Daktronics Division II All-America Teams

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University outside linebacker Matt Freed has been named to the Daktronics Division II Football All-America first team for the second straight season, it was announced Tuesday.

Freed (Souderton/Souderton), a redshirt junior, is the third ESU football player to earn first team All-America honors in consecutive seasons, joining quarterback Jimmy Terwilliger (2004-05) and wide receiver Evan Prall (2005-06).

He tied North Alabama's Mike Johnson for the most votes received by the four linebackers selected to the first team. Freed, Johnson and Abilene Christian offensive tackle Tony Washington are the only three repeat selections from last year's first team.

The Daktronics Division II Super Region One Defensive Player of the Year, Freed finished the 2009 season with 132 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks after compiling 126 tackles, 10 TFL, four sacks and four interceptions as a redshirt sophomore.

He also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team honors this fall with a 3.70 grade-point average as a History major, and was named Academic All-District in each of the last two seasons.

Freed spearheaded a defense that led the PSAC and ranked fourth in the nation in red zone defense, tied for fourth on fourth downs and sixth with 33 takeaways in the regular season, as the Warriors made their fourth appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs in school history.

He has at least 10 tackles in 16 of his 23 career starts, including a career-high 20 tackles with four tackles for a loss and two sacks vs. Slippery Rock in the final game of the regular season. His 14 solo tackles at Kutztown were tied for the most in Division II in 2009, and he recorded two sacks against Bloomsburg, Slippery Rock and Edinboro.

Freed is the first Warrior with back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since All-American Kevin Nagle had three straight from 1998 to 2000. His 10 sacks are the most since Adam DeAngelo had 10 in 2000, and his 18 tackles for a loss are the most since Tim Green had 20 in 1995.

The Daktronics All-America team is selected by the sports information directors of Division II football institutions, with the first team members from each of the four regions moving forward to the national ballot.

The entire 2009 Daktronics Division II All-America first team is below:

Offense
QB – Nick Graziano, Arkansas Tech
RB – Joique Bell, Wayne State (Mich.)
RB – Isaac Odim, Minnesota-Duluth
WR – Frantz Simeon, Arkansas Tech
WR – Jake Soy, Northwest Missouri State
TE – Ryan Travis, West Liberty (W.V.)
OL – Brett Grozinger, Northwest Missouri State
OL – Nick McDonald, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
OL – Michael Tribue, Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
OL – Tony Washington, Abilene Christian (Texas)
OL – Calvin Wilson, North Alabama
K – Travis Atter, Chadron State (Neb.)
RS – Jerome Hewitt, Southeastern Oklahoma State

Defense
DL – Montrell Craft, North Alabama
DL – Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas
DL – Danny Richard, Grand Valley State (Mich.)
LB – Robbie Aurich, Minnesota-Duluth
LB – Matt Freed, East Stroudsburg (Pa.)
LB – Mike Johnson, North Alabama
LB – Buddy Wood, Central Washington
CB – Derrick Evans, West Liberty (W.V.)
CB – Quintez Smith, Shaw (N.C.)
S – Giorgio Durham, Central Oklahoma
S – Josh Jones, Harding (Ark.)
P – Will Batson, North Alabama

Offensive Player of the Year – Joique Bell, Wayne State (Mich.)
Defensive Player of the Year – Michael Johnson, North Alabama