ELLENSBURG (Dec. 8) -- Central Washington University senior Buddy Wood (Chattaroy/Riverside HS) has been named a first-team NCAA Division II All-American by both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and by Daktronics, Inc., as was announced Tuesday.
Wood, a linebacker and team captain for the Wildcats, finished his senior season at CWU as the team leader in tackles with 111. He had 19 tackles in his final collegiate contest, a national quarterfinal loss to Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 28, which enabled him to also finish his career as the all-time leading tackler in school history.
In addition to his tackle totals, Wood was tops on the Wildcats with 17 tackles for loss in 2009. He had five fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, and three blocked kicks as a senior, and finished his career with school and conference records for fumble recoveries, forced fumbles, and fumble recovery touchdowns. Wood was previously named the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Wood was the only player from the GNAC named to either All-American team. The AFCA team consists of just one team, while the Daktronics, Inc., squad, which is selected by the nation’s sports information directors, has a first and second team.
Central Washington finished the 2009 regular season as the top-ranked team in the NCAA Division II as the only undefeated team in the country at the Division II level. The Wildcats ended their season with a 12-1 overall record following their quarterfinal loss, and they lose 23 seniors to graduation.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION (AFCA) DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Nick Graziano, Sr., Arkansas Tech. Running Back: Joique Bell, Sr., Wayne State (Mich.); Isaac Odim, Jr., Minnesota Duluth; Jonas Randolph, So., Mars Hill (N.C.). Wide Receiver: Frederick Bruno, Jr., Wayne State (Neb.); Mike Harris, Sr., Shippensburg (Pa.). Offensive Line: Nick McDonald, Sr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Andy Schoonover, Sr., Minnesota State Mankato; Jack Hiett, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney; Jared Veldheer, Sr., Hillsdale (Mich.); Tony Washington, Sr., Abilene Christian (Texas).
DEFENSE
Defensive Line: Xavier Brown, Jr., C.W. Post (N.Y.); Marc Schiechl, Jr., Colorado Mines; Eugene Sims, Sr., West Texas A&M; Cedric Thornton, Jr., Southern Arkansas. Linebacker: Lardester Hicks-Green, Sr., Delta State (Miss.); John Jacobs, Sr., Saginaw Valley State (Mich.); Zach Watkins, Sr., Washburn (Kan.); Buddy Wood, Sr., Central Washington. Defensive Back: Myles Burnsides, Sr., Northwest Missouri State; Josh Jones, Sr., Harding (Ark.); Quintez Smith, Sr., Shaw (N.C.).
SPECIALISTS
Punter: Kevin Berg, Jr., Chadron State (Neb.). Kicker: Greg Zuerlein, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha. All-Purpose Back: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Sr., Indiana (Pa.).
DAKTRONICS, INC. DIVISION II ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback: Nick Graziano, Sr., Arkansas Tech. Running Back: Joique Bell, Sr., Wayne State (Mich.); Isaac Odim, Jr., Minnesota Duluth. Wide Receiver: Frantz Simeon, Sr., Arkansas Tech; Jake Soy, So., Northwest Missouri State. Tight End: Ryan Travis, Jr., West Liberty (W.Va.). Offensive Line: Brett Grozinger, Jr., Northwest Missouri State; Nick McDonald, Sr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Michael Tribue, Sr., Carson-Newman (Tenn.); Tony Washington, Sr., Abilene Christian (Texas); Calvin Wilson, Sr., North Alabama. Return Specialist: Jerome Hewitt, Sr., Southeastern Oklahoma State. Kicker: Travis Atter, Sr., Chadron State (Neb.).
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line: Montrell Craft, Sr., North Alabama; Cedric Thornton, Jr., Southern Arkansas; Danny Richard, Jr., Grand Valley State (Mich.). Linebacker: Robbie Aurich, Jr., Minnesota Duluth; Matt Freed, Jr., East Stroudsburg (Pa.); Mike Johnson, Sr., North Alabama; Buddy Wood, Sr., Central Washington. Cornerback: Derrick Evans, Sr., West Liberty (W.Va.); Quintez Smith, Sr., Shaw (N.C.). Safety: Giorgio Durham, So., Central Oklahoma; Josh Jones, Sr., Harding (Ark.). Punter: Will Batson, Sr., North Alabama.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback: Zach Amedro, Jr., West Liberty (W.Va.). Running Back: LaRon Council, Sr., Northwest Missouri State; Jonas Randolph, So., Mars Hill (N.C.); Buck Wakefield, Sr., Carson-Newman (Tenn.). Wide Receiver: Adam Saur, Sr., Colorado Mines; Kashit Wells, Jr., West Liberty (W.Va.). Tight End: Mike Higgins, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha. Offensive Line: Cameron Bradfield, Jr., Grand Valley State (Mich.); Jack Hiett, Sr., Nebraska-Kearney; Ben Staggs, Sr., West Liberty (W.Va.); Jared Veldheer, Sr., Hillsdale (Mich.); J’Marcus Webb, Sr., West Texas A&M; Torrence Wright, Sr., Arkansas Tech. Return Specialist: Deante Steele, Jr., Shepherd (W.Va.). Kicker: Garrett Lindholm, Sr., Tarleton State (Texas).
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line: Andre Bernard, Sr., North Greenville (S.C.); Drew Berube, Sr., Hillsdale (Mich.); William Green, Sr., Texas A&M-Commerce; Aston Whiteside, So., Abilene Christian (Texas). Linebacker: Jake Anderson, Sr., Bemidji State (Minn.); Lardester Hicks-Green, Sr., Delta State (Miss.); John Jacobs, Sr., Saginaw Valley State (Mich.); Ryan Reeves, Sr., Wayne State (Mich.); Zach Watkins, Sr., Washburn (Kan.). Cornerback: Micah Hill, Sr., Midwestern State (Texas); Terrence Johnson, Sr., California (Pa.); Rodney Mitchell, Jr., Eastern New Mexico. Safety: Myles Burnsides, Sr., Northwest Missouri State; Ron Parker, Jr., Newberry (S.C.). Punter: Brian Schmeidebusch, Fr., Findlay (Ohio).