Appalachian State star headlines FCS All-America team

NEW YORK — Armanti Edwards can add All-American to a list of accomplishments that already includes two national championships and one of the greatest upsets in college football history.

The Appalachian State quarterback, along with fellow Walter Payton Award finalist Herb Donaldson of Western Illinois, headline the AP’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America Team released Wednesday.

Also named to the first team was Eastern Washington University defensive lineman Greg Peach.

Edwards, a junior from Greenwood S.C., had his best passing season yet, throwing for 2,902 yards and 30 touchdowns despite missing a game with a hip injury and playing the final three games with a right knee injury that might need surgery.

“The thing people found out about Armanti is he’s very capable of throwing the ball,” Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore said in a telephone interview.

And Edwards can still run it. He had 941 yards on the ground.

Edwards had run for 2,741 yards in his first two seasons, leading the Mountaineers to two of their three straight national titles and a victory at Michigan to start the 2007 season.

Donaldson leads the FCS with 162 yards rushing per game.

The Payton Award, which goes to the nation’s best FCS player, will be handed out Friday night in Chattanooga, Tenn. The other finalist is James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers, who was a second-team All-America selection.

Montana, which plays Richmond for the national championship in Chattanooga on Saturday, had two first-teamers: offensive lineman Colin Dow and safety Colt Anderson.

Here are the complete teams:

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Armanti Edwards, junior, 6-feet, 185 pounds, Appalachian State.

Running backs — Herb Donaldson, senior, 5-11, 225, Western Illinois; Rashad Jennings, senior, 6-1, 230, Liberty.

Wide receivers — John Matthews, senior, 6-0, 203, San Diego; Ramses Barden, senior, 6-6, 225, Cal Poly.

Linemen — Colin Dow, senior, 6-5, 300, Montana; Joel Bell, senior, 6-8, 3-8, Furman; Cornelius Lewis, senior, 6-5, 310, Tennessee State; Scott Lemn, senior, 6-3, 285, James Madison; Stephen Field, senior, 6-1, 280, Cal Poly.

Tight end — Scott Sicko, junior, 6-3, 225, New Hampshire.

All-purpose player — Larry Warner, senior, 5-5, 169, Southern Illinois.

Kicker — Andrew Wilcox, senior, 6-2, 231, Elon.

Defense

Linemen — Greg Peach, senior, 6-2, 250, Eastern Washington; Larry Hart, junior, 6-1, 252, Central Arkansas; Jovan Belcher, senior, 6-2, 228, Maine; John Faletoese, senior, 6-3, 290, UC Davis.

Linebackers — Zach East, senior, 6-2, 230, Prairie View; Jason Williams, senior, 6-3, 235, Western Illinois; Nathan Williams, senior, 6-1, 225, Murray State.

Defensive backs — K.J. Gerard, senior, 6-1, 180, Northern Arizona; Ladarius Webb, senior, 5-11, 180, Nicholls State; Colt Anderson, senior, 5-11, 180, Montana ; Mark Legree, sophomore, 6-0, 200, Appalachian State.

Punter — Brett Arnold, senior, 6-0, 185, Massachusetts.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Rodney Landers, senior, James Madison.

Running backs — Toddrick Pendland, junior, McNeese State; Trevyn Smith, junior, Weber State.

Wide receivers — Andre Roberts, junior, The Citadel; Terrell Hudgins, junior, Elon.

Linemen — Raymond Harrison, senior, South Carolina State; Matthew McCracken, junior, Richmond; Tim Silver, senior, Richmond; Nick Hennessey, senior, Colgate; Jonathan Bieschke, senior, Appalachian State.

Tight end — Clay Harbor, junior, Missouri State.

All-purpose player — LeRoy Vann, junior, Florida A&M.

Kicker — Taylor Long, senior, Eastern Kentucky.

Defense

Linemen — James Ruffin, junior, Northern Iowa; Scott Vossler, senior, Dayton; Greg Miller, senior, Villanova; Pierre Walters, senior, Eastern Illinois.

Linebackers — Chris Covington, senior, Georgia Southern; Andy Roman, senior, Lafayette; Bobby Abare, senior, Yale.

Defensive backs — Marcus Haywood, senior, James Madison; Dominique Johnson, senior, Jackson State; Dontrell Miller, junior, Tennessee-Martin; Charles Graves, junior, Delaware.

Punter — Robbie Dehaze, senior, Northern Arizona.

THIRD TEAM

Offense

Quarterback — Cameron Higgins, sophomore, Weber State.

Running backs — William Ford, junior, South Carolina State; David Sinisi, junior, Monmouth, N.J.

Wide receivers — Thomas Harris, junior, Alabama A&M; Cameron Luke, senior, Texas State.

Linemen — Brad Samsa, senior, Youngstown State; Eman Naghavi, senior, McNeese State; Derek Wooten, senior, Wofford; Jon Compas, senior, UC Davis; James Williams, junior, Harvard.

Tight end — Abner Brown, senior, Mississippi Valley State.

All-purpose player — Williams Osborne, junior, Texas Southern.

Kicker — Andrew Samson, sophomore, Pennsylvania.

Defense

Linemen — Kevin Walsh, senior, Monmouth; Austen Lane, junior, Murray State; Everette Pedescleaux, senior, Northern Iowa; Tim Knicky, junior, Stephen F. Austin.

Linebackers — Jeffrey Williams, sophomore, Gardner-Webb; Jarrell Guyton, senior, Morgan State; Andy Schantz, senior, Portland State.

Defensive backs — Philip Ashley, junior, Charleston Southern; Tommy Connors, junior, SE Louisiana; Nick Schommer, senior, North Dakota State; Carnell Clark, junior, Jacksonville State.

Punter — Doug Spada, junior, SE Missouri State.