Donald Jackson III AP FCS All-America
12/19/2014 12:56:00 AM | Football
Donald Jackson III, Sam Houston's 6-2, 277 pound junior from Kilgore, has become the 12th Bearkat to be named as a first, second or third team selection on the Associated Press FCS All-America in the SHSU football program's 28-years at the NCAA Division I level.
Jackson is a third team selection of the 2014 AP All-America squad announced December 17.
This is Jackson's second national honor. He was a second team selection on CollegeSportsMadness.com's FCS All-America squad.
Jackson is the starting offensive tackle for a Bearkat offense that led the Southland Conference and ranked sixth nationally in rushing this season. The SHSU rushing attack rolled up 259.1 yards per game.
Sam Houston won the Southland Conference for the third time in the past four seasons has reached the FCS semifinals for the fourth time in program history. The Bearkats rolled 7-1 through their Southland schedule and stand 11-4 for the year.
Jackson earned first team All-Southland Conference honors for the second year in a row. He was an honorable mention all-league selection as a freshman in 2012.
The industrial technology major blocked for an offense that ranked 17th nationally in scoring and stood fourth in the Southland Conference in total offense with 458.4 yards per game.
Previous Sam Houston first, second or third team Associated Press All-America selections have been defensive tackle Michael Bankston (1991 first team), punter Brad Bradley (1986 second team), wide receiver Jonathon Cooper (2001 first team), running back Timothy Flanders (2011 second team and 2012 third team), defensive back Derrick Harris (2007 second team), quarterback Dustin Long (2004 third team), offensive lineman Chris Louvier (2004 third team), tight end Blake Martin (2007 first team), defensive back Dax Swanson (2011 third team), defensive back Darnell Taylor (2011 second team and 2012 first team) and defensive end Andrew Weaver (2012 third team).
Sam Houston State takes on No. 2 seed North Dakota State Friday at 7:10 p.m. in the Fargodome on ESPN2 national television.
The Associated Press FCS All-America team.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Vernon Adams, junior, 6-foot, 200 pounds, Eastern Washington.
Running backs — Zach Zenner, senior, 6-0, 220, South Dakota State; Marshaun Coprich, junior, 5-9, 205, Illinois State.
Linemen — Collin Seibert, senior, 6-4, 277, Eastern Illinois; Jake Rummells, senior, 6-5, 301, Northern Iowa; Cole Carruthers, senior, 6-4, 292, Central Arkansas; Joe Haeg, junior, 6-6, 299, North Dakota State; Jake Rodgers, senior, 6-6, 315, Eastern Washington.
Tight end — MyCole Pruitt, senior, 6-3, 255, Southern Illinois.
Wide receivers — Cooper Kupp, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Eastern Washington; R.J. Harris, senior, 6-0, 201, New Hampshire.
All-purpose player — Johnta' Hebert, junior, 5-10, 195, Prairie View A&M.
Kicker — Michael Schmadeke, junior, 5-10, 181, Northern Iowa.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Kyle Emanuel, senior, 6-3, 251, senior, North Dakota State; Zack Wagenmann, senior, 6-3, 250, Montana; Davis Tull, senior, 6-3, 240, Chattanooga; Javon Hargrave, junior, 6-2, 295, South Carolina State.
Linebackers — Don Cherry, junior, 6-1, 221, Villanova; Nick Dzubnar, senior, 6-2, 250, Cal Poly; Quinn Backus, senior, 5-10, 215, Coastal Carolina.
Backs — Donald Payne, sophomore, 6-0, 205, Stetson; Jacob Hagen, senior, 6-3, 205, Liberty; Caleb Schaffitzel, senior, 6-0, 217, Missouri State; Colten Heagle, senior, 5-11, 206, North Dakota State.
Punter — Kyle Loomis, senior, 6-2, 230, Portland State.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — John Robertson, junior, Villanova.
Running backs — Tyler Varga, senior, Yale; Gus Johnson, senior, Stephen F. Austin.
Linemen — Chad Hamilton, senior, Coastal Carolina; Ronald Canty, senior, North Carolina A&T; Mike Coccia, redshirt freshman, New Hampshire; Max Holcombe, junior, Jacksonville State; Antoine Everett, senior, McNeese State.
Tight end — Seth Cranfill, senior, Gardner-Webb.
Wide receivers — De'Andre Carter, senior, Sacramento State; Jake Wieneke, freshman, South Dakota State.
All-purpose player — Ed Eagan, junior, Northwestern State.
Kicker — Justin Syrovatka, senior, South Dakota State.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Devaunte Sigler, junior, Jacksonville State; Zack Hodges, senior, Harvard; Mike Reilly, senior, William & Mary; James Cowser, junior, Southern Utah.
Linebackers — Evan Byers, senior, Bucknell; Connor Underwood, junior, Indiana State; Lynden Trail, senior, Norfolk State.
Backs — Jaquiski Tartt, senior, Samford; Christian Ricard, senior, Stony Brook; Jarrett Dieudonne, senior, Wagner; De'Ante Saunders, junior, Tennessee State.
Punter — Cory Carter, junior, Texas Southern.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback — Vad Lee, junior James Madison.
Running backs — Chase Edmonds, freshman, Fordham; Malcolm Cyrus, senior, Alabama State.
Linemen — Austin Gund, senior, Richmond; Mason Halter, senior, Fordham; Nick Easton, senior, Harvard; Donald Jackson III, junior, Sam Houston State; Jermaine Barton, senior, Illinois State.
Tight end —Faysal Shafaat, senior, Chattanooga.
Wide receivers — Adam Drake, senior, Eastern Illinois; Mark Roberts, Lamar, senior.
All-purpose player — David Johnson, senior, Northern Iowa.
Kicker — Adam Keller, senior, North Dakota State.
DEFENSE
Linemen — Ryan Delaire, senior, Towson; Xavier Williams, senior, Northern Iowa; Jonathan Woodard, junior, Central Arkansas; Jeff Covitz, senior, Bryant.
Linebackers — Tony Bell, senior, Tennessee-Martin; Isiah Corbett, junior, Southeastern Louisiana; Nick Thrasher, senior, Tennessee State.
Backs — Zach Adler, senior, Marist; Harlan Miller, junior, Southeastern Louisiana; Matt Hermanson, senior, Montana; Tye Smith, senior, Towson.
Punter — Eric Anderson, sophomore, Delaware.
