QB Johnson among five San Diego players on Mid-Major Preseason team

Aug 30, 2007, 13:28 GMT

Philadelphia, PA - Walter Payton Award candidate Josh Johnson was among five players from San Diego named to The Sports Network Mid-Major Preseason All-America team on Thursday.

Johnson, teammate and defensive end Eric Bakhtiari, Albany linebacker Colin Disch and Duquesne receiver Bruce Hocker were the only players named to both the regular preseason squad and the Mid-Major team.

San Diego, ranked No. 1 in The Sports Network preseason poll and the back-to- back winner of The Sports Network Cup as the top Mid-Major team in the country, also placed wide receiver Wes Doyle, center Jordan Paopao and guard Gabe DeAnda on the team.

Johnson, a 6-3, 200-pound senior, was a second-team pick on the regular All- America team and has made the end of season All-American teams in the past two seasons. Johnson has thrown for 7,849 yards, rushed for 1,138 yards and accounted for 88 TDs in his first three seasons.

Scott Phaydavong, a 5-7, 165-pound running back who is the leading returning career rusher in the FCS, was another repeat selection to the Mid-Major All- America team. The elusive senior has rushed for more than 1,500 yards in each of his first three seasons and has 4,702 yards, 27 TDs and a 6.6 average per carry through his first three college campaigns.

Phaydavong was one of four Drake players selected, being joined by guard Matt Haas, tackle Dave Pammer and strong safety Andy Green.

Hocker, a second-team pick on the regular All-America squad, was one of four Duquesne players on the team. Hocker had a breakthrough season a year ago with 61 catches for 1070 yards and 16 TDs and has 108 receptions, 1,927 yards and 24 TDs for his career.

Hocker is joined by Duquesne teammates tight end Calvin Gitter, defensive tackle Lou Levine and defensive lineman Travis Decker.

Other teams to have multiple players on the Mid-Major team were Albany (Disch, fullback Dan Beigel and defensive tackle Mike Dungey), Dayton (receiver Nick Ruhe and linebacker Brian Kelly), Morehead State (tackle Grant Jennings and punter Mason Webb) and Wagner (kicker Piotr Czech and cornerback Alfred Phillips).

Butler (defensive end Chris Marzotto), Central Connecticut State (linebacker Chris Stimmel), Davidson (cornerback Patrick FitzGerald), La Salle (linebacker John Simmons), Robert Morris (kick returner Mario Hines), Sacred Heart (free safety Jon Wilson) and Valparaiso (running back Jeff Horton) all received one selection on the All-America team.

The Pioneer Football League drew 15 of the 29 players on the team, with the Northeast Conference earning nine spots and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference drawing five.

THE SPORTS NETWORK 2007 PRESEASON MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICA

OFFENSE SCHOOL POS. CL. HT. WT.

Josh Johnson San Diego QB Sr. 6-3 200

Scott Phaydavong Drake RB Sr. 5-7 165

Jeff Horton Valparaiso RB Sr. 6-2 185

Dan Beigel Albany FB Sr. 6-2 235

Bruce Hocker Duquesne WR Sr. 6-4 190

Wes Doyle San Diego WR Sr. 6-4 205

Nick Ruhe Dayton WR Sr. 5-10 177

Calvin Gitter Duquesne TE Sr. 6-2 235

Jordan Paopao San Diego C Sr. 5-11 292

Gabe DeAnda San Diego G Sr. 6-0 275

Matt Haas Drake G Sr. 6-1 240

Grant Jennings Morehead State T Sr. 6-4 276

Dave Pammer Drake T Sr. 6-4 295

Piotr Czech Wagner K Sr. 6-5 210

Mario Hines Robert Morris RS Sr. 5-11 175

DEFENSE SCHOOL POS. CL. HT. WT.

Eric Bakhtiari San Diego DE Sr. 6-4 260

Chris Marzotto Butler DE Sr. 6-1 230

Mike Dungey Albany DT Jr. 6-2 275

Lou Levine Duquesne DT Sr. 6-2 250

Travis Decker Duquesne DL Sr. 6-2 225

Colin Disch Albany LB Sr. 6-1 210

Brian Kelly Dayton LB Sr. 6-1 215

John Simmons La Salle LB Jr. 6-1 245

Chris Stimmel CCSU LB Sr. 6-2 210

Alfred Phillips Wagner CB Sr. 5-11 195

Patrick FitzGerald Davidson CB Sr. 5-9 185

Andy Green Drake SS Jr. 6-4 200

Jon Wilson Sacred Heart FS Sr. 6-1 200

Mason Webb Morehead State P Jr. 6-0 200

© 2007 The Sports Network