Derwin James named to Sporting News Freshman All-America Team

 

Florida State safety Derwin James (Haines City alum) has been named to the Sporting News Freshman All-America team. This is the latest recognition for James who was also named a USA Today Freshman All-American.

James appeared in all 12 games this season and started the last seven. He finished second on the team in total tackles (77), tackles for a loss (7.5), sacks (3.5), forced fumbles (2) and fumble recoveries (2). James led the team in total solo tackles with 43.

For a complete list of the team click here.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Derwin James earns USA Today Freshman All-American honors

 

Florida State safety Derwin James (Haines City alum) became the latest Seminoles true freshman to be named to USA Today’s Freshman All-American team when he received the honor on Thursday.

Despite only starting the last 7 games of the season, James finished second on the team in total tackles (77), tackles for a loss (7.5), sacks (3.5), forced fumbles (2) and fumble recoveries (2). James led the team in total solo tackles with 43.

James was the only Seminole named to the Freshman All-American team. For a complete list of the team click here.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Derwin James earns ACC Player of the Week honors

 

Florida State freshman safety Derwin James (Haines City alum) was named the Week 11 ACC Defensive Back of the Week following his performance in the Seminoles’ 34-17 victory over NC State last Saturday.

James tallied a game-high 10 tackles, one sack, one QB hurry and recovered a fumble.

This is the first ACC honor of James’ career and this latest recognition continues to push the name of the freshman on the national map. Earlier in the season James was named the top college football freshman by Pro Football Focus.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Adrian College defensive back Jarius Garner earns All-Conference honors

 

Adrian College junior defensive back Jarius Garner (Mulberry alum) was selected to the 2015 All-Michigan Intercollege Athletic Association football all-conference second team defense on Monday.

In eight games, Garner finished with 28 total tackles (19 solo) while leading Adrian College and tying for first in the conference with five interceptions. He also finished with 4 pass break ups and 1 blocked kick.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

DJ Law named to the MACJC All-State Team

Link: EMCC Athletics

East Mississippi Community College sophomore running back DJ Law (Haines City alum) earned second-team honors on the 2015 MACJC All-State Football Team announced Monday by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges.

Despite missing two games due to an injury, Law still led EMCC in rushing this season with 597 rushing yards. Law also led the team in all-purpose yards finishing with 858 total yards (597 rushing, 132 receiving and 129 kickoff return yards) for an average of 122.6 yards per game. Law’s 2015 season performance included four 100-yard rushing games and a 9.3 yards per rush average ranking him second nationally. Law finished with 3 touchdown runs and 1 touchdown reception on the season.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Utah linebacker Gionni Paul earns Week 10 National Player of the Week honors

 

Link: Walter Camp Football Foundation

Link: Athlon Sports


Week 10 of the college football season saw Utah senior linebacker Gionni Paul (Kathleen alum) walk away with a few National Player of the Week honors.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation and Athlon Sports named Gionni Paul the National FBS Defensive Player of the Week for his performance on Saturday against Washington.

Paul recorded nine tackles (two for a loss), two quarterback sacks, one interception and recovered a fumble and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown to help 12th ranked Utah defeat Washington, 34-23.

Paul joins two other Utah players (DB Eric Weddle, Sept. 24, 2006 and DE Derrick Shelby, Oct. 16, 2011) to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004.

Athlon Sports considered Paul one of the 15 Best College Football Players No One is Talking About in 2015 prior to Week 10. Paul’s play on Saturday and throughout the season (team leading 84 tackles and 12.0 tackles for a loss) is at least not going unnoticed by one national outlet.

Posted by Hasani Harper (@H2_PolkCoFB)

Florida State Defensive Back Derwin James named Top College Football Freshman

 

Link: Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus recently released their mid-season report on the nation’s best true freshman and earning the top spot was Florida State defensive back Derwin James (Haines City alum).

Pro Football Focus had this to say about James performance so far this season:

“One of the hottest players in the country, James has been a force on the FSU defense since taking over as starter in Week 6. His +17.0 overall grade ranks third among all safeties, including a +7.4 mark against the run that ranks 10th and a strong +2.8 grade against the run. James has also been a menace when rushing the passer, picking up two sacks, two hits, and six hurries on only 15 rushes.”

