2003.
The Hammond native and Buchanan Award Watch List finalist became Southeastern's first second-team AP All-American since defensive lineman Willie Shepherd in 1984 and sixth since the Lions moved to Division I in 1980.
In helping Southeastern to a 5-6 overall record and its best league mark – 5-2 – since joining the Southland Conference in 2005, Alford earned first-team All-Southland Conference honors after recording 39 tackles on the season while tying for the league lead with four interceptions.
He added five tackles for loss on the season and led the Lions with 12 passes defended. Alford totaled a season-high seven tackles with two pass breakups and a fourth-quarter interception in a 25-24 victory over nationally-ranked McNeese State.
Alford added interceptions against Lamar, Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin and averaged 14.1 yards as a punt returner during the season, highlighted by a 75-yard return for a touchdown at Lamar – the fourth-longest return in school history.
AP FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Taylor Heinicke, sophomore, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Old Dominion.
Running backs - Miguel Maysonet, senior, 5-10, 205, Stony Brook; Eric Breitenstein, senior, 5-11, 230, Wofford.
Offensive linemen - Earl Watford, senior, 6-4, 290, James Madison; Mike Sellers, junior, 6-0, 295, The Citadel; Will Post, senior, 6-6, 295, Eastern Washington; Billy Turner, junior, 6-6, 300, North Dakota State; Roger Gaines, senior, 6-6, 320, Tennessee State.
Tight end - Kyle Juszczyk, senior, 6-3, 240, Harvard.
Receivers - Aaron Mellett, senior, 6-4, 220, Elon; Erik Lora, 5-10, 181, junior, Eastern Illinois.
All-purpose player - Walter Powell, junior, 6-0, 180, Murray State.
Kicker - Patrick Murray, senior, 5-7, 160, Fordham.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Caleb Schreibeis, senior, 6-3, 252, Montana State; Colton Underwood, junior, 6-4, 255, Illinois State; Brent Russell, senior, 6-2, 300, Georgia Southern; Brandon Thurmond, senior, 6-2, 260, Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Linebackers - Matt Evans, senior, 6-0, 228, New Hampshire; Jody Owens, senior, 6-0, 223, Montana State; Robert McCabe, senior, 6-2, 230, Georgetown.
Defensive backs - Darnell Taylor, senior, 6-0, 195, Sam Houston State; Marcus Williams, junior, 5-11, 194, North Dakota State; Jaquiski Tartt, sophomore, 6-1, 220, Samford; Cooper Taylor, senior, 6-5, 235, Richmond.
Punter - Sam Martin, senior, 6-1, 205, Appalachian State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Casey Brockman, senior, Murray State.
Running backs - Zach Zenner, sophomore, South Dakota State; Deonte Williams, senior, Cal Poly.
Linemen - Terren Jones, senior, Alabama State; Michael Bamiro, junior, Stony Brook; Bryan Witzmann, junior, South Dakota State; J.C. Tretter, senior, Cornell; Corey Howard, senior, Central Arkansas.
Tight end - A.C. Leonard, sophomore, Tennessee State.
Receivers - Jordan Harris, junior, Bryant; Brandon Kaufman, junior, Eastern Washington.
All-purpose player - Dominic Gunn, senior, Northern Colorado.
Kicker - Colton Cook, junior, Southern Utah.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Cody Larsen, senior, Southern Utah; Davis Tull, sophomore, Chattanooga; Mike Catapano, senior, Princeton; Zach Wagenmann, sophomore, Montana.
Linebackers - Jeremy Kimbrough, senior, Appalachian State; Stephon Robertson, junior, James Madison; Blake Peiffer, senior, Southeast Missouri.
Defensive backs - Robert Alford, senior, Southeastern Louisiana; B.W. Webb, senior, William & Mary; Demetrius McCray, senior, Appalachian State; Johnny Towalid, senior, Indiana State.
Punter - Andy Wilder, junior, Northern Arizona.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Gavin McCarney, junior, Colgate.
Running backs - Shakir Bell, junior, Indiana State; Tim Flanders, junior, Sam Houston State.
Linemen - Randy Richards, senior, Missouri State; Garrett Frye, sophomore, Georgia Southern; Aaron Adams, senior, Eastern Kentucky; Sean Davies, senior, UC Davis; Dakota Dozier, junior, Furman.
Tight end - Josh Hill, senior, Idaho State.
Receivers - Cordell Roberson, senior, Stephen F. Austin; Kevin Norrell, senior, Stony Brook.
All-purpose player - Tyler Varga, sophomore, Yale.
Kicker - Jimmy Pavel, senior, Eastern Washington.
DEFENSE
Linemen - Caraun Reid, senior, Princeton; Ken Boatright, senior, Southern Illinois; Joseph Lebeau, senior, Jackson State; Andrew Weaver, junior, Sam Houston State.
Linebackers - Jordan Tripp, junior, Montana; Keith Pough, senior, Howard; Ian Sluss, senior, Portland State.
Defensive backs - Kejuan Riley, senior, Alabama State; Steven Godbolt, sophomore, Tennessee State; Ben Ericksen, senior, Illinois State; Caleb Schaffitzel, sophomore, Missouri State.
Punter - Bobby Wenzig, junior, Alabama State.