Through 8 games this season, James currently ranks third on the team in total tackles (39), third in pass break-ups (3) and is tied for first in forced fumbles (2). Against Syracuse (James’ third consecutive start of the season) on Oct 31, James led the team in tackles with 12 with a career high in solo tackles (7) and unassisted tackles (5).

Jethro Francois earns STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Week honors

 

Link: STATS FCS Football

Georgetown University freshman defensive back Jethro Francois (Victory Christian alumni) was named the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Week on Monday. Francois became the first Hoya to earn national freshman of the week honors.

Francois set a Georgetown freshman record with 11 solo tackles, finishing with 15 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, 1 pass breakup and a half-sack in his first career start for the Hoyas in a 17-9 win at Bucknell.

Jethro Francois earns Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors

 

Link: Patriot League Official Athletic Site

Georgetown University freshman defensive back Jethro Francois (Victory Christian alumni) was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday.

Francois set a Georgetown freshman record with 11 solo tackles, finishing with 15 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, 1 pass breakup and a half-sack in his first career start for the Hoyas in a 17-9 win at Bucknell.

Deonate Gary earns SIAC Player of the Week honors

 

Link: Central State University Marauder Athletics

Central State University junior linebacker Deonate Gary (Lakeland alumni) was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Gary led the Marauders defense against Stillman with 5 solo tackles, a forced fumble and two interceptions in a 24-7 road victory.

U.Va. linebacker Eric Gallon to start against UNC

Link: PilotOnline.com

Virginia Cavaliers true freshman linebacker Eric Gallon (Lakeland Christian alumni) will get his first start of his college career against UNC today according to Ed Miller of The Virginian-Pilot.

Gallon was thrust into the starting position after previous starter Zach Bradshaw was ejected last week for a targeting penalty against Syracuse. Bradshaw will be required to sit out the first half today at North Carolina.

Derwin James has big day in first college start for FSU

Florida State freshman defensive back Derwin James (Haines City alumni) had a productive day on defense for the Seminoles against Louisville today. One of those plays, a forced fumble against Cardinals' QB Lamar Jackson, had Twitter talking about the 5-star freshman.

Blitz. Strip sack. Recover. FSU taking over in the 2nd half vs Louisville. https://t.co/1pxcVQ4BOc

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 17, 2015

Louisville was driving until Derwin James almost broke their QB in half: http://t.co/6TS1zhJWUV pic.twitter.com/YgUl0mxvFF

— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 17, 2015

Derwin James. Yikes.

— Ira Schoffel (@IraSchoffel) October 17, 2015

DERWIN JAMES. Lightning.

— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) October 17, 2015

Derwin James destroys Jackson to cause the fumble. FSU’s been looking for that big play for a while.

— David Visser (@DavidBVisser) October 17, 2015

Derwin James with a vicious collision that forces a fumble. Sweat recovers and #FSU is in business in U of L territory.

— Warchant.com (@Warchant) October 17, 2015

Freshamn S Derwin James with the blitz and causes fumble and Freshman DE Josh Sweat gets the ball. #Recruiting

— Nole Gameday (@NoleGameday) October 17, 2015

James finished with 6 total tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB sack, and 1 forced fumble.

Gionni Paul INT spotlighted by College GameDay

DID HE JUST CATCH THAT?!? #SidelineVine #SCtop10 https://t.co/d8dl7HK4rJ

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 11, 2015

Utah Utes senior linebacker and team captain Gionni Paul's (Kathleen alumni) interception off a tipped pass in the game against Cal on Oct 10 received a nomination for Sportscenter Top 10 by the College GameDay crew.

EKU's Absanon reconnects with father / family during Haiti trip

Link: Kentucky.com

During a 2013 service mission trip to Haiti, Eastern Kentucky defensive back Stanley Absanon (Tenoroc High School alumni) was able to reconnect with his father who he hadn't seen since visiting in middle school.